Lauren J. Shatz, M.D.

CATARACT SURGERY • CORNEAL DISEASE • GLAUCOMA CARE

Headshot of Dr. Lauren J. Shatz, M.D., smiling with arms crossed in a well-lit hallway

“Restoring, enhancing and preserving vision”

Dr. Lauren Shatz is a board-certified ophthalmologist with subspecialty training in refractive cataract surgery with premium intraocular lenses and corneal diseases. He has served the Pioneer Valley community with offices in Northampton and Amherst, Massachusetts since 2003.

After obtaining his undergraduate degree in English Literature at the University of Michigan,  Dr. Shatz received his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He  completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Shatz then went to complete his training with a subspecialty fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the world-renowned Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. US News and World Report has consecutively ranked Bascom Palmer as the #1 eye hospital in the country.

Dr. Shatz is dedicated to using state-of the-art technology and  surgical techniques to provide exceptional care for his patients. Using the most advanced intra-ocular lens (IOL) technology including Toric, Multifocal and Extended Depth of Focus IOLS, Dr Shatz is able to customize the cataract procedure to match the unique needs and specific visual goals of each patient. He pioneered the “Dropless” cataract surgery technique in this region. His other professional interests include laser refractive cataract surgery, advanced corneal transplantation surgery and glaucoma care.

Volunteer work is an important component of Dr. Shatz’s career. On a yearly basis, he provides free eye care services to underserved populations in countries where quality health care can be scarce and not taken for granted. He has traveled to Cambodia, India, Vietnam and Honduras at the invitation of local governments to perform cataract and corneal surgery in conjunction with teams of local healthcare providers. This work is done in collaboration with SEE International, a charitable organization focused on reducing the global burden of blindness. https://www.seeintl.org/mission/

Dr. Shatz also serves as an instructor for SEE International, teaching other US Surgeons cataract surgery techniques valuable in low-resource settings.

Western Mass News | Getting Answers Interview
Dr. Shatz sat down with Dave Madsen on Western Mass News to talk about his charitable work with SEE International in helping to eliminate treatable blindness in the world.

Masslive Feature Article

Daily Hampshire Gazette Feature Article

Prior to his involvement with SEE International, Dr. Shatz  worked in Nevis, West Indies providing cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment and diabetic eye care to residents of the island.  His partner, Dr. Hubbe, who oversees this important program, Then Nevis Eyecare Program. https://www.visionforall2020.org

Dr. Shatz, Community Vision Center of Excellence, Montego Bay, Jamaica October 2023

Dr. Shatz smiling with a team of doctors and patients during volunteer work in Montego Bay
Team members smiling at the camera with a patient in a wheelchair with a medical eyepatch on during volunteer work in Montego Bay
Team members of See International providing eye care to a patient during volunteer work in Montego Bay
Team members smiling at the camera with a patient with a medical eyepatch on during volunteer work in Montego Bay
See International staff and patients sitting in a waiting room area looking at the camera in Montego Bay
Team members providing eye care to a patient during volunteer work in Montego Bay

Dr. Shatz, Community Vision Center of Excellence, Montego Bay, Jamaica October 2023

Dr. Shatz speaking with a group of locals and patients alongside another doctor at Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital, Jodhpur, India, as part of a See International trip
Dr. Shatz speaking with two doctors at Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital, Jodhpur, India
An Indian male and female wearing medical coats, sitting and looking at the camera at Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital in Jodhpur, India.
Dr. Shatz working with a patient at Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital in Jodhpur, India
A lineup of six patients on hospital beds receiving care from a team of doctors, including Dr. Lauren Shatz, at Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital in Jodhpur, India

Dr. Shatz, Baba Loknath Eye Hospital, Siliguri, India, December 2022

Dr. Lauren Shatz using a flashlight to examine an elderly woman's eye, with other patients looking on at Baba Loknath Eye Hospital, Siliguri, India
A group of young Indian children holding certificates, looking at the camera, with two adults standing behind them at Baba Loknath Eye Hospital, Siliguri, India.
A large group of patients wearing black eye-protecting sunglasses, along with Dr. Shatz, all smiling and looking at the camera at Baba Loknath Eye Hospital, Siliguri, India

Jodhpur Ophthalmologic Society Meeting 2019

Dr. Shatz standing with an award and flowers, surrounded by some people at the Jodhpur Ophthalmologic Society Meeting 2019
Dr. Shatz pointing to a projector screen displaying a close-up of an eye in front of a seated audience

Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital, Jodhpur, India 2019

Dr. Shatz smiling with another doctor in front of a banner displaying the DSFK Wet Lab and See International logo at Tarabai Desai Eye Hospital.
Dr. Lauren Shatz with two other doctors looking at the camera in Jodhpur, India

Dr. Shatz and Dr. Ricardo Reichmann, Roatan, Honduras 2017

Dr. Shatz and Dr. Ricardo Reichmann smiling with a patient in Roatan, Honduras, 2017
Dr. Shatz and Dr. Ricardo Reichmann smiling with a group of eye care patients in Roatan, Honduras, 2017

Children’s Surgical Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2017

mission work
Dr. Shatz with a team and a patient at the Children's Surgical Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2017
Dr. Lauren Shatz working in Cambodia
mission work
mission work
Dr. Shatz, another doctor, and a female patient looking at the camera at the Children's Surgical Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 2017
mission work
mission work

Dr. Shatz, Dr. Janak Shah and the Surgical Team, Baba Lokenath Eye Hospital, Siliguri, West Bengal, India 2015

mission work
mission work
mission work
Group of doctors and nurses, including Dr. Lauren Shatz, looking at the camera

Dr. Shatz, Dr. Nguyen Ho and Dr. LeAnne Larson, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2014

Dr. Shatz, Dr. Nguyen Ho, and Dr. LeAnne Larson in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2014, with a large group of patients wearing medical eyepatches sitting on the floor in the background
Dr. Shatz, Dr. Nguyen Ho, Dr. LeAnne Larson, and another doctor smiling in the foreground, with a group of patients wearing medical eyepatches sitting behind them in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2014

Dr. Shatz and Dr. Nguyen Ho, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 2013

mission work
Dr. Shatz working on a patient in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2013
Dr. Shatz and Dr. Nguyen Ho sitting at a table full of paperwork, collaborating in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2013