For Dr. Farshid Ighani, ophthalmology was never just a career; it was a calling to serve.
Dr. Ighani was born in Iran, where his father was a well-known dentist. However, after the Iranian Revolution, his family faced severe religious persecution due to their Baha'i faith, and lost their rights to work and attend school.
To provide a better future for their children, his parents decided to flee the country, and the family immigrated to the U.S. when Dr. Ighani was two years old.
Growing up, he watched his siblings become doctors, inspiring him to follow a similar path. He was initially drawn to eye care because his father suffered from glaucoma, and his entire family wore glasses. Once he began his medical education, he chose to pursue ophthalmology, because it combined everything he was passionate about: working with his hands, solving complex problems and paying close attention to detail. Few specialties offer the opportunity to restore something as precious as site, and he found tremendous fulfillment in helping patients regain vision and improve their quality of life.
After serving on the surgical team of leading eye surgery practices in DFW since 2009, Dr. Ighani pursued his dream of opening his own practice—one where each patient who walks through the door is treated with warmth, care and respect. Ighani Eye Care opened its first location in Bedford in 2022. His patient-first approach and surgical expertise helped grow the practice quickly, and in January he opened his second location in Southlake.
The Southlake team includes Dr. Wallace Ryne, who has cared for patients in the area for decades and was more than excited to partner with Dr. Ighani at this new location. Rounding out the core leadership team is practice administrator Amanda Sklar. Amanda was with Dr. Ighani when he first opened the Bedford office in 2022 and spent the prior 17 years working with Dr. Ryne. Amanda is the heartbeat of the practice, embodying the core values of respect, honor and warmth in every patient interaction.
While advanced technology and surgical expertise are important, the foundation of Ighani Eye Care is treating people with kindness and respect.
“Our tagline is ‘I care, you’ll see,’” Dr. Ighani said.
But this is much more than a tagline—it’s a philosophy that influences every aspect of the patient experience, from the front desk staff to the technicians, physicians and billing specialists.
Dr. Ighani, influenced by his upbringing in Lubbock, believes in being straightforward, honest and attentive. The practice hires experienced team members who share those values and take the time to support patients through every step of their visit.
Dr. Ighani’s caring approach and recognition as a top surgeon are brought to life in the experience of local resident Lawrin Dean, who had her cataract surgery done at Ighani Eye Care. Lawrin’s husband is a retired optometrist who consulted with other local eye care providers to find the best cataract surgeon for his wife. Dr. Ighani came highly recommended, so Lawrin headed to Ighani Eye Care for an initial consultation.
“From the moment we arrived for my cataract evaluation and testing at my first appointment, I knew we’d made the right choice,” said Lawrin, who still works part time as a psychotherapist. “They really led me by the hand, answered all of my questions and were just so welcoming and attentive.”
Lawrin, who had worn glasses or contacts for most of her life, learned that she could reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses by selecting a premium, multifocal lens for her cataract surgery. Dr. Ighani walked her through her options and recommended a lens that would best meet her lifestyle and vision goals.
“For the first time in 50 years, I don’t have to wear corrective lenses and it’s so nice,” Lawrin said. “I feel like I have young eyes again! I can just get up in the morning and see. I can drive, I can read, I can watch TV. My vision is so good now, I don’t even have to think about it.”
You can read more about Lawrin’s experience and the benefits of laser-assisted cataract surgery here.
Comprehensive care from evaluation to treatment
As a general ophthalmology practice, Ighani Eye Care provides a wide range of services, including:
- Routine and preventative care: General eye exams and specialized diabetic eye exams.
- Disease management: Diagnosis and advanced treatments for glaucoma, macular degeneration and chronic dry eye, including regenerative therapies that address the root cause of dry eye rather than masking symptoms.
- Surgical procedures: LASIK evaluations and laser-assisted cataract surgery, managing everything from the initial consultation to the procedure.
- Specialist network: Partnerships with trusted regional specialists for patients needing specific care beyond general ophthalmology.
Regardless of the treatment being discussed, Dr. Ighani said communication remains one of the most important parts of the process.
“The important part is the communication to let patients know what to expect before the surgery occurs, to understand what the outcome is going to be after surgery and then to make sure we deliver that outcome,” Dr. Ighani said.
Looking ahead
As the practice grows, Dr. Ighani hopes to expand access to high-quality eye care while maintaining the personal touch that built the company.
Click here to learn more about Ighani Eye Care, or to schedule an appointment today.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.