3 Minutes on a Park Bench with Dr. Samir Melki, Founder of Boston Eye Group

We emailed Patch partner Dr. Samir Melki of Boston Eye Group, who explains what people can do everyday to help protect their eyes and shares some great book recommendations.

Patch: Boston Eye Group is opening a new location in Wellesley. How has your company grown so quickly?

Dr. Samir Melki: I believe the key to our growth is our dedication to the best possible patient care. It seems so simple, but is not easily achieved. We are constantly examining ourselves and trying to do things better for our patients. The key to our success is hiring the best and brightest doctors armed with the best diagnostic technology to give our patients every avenue to improve their vision. Before you had to go into the big hospitals in Boston to have all of this testing done. We have brought this to Wellesley and the surrounding towns.

Patch: What services does Boston Eye Group offer?

Dr. Samir Melki: We offer full scale ophthalmology with almost every specialty. In addition to general eye exams with contact lenses, we offer cataract surgery, diabetes and macular degeneration screening, laser vision correction, cosmetics treatments (botox, fillers, blepharoplasty), glaucoma treatment and the latest crosslinking for keratoconus. We are always accepting new patients and take almost every insurance.

Patch: What is your definition of success?

Dr. Samir Melki: I would say building a practice that strives to raise the bar on patient care and service is the key to success. I feel we have succeeded when a patient walks out of our practice feeling great about the way they were treated and cared for, not only by their doctor, but the whole staff. We build our success around our patients.

Patch: If you had to recommend someone three books, what would they be and why?

Dr. Samir Melki: "Good to Great" by Jim Collins and "Delivering Happiness" by Zappos founder Tony Hsieh are two books that explore excellence in customer service. "The Checklist Manifesto" by Atul Gawande, MD is a book that discusses the all-important area of avoiding medical error.

Patch: Can you tell us a little bit about your staff and their background?

Dr. Samir Melki: I founded the practice 15 years ago. Since then we have expanded to five locations and 11 doctors with multiple specialties. I look for doctors and staff that have the same vision as me, who are always trying to achieve higher standards in eye care. All of our doctors have had elite clinical training from the top Ophthalmology and Optometric schools in the country.

Patch: What are three easy things readers can do to help protect their eyes?

Dr. Samir Melki: Wear sunglasses, never sleep wearing contact lenses and have your eye pressure checked periodically as high pressure can go unnoticed and lead to blindness.

Patch: What makes Boston Eye Group stand out from the competition?

Dr. Samir Melki: I feel we always try to give our patients the best. We have invested in the latest technology, hired the best doctors and technicians to achieve the best possible visual outcomes and visual health for our patients. I would like to say our practice is a 21st century practice using technology advancements to set new standards in eye care. The best part is that we are located right here in your backyard in Wellesley.

Patch: How can readers contact you or learn more about Boston Eye Group?

Dr. Samir Melki: Well I would first like to personally invite all your readers to our grand opening open house. This will be on Monday, September 19th from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. The office address is 204 Worcester St. Wellesley, MA. There is parking in the back of the office on Cedar St. Our doctors will be there to answer any questions you might have. We will also be serving light refreshments. You can also find out more about our practice at our website, www.bostonlaser.com.