Zaina Al-Mohtaseb, M.D.

Dr. Zaina Al-Mohtaseb is a board-certified cataract and refractive surgeon and a specialist in keratoconus and Fuchs’ dystrophy. Her work brings together advanced surgical care, clinical research, and physician education, with an emphasis on evidence-based innovation, individualized surgical planning, and close collaboration with referring doctors.

A graduate of Baylor College of Medicine, Dr. Al-Mohtaseb earned her medical degree with honors and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Baylor’s Cullen Eye Institute, where she was elected Chief Resident, followed by fellowship training in cornea and external disease, cataract, and refractive surgery at the top program in the nation, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami.

Her surgical expertise spans cataract and refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery, LASIK, PRK, implantable collamer lenses (ICL), and presbyopia correction. She has a particular expertise in the management of keratoconus and Fuchs’ dystrophy, including CTAK, corneal collagen cross-linking and DMEK. At the core of her practice is her surgical excellence and passion for refractive surgery and helping patients achieve their best possible vision, regardless of the complexity of their eyes.

Dr. Al-Mohtaseb is a nationally and internationally recognized key opinion leader in ophthalmology and an early adopter of emerging surgical techniques and ophthalmic technologies. She has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications, contributed extensively to ophthalmic literature, and has delivered more than 160 national presentations in addition to numerous international lectures on cataract, corneal, and refractive surgery. She serves as an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine, previously served as Associate Residency Program Director and Residency Director, and leads ongoing clinical research at Whitsett Vision Group as its Director of Research.

Dr. Al-Mohtaseb is actively involved in ophthalmic education and professional societies and has served as Chair of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Young Eye Surgeon Committee, helping educate young ophthalmic surgeons nationally and internationally through lectures, webinars, and surgical wet labs. She also serves as Chair of the ASCRS Foundation, where she helps advance its mission of expanding access to humanitarian ophthalmic care and supporting sight-restoring services for patients in need across the United States and internationally.

Locally in Houston, Dr. Al-Mohtaseb has previously served as President of the Houston Ophthalmological Society and the President of Houston Ophthalmology Women.
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Her contributions to ophthalmology, education, research, patient care, leadership, and humanitarian service have earned numerous honors. These include recognition as one of Houston’s Top Doctors, Newsweek’s America’s Best Eye Doctors, the Baylor College of Medicine Women of Excellence Award, the BCM Early Career Faculty Award for Excellence in Patient Care, the AAO Achievement Award, the Ophthalmic World Leaders Rising Star in Ophthalmology Award, and the Outstanding Female Leader in Ophthalmology Award. She has also been recognized internationally on The Ophthalmologist’s Power List of the Top 100 Ophthalmologists and nationally among Ophthalmology Management’s Top 40 Under 40.

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Her Clinical and Research Interests Include:

• Cataract and refractive lens replacement surgeries

• Presbyopia and astigmatism correction

• LASIK, PRK, ICL and other refractive procedures

• Fuchs Dystrophy and Keratoconus

• Secondary intraocular lenses (IOL) and IOL exchanges