Katzen Eye Group

Katzen Eye Group is a private eye care practice in Maryland that brings ophthalmology, optometry and optical care together under one roof for patients in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area. Combining these disciplines in a single practice typically lets patients move from routine eye exams and eyewear to medical treatment and surgery without changing providers.

Its services include cataract care with an online cataract self-test, LASIK and other laser vision correction, a range of eye care subspecialties, and cosmetic and reconstructive procedures offered under the Aesthetics by Katzen name. The practice runs offices in Lutherville/Towson, Rosedale, Bel Air and Reisterstown, plus the Dulaney Eye Institute, a surgery center in Towson. Having its own surgery center is common among larger ophthalmology groups, because it lets them perform outpatient procedures such as cataract removal outside a hospital setting.

The practice began in 1968 with one doctor in a makeshift office at Mercy Hospital and has since expanded to offices across Maryland. The practice says it was the first in Maryland to use intraocular lens implants and among the first in the country to use phacoemulsification for cataract removal. It also reports first using the YAG laser for eye care in the United States, performing refractive surgery since 1978 and being among the early adopters of radial keratotomy. Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implants later became the standard approach to cataract surgery.

The practice frames its philosophy as "not just the quality of care, but the quality of caring," pairing medical technology with a warm, considerate atmosphere and tailoring treatment discussions to each patient.