Shahed Y. Ghoghawala, M.D.

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I have wanted to be an ophthalmologist even before I knew how it was spelled.  In fact I still have my high school yearbook where I am quoted as saying “I hope to go to medical school and specialize in opthomology.” I have been privileged to live out my dream to be an ophthalmologist and am happy to say that my passion has only grown with the reality of my experience of eye disease treatments, research, and international opportunities.

As a medical student, I met a man with a history of severe alkali cornea burns who was the recipient of the first prosthetic cornea in Northern California. For the first time since 1966, he was able to see the faces of his wife and daughters.  What an amazing gift this man was given through the advancements in ophthalmology.

In addition to research, I have had the opportunity to see what a remarkable difference one can make internationally, where millions are poor because they are blind, and they are blind because they are poor. My experience with the Himalayan Cataract Project allowed me to visit the Tilganga Eye Clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal. I saw the astounding burden cataracts account for in terms of global blindness. I also spent two weeks at Fundación Visión in Asunción, Paraguay, where I performed the same cataract surgery that I had observed as a medical student in Nepal.

Since moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, and joining South Texas Eye Consultants, my ophthalmology practice has flourished, allowing me to help people with many types of eye disease.  It is astonishing at how the advances in technology are improving our ability to recover vision, through evolving modes of cornea transplant, intraocular lenses, and laser surgery.  It is a blessing to be a part of a wondering community, where I can help people with one of their most important senses—vision.

Education

Medical School: University of California, Davis School of Medicine

Internship: University of California, Davis Medical Center

Residency: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Fellowship: University of California, Irvine 

Professional/Academic Colleges and Societies

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Texas Medical Association
  • Nueces County Medical Society

Publications and Research

  • Ghoghawala, SY, Mannis, MJ, Pullar, CE, et al. ß2-Adrenergic Receptor Signaling Mediates Corneal Epithelial Wound Repair. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 2008;49(5), 1857-63.
  • Ghoghawala SY, Mannis MJ, Murphy CJ, Rosenblatt MI, Isseroff RR. Economical LED based, real-time, in vivo imaging of murine corneal wound healing. Exp Eye Res. Jun 2007;84(6):1031-1038.
  • Pullar CE, Zhao M, Song B, Reid B, Ghoghawala S, McCaig C, Isseroff RR. Betaadrenergic receptor agonists delay while antagonists accelerate epithelial wound healing: evidence of an endogenous adrenergic network within the corneal epithelium. J Cell Physiol. Apr 2007;211(1):261-272
  • Nehls SM, Ghoghawala SY, Hwang FS, Azari AA.  Patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes with laser refractive surgery performed by surgeons in training. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2014 Jul;40(7):1131-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2013.11.042.

 Certifications

  • American Board of Ophthalmology
  • Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
  • LenSx Laser Cataract Surgery