Colby’s father, the late Dr. Robert Stewart, was one of the original founding doctors at Houston Eye Associates, one of the largest ophthalmology group practices in the United States. From an early age, Colby’s visits to his father’s practice provided access to some of the nation’s leading ophthalmologists who influenced his passion for helping people through eye care.
Dr. Colby Stewart attended St. Thomas High School in Houston, Kent Preparatory School in Kent, Connecticut and the University of Texas in Austin, before graduating from the University of Texas Ophthalmology residency program in Galveston in 1996. He completed a six-month fellowship in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery before moving to Tennessee to join Vision America (a nationwide corporation managed by optometrists). In 1998, he became Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and was one of the first to be recertified in 2009.
Dr. Stewart spent 1997 through 2003 working exclusively in middle and east Tennessee, including cities such as Nashville, Cookeville, and Knoxville. He worked together with local eye care providers and optometrists as their primary surgeon. He performed oculoplastic procedures, topical anesthetic cataract surgery, glaucoma procedures and a new form of refractive surgery called LASIK. In 1998, he was the first surgeon to perform LASIK in Cookeville and quickly became recognized across Middle Tennessee for his surgical contributions to laser and cataract surgery. Dr. Stewart developed tracking and nomogram software for his LASIK practice that many doctors, including Dr. Stewart, still use today to ensure that patients are appropriate candidates for LASIK and to monitor surgical outcomes. In 2007, Dr. Stewart returned to his hometown to join his father at Houston Eye Associates. During this time, he focused on honing his surgical skills and introducing new techniques to improve surgical outcomes and patient experiences.
Dr. Stewart was the first surgeon in East Tennessee (Knoxville) to replace the keratome (blade) used in traditional LASIK procedures with the IntraLase Laser. He later invented the Stewart Vibrating IntraLase Spatula. Dr. Stewart has performed over 50,000 successful LASIK surgeries at the time this biography was written. He continues to help patients’ vision using LASIK and laser cataract refractive surgery (including multifocal, and astigmatism correcting intraocular implants).
Dr. Stewart was one of the first surgeons to perform topical anesthetic cataract surgery rather than the customary retrobulbar block (needle). Performing topical cataract surgery allowed patients to see immediately after surgery and avoid the use of a bulky patch. With new advances in intraocular implants and surgical incisions (no-stitch surgery), most patients can resume their normal activities the day after surgery.
Dr. Stewart was the first surgeon in Tennessee to use the toric intraocular lens, helping reduce or eliminate astigmatism. He was also one of the first to introduce the multifocal intraocular lens for cataract patients to decrease the need for glasses for both near and distance vision. Dr. Stewart has been published in Ocular Surgery News, participated in over 40 surgical FDA studies and gives lectures for patients and doctors around the country.
Dr. Stewart is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the International Society of Refractive Surgery, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. In 2008, he was asked to be a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He frequently gives continuing education seminars for eye care professionals and works with optometrists and ophthalmologists to co-manage surgical patients. His ophthalmology practice is unique in that he only accepts new patients from referring optometrists and or ophthalmologists and does not practice primary care. In addition, he has no financial interest in optical dispensaries and refers these patients out to primary eye care physicians. This practice philosophy allows him to concentrate and deliver the most advanced surgical care to patients referred to him for anterior segment surgery. He has been a primary and secondary investigator in multiple FDA studies for new advances in both topical medications, surgical instrumentation, and intraocular lens implants.
Dr. Stewart is married to Shella, and they have three children, an Irish wolfhound and a corgi. They spend their summer weekends deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the winter months bird hunting in south Texas. He is an avid (amateur) photographer and videographer and loves to spend time with his family and traveling to new destinations. He also dedicates several weeks a year to mission trips, helping others with his surgical expertise.
