Dedicated to increasing understanding of Ophthalmology in the US and around the world, Dr. Gabriel E. Velázquez is the Academic Director of the Rand Eye Institute, charged with researching and teaching the latest advancements in refractive surgical techniques.
Originally from Colombia, Dr. Velázquez joined the Rand Eye Institute in 1998, pending the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of LASIK surgery. Since then, Dr. Velázquez has leveraged his international perspective to design, enhance and maintain an industry- recognized educational program, aimed at facilitating awareness and comprehension of vision correction procedures for the public, Rand Eye Institute staff, optometric and ophthalmologic students, as well as for ocular surgeons around the world.
Having lectured in the local community and beyond, including Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Perú, and Bolivia, Dr. Velázquez has written and published countless scientific papers and publications, including the Rand-Stein Analgesia Protocol for Cataract Surgery as well as for Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK), and Cataract Surgery in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome as found in the textbook “Master Techniques in Cataract and Refractive Surgery,” an international compilation of the most current thoughts on progressive cataract and refractive surgery techniques.
With a pre-med degree from Dartmouth College, a Doctorate (MD) from Valle University in Cali, Colombia and his residency at Barraquer Institute of America’s Superior School of Ophthalmology in Bogota, Colombia, Dr. Velázquez, who is fluent in English, Portuguese and Spanish, has presided over numerous lectures, continuing medical education courses and surgical demonstrations around the world.
“It is both an honor and a privilege working with Dr. Rand,” says Dr. Velázquez. “He is one of the brightest and most gifted refractive surgeons I’ve ever had the pleasure of being associated with.”
Married with two children and also a proud grandfather, Dr. Velázquez is a resident of Boca Raton. He is an avid bicyclist, riding as much as 20 – 40 miles a day on his collection of multi-speed touring bikes and all terrain mountain bikes.