Dr. Andre Botha is one of the leading anterior segment surgeons in Gauteng. He currently holds clinics at the Johannesburg Eye Hospital and at Ekurhuleni Surgiklin Day Hospital.

One of the reasons why we included Dr. Botha on our list is his impressive educational background and performance as a professional. 

He completed his medical training at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2002 and before he worked on his specialist training, Dr. Botha worked in a hospital in the UK as an ophthalmology senior house officer as well as in two more hospitals in South Africa.

By the time he completed his medical specialisation, Dr. Botha was already an active consultant and the head of the clinical department of ophthalmology at Sebokeng Hospital, Vereeniging.

He performs a wide range of ophthalmology surgery and treatments, including cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, oculoplastic surgery, cross-linking for keratoconus, and medical retina.

Dr. Botha is preferred by his patients for his apparent expertise and keen eye for detail. Patients also appreciate how well he connects and communicates with them.

On top of that, he’s also highly commended for the quality of his work. We reached out to previous oculoplastic surgery patients and they expressed their satisfaction with the surgery outcome. 

It’s also a plus for us that Dr. Botha is part of a well-established medical institution. The JHB Eye Hospital boasts 20 years of experience and is considered as one of the leading facilities for eye treatment.

We also appreciate how the clinic’s facilities are very orderly and are furnished with the latest medical equipment and ophthalmology tools. 

Our only issue is the clinic’s poor patient reception. There are multiple complaints from previous patients regarding their encounters with rude and unprofessional receptionists at the clinic, which isn’t ideal.

Also, there are a handful of grievances about the clinic’s faulty processing of medical aids. We’re disappointed to hear that in some cases, patients ended up shouldering the full cost of their treatments.

Dr. Caroline Gooding is one of the most popular and high-performing oculoplastic surgeons in South Africa. 

She completed her medical training at the University of the Witwatersrand and her specialisation and residency at Stellenbosch University, where she graduated cum laude.

We think it’s amazing that upon finishing her specialisation, Dr. Gooding was also awarded the Justin van Selm by The Colleges of Medicine of South Africa for her performance.

Dr. Gooding has vast experience working as an ophthalmologist for several hospitals in South Africa. We also find it noteworthy that Dr. Gooding is currently the president of the South African Society of Oculoplastic Surgeons.

Currently, she provides her services at The Ear and Eye Clinic in Meyersdal, where she’s the lead for all oculoplastic surgeries. Dr. Gooding also conducts cataract surgery, strabismus, paediatric ophthalmology, and treatments for medical retina and glaucoma.

The Ear and Eye Clinic is one of the top- and most-rated medical institutions in South Africa that focuses on providing treatments for the eyes and ears. 

They’re partnered with a long list of renowned medical professionals and is highly-regarded for providing top-notch services. Aside from its strong workforce, another one of the clinic’s strongest assets is its world-class facilities.

We think their clinic can be improved, though. There are multiple reports from past patients grumbling about the long waiting time.

We’re told that some patients experience waiting for more than an hour to be seen by the doctor, which can be frustrating, especially if they set an appointment beforehand.

In addition, there are also a handful of complaints about the poor attitude of some of the clinic’s front desk staff.

Dr. Polla Roux is a veteran in the field of specialised ophthalmology. He started his professional career over 45 years ago in Kalafong Hospital and a few years later, Dr. Roux was appointed head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Pretoria University.

He was also assigned as a professor and chief consultant at the Pretoria Academic Hospital before he transitioned into private practice.

Dr. Roux commonly leads refractive surgery, cornea transplants, cataracts, diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachments, as well as oculoplastic, orbital and lacrimal surgery.

Most of his patients are regulars and referrals, which we like as this reflects the doctor’s quality of service. Previous patients are in awe of Dr. Roux’s expertise and superb bedside manner.

Another feature we found noteworthy about this oculoplastic surgeon is his strong professional network. 

Dr. Roux is an acclaimed member of multiple national and international medical associations including the Medical Association of South Africa, the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa, the International Council of Ophthalmology, and more.

What’s amazing he’s been part some of these organisations since the late 1970s.

Despite having spent substantial years in practice, Dr. Roux is still hungry for knowledge and is very passionate about what he does, which is one of the reasons why we selected him. 

We appreciate his efforts in keeping himself updated with the latest medical treatments. Dr. Roux provides his services at the Visiomed Eye Laser Clinic, where facilities are top-notch too.

Take note, though, that the clinic is located outside of Johannesburg, which can be a deal breaker for some. Nonetheless, we think Dr. Roux’s expertise and high-quality service are worth the drive.

Nonetheless, there are some grumbles about the clinic having inactive representatives. We’re told it can be difficult to reach out to Visiomed Eye Laser Clinic’s front desk, which is disappointing.

Dr. Brian Van Onselen is one of the leading and long-serving ophthalmology specialist in South Africa. He completed his medical and specialist training at Pretoria University and preceded to work as a general practitioner in Canada for two years.

He then came back to South Africa and transferred to a hospital in Pretoria where he practised for another three years before he moved to Sandton. 

Dr. Van Onselen holds clinics in the Sandton City Medical Mews and at the Sandhurst Eye Centre. He practices general ophthalmology and specialises in refractive surgery, oculoplastic surgery and orbital surgery. 

Take it into consideration, though, that these hospitals are a bit of a drive from Joburg.

He’s well-respected in his field and is connected to multiple medical organisations. Dr. Van Onselen is also designated as the Ophthalmic Management Group’s director, which we find impressive.

Moreover, he’s the current president of the South African Oculoplastic Society. 

We also like that he’s very active in the academe. In fact, he’s an active contributor and is part of the editorial board of a medical magazine.

Dr. Van Onselen is highly commended by his previous patients for his professionalism, modesty, and meticulousness. Another feature patients appreciate is the doctor’s passion for what he does.

We also appreciate the clinic’s pre- and post-operation care. We’re told the doctor himself as well as the clinic’s staff go out of their way to make sure patients are comfortable and satisfied with the clinic’s service.

Nonetheless, there are minor complaints about the clinic’s poor communication when it comes to potential patients. We’re told their receptionist can be slow in responding to inquiries, which is dispiriting.

Last but not least, we have Dr. Derek De Beer, who’s a well-respected medical expert and is one of the most sought-after ophthalmology specialists in and around Johannesburg.

Dr. De Beer has been practising as a medical doctor since 1977 and he has experience working at the Bloemfontein Academic Hospitals complex as well as other hospitals in the UK.

10 years later, Dr. De Beer obtained his specialisation in ophthalmology and by the end of 1999, he established his own private clinic. He’s also the co-founder of the West Rand Eye Centre, where he currently provides his services.

It’s a plus for us that their clinic is spacious, clean, and complete with sophisticated medical technology and equipment.

Dr. De Beer is also a distinguished member of several renowned organisations, such as the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the South African Glaucoma Society, and the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa.

One of this doctor’s strongest assets is his strong support team, composed of qualified medical professionals. Their clinic is well-staffed with a team of receptionists, ophthalmic assistants, optometrists and a practice manager.

We love how patients always feel very well taken care of whenever they visit the clinic. On top of that, previous patients also have high regard for Dr. De Beer’s performance, especially in oculoplastic treatments.

However, it’s disappointing to hear grumbles about the attitude of some receptionists. Previous patients told us they encountered rude and unhelpful front desk staff, which is a dismay.

Lastly, there are also a handful of complaints about the long waiting time at the clinic. We’re told some patients had to wait for more than an hour despite booking an appointment with the doctor, which is a red flag for us.