A board certified ophthalmologist, Phillips Kirk Labor, MD, FACS, FICS, ABES is internationally recognized for his work in refractive surgery. He has over 30 years of refractive and cataract expertise, and has performed thousands of LASIK, cataract, PRK and Intraocular Lens Implant procedures over his career. Dr. Labor’s board certification goes above and beyond, placing him among a very select group of U.S. eye surgeons.
In addition to standard certification by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO), he is certified by the American Board of Eye Surgery (ABES) in the fields of cataract and LASIK surgery. This requires more in-depth study, and passing a rigorous process of testing by his peers. In addition, ABES requires doctors to repeat this process regularly for re-certification, which Dr. Labor has achieved. Dr. Labor chose this voluntary certification to continue to grow his expertise in order to better serve his patients.
Dr. Labor has been the first or among the first to perform new procedures and adopt new technologies. In 2011, he introduced ORange® (now ORA) to DFW, the world’s first technology that measures vision quality during cataract surgery. He was the first in Texas to implant the ReZoom premium intraocular lens, and in 2016, the first Texas eye surgeon to use the MKO Melt, an oral sedative that affords IV-free cataract surgery. He was the first in Dallas/Fort Worth to implant the Verisyse Implantable Contact Lens, and the first U.S. solo private practitioner to acquire the Ziemer FEMTO LDV surgical laser for use in LASIK surgery.
In 2013, three surgical instruments were introduced that bear Dr. Labor’s name: the Labor A/C Cannula, Labor-Lester IOL Manipulator, and Labor Cyclodialysis Spatula. Manufactured by Katena Products, Inc., a leader in ophthalmic surgical instrumentation, each instrument is based on Dr. Labor’s modifications. In addition, he has published numerous articles on a wide range of ophthalmic subjects and issues, and led or collaborated on key studies. This includes participating or serving as principal investigator in multiple clinical trials to obtain FDA approval for advanced intraocular lens implant technologies for cataract surgery, such as the RXSight® Light Adjustable Lens, and Bausch & Lomb’s Trulign lens. He is also one of a select few U.S. eye surgeons manufacturers, such as Bausch & Lomb, have chosen to evaluate new technologies.
Dr. Labor has received several honors for his outstanding work and expertise. For example, he has been voted a Tarrant County “Top Doctor” by his peers numerous times in Fort Worth, Texas magazine. He has consistently been voted a “Top Ophthalmologist” and/or “Top LASIK Surgeon” in Living Magazine’s readership polls, and earned “Best Local LASIK/Laser Surgeon in Colleyville and Grapevine” in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s “Best of the Best” readership poll. He has also been named one of “America’s Top Ophthalmologists” by the Consumers’ Research Council of America, and recognized by Premier Surgeon as one of the top 250 leading U.S. innovators for premium intraocular lens surgery.
In addition, Dr. Labor is actively involved in a leadership capacity with several notable eye care organizations. He is a past president of the Society for Excellence in Eyecare (SEE), an elected position based on his reputation as an ophthalmologist and eye surgeon, and continued contributions to SEE, and currently serves on its board. He also serves on the board of the American College of Eye Surgeons, and has remained an International College of Surgeons (ICS) U.S. Section Vice President since elected in 2013. He is a Fellow of the ICS, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and a founding member of the American European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgeons. Dr. Labor is a member of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an organization dedicated to the advancement of Refractive Surgery through education, research, management and patient care.Other professional associations include: International Society of Refractive Surgery, Southern Medical Association, Texas Ophthalmological Society, Texas Medical Association, Tarrant County Ophthalmological Society, and Tarrant County Medical Society.
One of Dr. Labor’s proudest accomplishments has been his missions to Kurdistan, Northern Iraq in 2009 and 2011. It was here that he had the privilege of treating local citizens and educating local doctors to bring more modern ophthalmic care to an underserved region.