Dr. Richard James Mackool, MD

I really can’t say enough good things about Dr. Mackool. Faced with a complicated cataract surgery, he took my concerns incredibly seriously and his ample experience with even the most complex procedures put me at ease. Along with being skillful, he was also incredibly kind and reassuring to this very nervous patient. Best news of all- my vision went from 20/200 to 20/30. I will always be grateful to the MacKool Eye Institute.

Dr Mackool succeeded where another doctor screwed up. He’s great!!!

The doctor and the entire staff are the best.

I was born in the winter of 1937, in a small, poor rural village in a North African country. The weather was extreme, cold and snowy on the mountains in the winter, hot and humid in the summer. There was no sanitation, and flies crawled over babies’ eyes and sleeping adults. The trachoma disease was rampant. At school, in another village about 100 miles away, a single French “rural doctor” examined a half dozen of us and identified the ailment: trachoma. He resorted to a crude treatment, scraping our upper leads with a sharp knife, without any anesthesia whatsoever. This would lead to dire consequences years later, identified by my current ophthalmologist in 2005. The trachoma and the treatment resulted in the permanent scarring of my corneas and eyelids. My vision was distorted, and blurry. I struggled to complete my primary, high school and university education with all the difficulties one can imagine. In the class room, I was forced to sit in the first row to be able to… see what was written on the board. When I could not see the small letters, I would ask one of my school mates to show me their notes after the class, and this led me to spend enormous time just to catch up with the various courses taught at the school. During the process of trying to read the writing on the board, I would squint and squeeze my eyes to try to see as much of the writing as I could. This also led to the development of wrinkles on my forehead at an early age. I arrived in New York one day in July 1967. Dr. Castroviejo, a confident mid-size man in his sixties, was of Spanish origin. He taught at various universities in NYC, including Columbia Presbyterian and NYU, where he was a clinical professor. He received me in his Office and following the examination, he confidently declared, “We need to do a corneal transplant. The cornea is irregular, and the vision will improve following the procedure.” When I explained that I had blood vessels in the cornea, and inquired whether this would pose any problem, he answered quickly, “They are superficial.” While performing the procedure on my left eye, Dr. Castroviejo was exchanging jokes in Spanish with his Associate Dr. Luis Uribe. I could see the scalpel slashing the front of my eye while the conversation was continuing. I was a bit concerned that at this stage, thinking that the skilled doctor’s attention might be diverted for a moment and that he could end up making a mistake. But I had taken care of previously reading Dr. Castroviejo’s articles on the procedure and his book, Atlas of Keratectomy and Keratoplasty. His patients and even his peers sometimes referred to him not as a “Surgeon”, but as “an Artist”. Despite the momentary anxiety, I knew that I was in the hand of a most skillful Surgeon. Following the procedure, my vision as anticipated improved significantly. I returned to my work about six weeks after and continued to carry out my responsibilities till I retired in 1997. I then began to lecture, write and travel. I continued to see various Ophthalmologists in the city who checked my vision and prescribed new lenses. Some of them began to notice the thinning of the cornea in my left eye. It had been some forty years since Dr. Castroviejo did the procedure. The vision began to deteriorate. Various Doctors tried to identify the problem but they faced a challenge. In the end, I was both surprised and pleased when two of the most reputed of them independently of each other said that they would refer me to the “best of the best.” It was time once more to find a novel solution. I arrived to the “The Eye Institute and Laser Center” in Queens, NY, one day in 2005, after one eye specialist arranged for an appointment for me with Dr. Richard James Mackool, the Surgeon and Director of the Institute. I had not heard of Dr. Mackool before, but I heard his peers praise him. One of them told me with a smile that he was a "magician." He meant that the Doctor was very creative and successfully treated patients with very complicated cases. I was not surprised to hear that when I learned that Dr. Mackool trained under Dr. Castroviejo and had even operated on the famous Spanish Doctor’s relative. “The Eye Institute and Laser Center” is an elegant town house in Queens, near the famous Steinway Street. The referring Doctor had indicated to me that the Center was large and that Dr. Mackool had a very busy practice. As I entered the building, indeed, it was as if I was watching a bee hive, with patients seated in two large waiting rooms with some sixty seats in total, patients who had just undergone procedures being brought up and accompanied by the Institute personnel, or patients being taken to the operating room where Dr. Mackool Sr. and his son, Dr.Richard Jonathan Mackool, perform surgery around the clock. “He knows all that should be known”, said to me the proud father of his son. And obviously, he has prepared him to carry on the torch. A number of “Technicians” call the names of the patients and guide them to see Dr. Mackool’s two other Associates, including the Spanish speaking Dr. Vivian Monsanto. Indeed, one notices immediately that this is an unusually busy practice. Dr. Mackool greets me while bending slightly. He quickly looked at my eyes and also quickly dictated to his Assistant the diagnosis and treatment. One cannot fail to sense the most remarkable qualities of the man: his humility, and his ability to quickly identify the problem. In my case, the cornea developed cracks and the eyes were very dry. “The bacteria develop rapidly. They love the cracks”, Dr. Mackool told me confidently. He prescribed certain drops. The problem resolved a few days after. My vision improved. One day I dared to ask Dr. Mackool this question, “Where does his confidence come from?” From his parents, his training, his experience, his creativity

I went to Dr Richard Mackool to correct a previous cataract surgery. He and his son, Dr. Richard Mackool did a superb job with no pain and a quick recovery. I would recommend them both to anyone considering cataract surgery. Their office is friendly and efficient.

I recently had a cataract operation With Dr. Richard J Mackool and I couldn't be happier. Wonderful surgeon and equally accessible as a person.

Dr. R. J. Mackool was the ultimate medical professional, who offered excellent care and and a full and understandable description of everything I needed to know about my eye care before, during and after the procedure.

I have been to over a dozen ophthalmologists and nobody can compare to Dr. Mackool.

I recently had cataract surgery in both eyes at The Mackool Eye Institute, and I couldn't be more pleased or grateful. From my first examination day there to the final post-op check-ups, every member of the staff was helpful, cheerful, professional, and meticulous. I can't imagine a patient ever feeling apprehensive about the procedures!.. there is a smiling and reassuring face at every turn, from the receptionists at the front desk to both Dr. Richard Mackool and his son Dr. RJ Mackool and their support staff in the medical/surgical wing. I have had friends ask me since about my experience there, and I have never recommended anyone as gladly as I do this team of doctors. I am so thankful for the treatment and the care I received there.

By far, the best eye surgeon, matched by his caring.