Maloney-Shamie-Hura Vision Institute - Pasadena

After hearing multiple surgical recommendations, Dr. Neda Shamie's willingness to say no and offer a conservative alternative made a strong impression. We consulted several highly regarded surgeons after extensive research, even traveling to Southern California based on recommendations. Two of the doctors we saw were extremely high-volume surgical specialists and both recommended proceeding. A third was more measured but still leaned in that direction. My husband is an artist, and one unusual factor we raised with each doctor was that his vision fluctuated significantly, sometimes measuring around 20/30 and other times as low as 20/80. This variability concerned us, but it did not materially change the surgical recommendations we received. Dr. Shamie took a completely different approach. After a thorough evaluation, she recommended trying Vizz prescription drops and explained that the fluctuation itself mattered. She also walked through potential tradeoffs that were particularly relevant given his work, and why a conservative approach made more sense in his case. What truly differentiated the experience was her focus on preserving long-term visual quality rather than performing a procedure. She was warm, thoughtful, and it genuinely felt like she cared more about protecting his eyesight than moving forward with surgery. She even went a step further and personally called a local optometrist to help us secure a last-minute appointment so he could start the recommended eye drops right away. That level of care and follow-through made a lasting impression.