Edward C. Lai's Online Review Report Card

Dr. Lai is an outstanding physician and a brilliant eye surgeon. He is very quick to assess what the situation is, what is needed, and has all the skill to provide excellent patient care.

Dr. Lai has been my opthamologist for nearly ten years. I have remained his patient because I trust his expertise as a diagnostician and I enjoy his warm, friendly manner as well as his accessibility. I have had chronic issues concerning easily irritated and swollen lids and eyes and Dr. Lai is the first opthamologist who actually organized an effective treatment regimen for me! In addition to his strong points as a physician and diagnostician, Dr Lai is extremely accessible and responsive: If I call him and leave a message, he invariably calls me back within a few hours. When he prescribes medicine, by the time I take the subway home, the medication is available at my local pharmacy! Finally, I trust Dr. Lai as a first-rate physician and as a commendable and accessible human being! I thus recommend him very highly both as an excellent opthamologist and a warm, friendly, and accessible human being! Five stars all the way!

Dr Lai diagnosed my entropium lower lid, when 4 other eye doctors missed it ! He removed the lesions on my cornea and I did not feel a thing ( he had to use jewelers tweezers) I just had a another nodule removed today , again hes so calm and skilled I would Not consider anyone else, he's the best eye doctor I have had in NYC

I would give him zero star, and recommend against seeing this doctor. For most time in the visit I was seen by another fellow in training, rather than Dr. Lai. During the whole visit, I was only able to see Lai for around 2 minutes, he quickly examined my eyes without even asking about any symptoms and jumped into a diagnosis. He was confident that my eyes would be completely fine after using his medications for one week or so, but after two weeks went by, my eyes still do not have noticeable improvement. I tried to call the ophthalmology department, and it took me two whole afternoons until I was connected with a representative. The representative said Lai wanted me to continue my medications for another 2 months before I can be given a follow-up visit. That is completely nonsense. At the end, I would choose to see another doctor who probably can be more responsible to the patients. I have seen other doctors in other departments in Weil Cornell Medicine, and have all very good experiences, expect this one.

Honestly was expecting a more positive experience from the previous reviews. Brought my mom who experienced decrease vision for his expertise. He was able to quickly offer a diagnosis, but unable to offer any further treatment and referred us to another ophthalmologist at the same building. The whole visit with him took about 5 minutes and he interrupted me while I was speaking. We live far away so the travel time back and forth was more than 2 hours just for a few minutes of consultation. You can deem appropriate if it’s worth your visit. I myself have seen Weill Cornell ophthalmologists before and it was refreshing that we were able to see him directly without seeing a fellow first, so that’s a positive because I know this ophthalmology department is notorious for sending out a fellow first before seeing the ophthalmologist since it’s a teaching hospital. The optician/medical assistant who took my mom’s medical history and examine her eyes before she saw Dr. Lai was a bit hasty and unprofessional. Instilled drops in her eyes and I had asked for a tissue to wipe away the tears and residual drops. That should be automatic reflex.

I interviewed other doctors at other facilities and always felt that it was a cataract factory- impersonal and it was not until I found Dr Lai at Weill Cornell did I feel confident to have this surgery. Dr Lai and his staff are superb- it has been nothing but top quality and the highest level of professionalism from the first visit through the surgery and post surgical care.

As a surgeon, I choose my physicians very carefully, especially a surgeon to do my cataract procedure. After my research, the name that kept popping up to me was Dr. Lai. Dr Lai was superb—calm, reassuring and skilled. Answered all questions and put up with a difficult patient (me). Great result. Don’t hesitate.

Excellent eye doctor. Very professional. Please don’t go to eye doctors with store fronts. There job is to sell you glasses.

Easy and pleasant to work with. Communication was easy and explanations were direct and specific. An overall pleasant experience.

best doctor ever.