Originally from Bronx, NY., Lee R. Katzman, M.D. is a board certified cornea specialist and active Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He was raised in Tampa, FL. and graduated from high school earning the esteemed International Baccalaureate Degree. Attending the University of Miami, FL on scholarship, he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Business Administration. He earned his Medical Degree from The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (Chicago, IL). Dr. Katzman then completed his Internship in Internal Medicine at the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (Park Ridge, IL) where he was honored with the coveted “Intern of the Year” award. He then moved to the Washington D.C. area to complete his ophthalmology residency training at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the internationally recognized U.M. Shock Trauma Center. He then pursued subspecialty fellowship training in cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery at the prestigious USC Roski Eye Institute in Los Angeles, CA, an eye hospital ranked in the top ten nationwide for over 20 years.
Throughout his career, Dr. Katzman has been fortunate to have been trained by national leaders and top surgeons here in the U.S. He has presented his research at regional and national conferences and has been published in several ophthalmology journals. He was also involved in the FDA trials for corneal collagen cross-linking before its FDA approval in 2016. Upon moving to San Diego, Dr. Katzman quickly became the premier cataract and LASIK surgeon. He has performed thousands of refractive surgical procedures and has been honored with the award of San Diego Top Doctors numerous times, as presented by the San Diego County Medical Society and San Diego Magazine, as well as Castle Connely Top Doctors annually since 2023. He has also received the 2021 Sharp Healthcare CORE Pillars of Excellence award, a designation that only 7 out of 18,000+ employees and physicians are honored with per year. He performs more cataract surgeries and, in particular, more advanced technology cataract surgeries than any other physician provider in San Diego County.
Dr. Katzman brings with him the ability to manage and treat the most complex of ocular conditions and is well-versed in the newest technological advancements. His interests include Cataracts, LASIK, Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy, Keratoconus, Corneal Ectasias, and Severe Dry Eyes. In addition to performing laser-assisted cataract surgery and LASIK, Dr. Katzman has a special interest in performing iris, scleral, and glued fixation of intraocular lenses using novel surgical techniques and innovative technologies. He has vast experience in repairing melting, perforated, and diseased corneas with corneal transplants of all varieties. He is proficient in Refractive Cataract Surgery, LASIK, PRK, PTK, phakic IOLs, as well as corneal surgeries including PK, DALK, INTACS, DSEK, DMEK and cross-linking.
What truly sets Dr. Katzman apart, however, is his bedside manner and that he puts patient safety first and foremost. A mentor instilled in him, “you can train a monkey to do surgery, but knowing when NOT to operate makes you a true physician and surgeon.” Dr. Katzman takes the necessary time to explain ocular conditions to patients and their family, and won’t operate on anyone that doesn’t fully understand the risks and benefits to the procedure they are signing up for. He ensures each patient is comfortable every step of the way.
In his free time, Dr. Katzman enjoys wood-working, yoga, tending to his yard and fruit trees, and spending time with his wife, son, and dog.
