When Fredericksburg eye doctor Hans J. Oosterbaan realized his vision wasn’t the best, he dialed Dr. Steven J. Dell in Austin, an internationally recognized leader in the field of refractive and cataract surgery.

“I trusted Dr. Dell for my own laser refractive surgery, and I’m glad I did,” said Oosterbaan, whose sight is now scalpel sharp: 20/15 in each eye.

Choosing Dell as his eye surgeon was a logical choice for Oosterbaan. Having discussed dozens of difficult patient problems with his colleague over the years and having successfully placed many a serious case in his care, Oosterbaan knew what Dell could do. The Fredericksburg physician also was impressed with Dell’s ongoing willingness to share medical knowledge.

“Though he’s incredibly busy, he’s always there to help me out,” Oosterbaan said. “I’m just a little guy … one of many doctors who consult with him … but he always gets back to me promptly and respectfully answers my questions. That’s cool.”

Oosterbaan isn’t the only pro who considers Dell one of the coolest physicians around. You can read glowing testimonials from other doctors, sports stars and plenty of ordinary people, too, on Dell’s Web site, www.dellvision.com. The ophthalmologist with the boyish grin has a fan club that seems to be growing as fast as his number of Facebook friends.

And it’s little wonder. The Austin eye surgeon has achieved more in his 47 years than most people could in a 100-year lifetime. Indeed, some sources give him credit for performing an astounding 15,000 surgical procedures since hanging out his shingle, and this has been done right along with writing highly rated ophthalmology textbooks, conducting seminars, inventing industry-changing ophthalmology tools, spearheading FDA scientific research projects and training around 600 surgeons in specialized techniques.

Though his official title is director of refractive and corneal eye surgery for Texan Eye and medical director of Dell Laser Consultants, dozens of other titles could be added after his name. In fact, diversity distinguishes this doctor. He’s always exploring new avenues and adding new achievements and awards to his hefty curriculum vitae.

“Quite clearly, Dr. Dell is not a status quo person or physician,” said Dr. John F. Doane, a refractive and corneal surgeon with Discover Vision Centers in Kansas City and an assistant clinical professor of ophthalmology at Kansas University Medical Center. “Dr. Dell is not willing to let the field or our approach to it remain static.”

Doane met Dell at a medical conference in 1997 when he and the Austin eye surgeon were on the exhibit floor examining a piece of laser equipment. They didn’t know each other then, but Doane says he was immediately struck by how informed Dell was and how much insight and foresight he had with regard to the technology and where ophthalmology was heading. Today, many of these marvelous dreams have come true, and Dell is more enthusiastic about the field than ever.

“It’s an exciting time to be in eye surgery,” said the doctor, who serves as a consultant to a number of prestigious optical/pharmaceutical companies, such as Bausch & Lomb. “The technology now exists to provide remarkably crisp vision whether an individual suffers from cataracts – and almost all people will develop them due to the aging process if they live long enough – or problems, such as [farsightedness] or nearsightedness.”

When dealing with cataracts, intraocular lenses (primarily the Crystalens for which Dell helped gain FDA approval) are used to replace natural lenses and clear cloudy sight. In refractive surgery, which helps patients with myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism, two surgical procedures – Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Advanced Surface Ablation – are available.

LASIK involves a device called a microkeratome, which lifts a thin layer of the cornea creating a flap. This flap is folded back so a beam of laser light can gently reshape the eye’s surface and improve sight. With Advanced Surface Ablation, there is no corneal flap; rather, it is an advanced form of photo refractive keratectomy using highly sophisticated excimer lasers to reshape the front surface of the cornea and make vision sharp.

Depending on the need and the case, these remarkable surgical procedures can produce excellent results, according to Dell. And he envisions even greater things to come.

“Each generation of ophthalmology tools and cataract implant lenses gets better and better,” the doctor said, “and there are promising new products in the pipeline right now. You know, sight is the sense that most of us would hate the most to lose. To be able to save it or improve it for someone … I can’t begin to describe the satisfaction. There isn’t any other career I would choose.”

The doctor who chose ophthalmology as his specialty is the oldest son in the competitive, high-powered, high-profile Dell family: Billionaire Michael of computer fame is the middle brother, and Adam, who is often classified as a venture capitalist, is the youngest. The ophthalmologist credits the example set by his parents for producing three siblings who are such high achievers. Until retirement, Alexander, the family patriarch, was a dedicated orthodontist; his wife and mother to the children, Lorraine, was a talented investment advisor.

“They were constantly showing us by their actions the importance of doing worthwhile things,” the Austin eye surgeon said. “My brothers and I took different roads, but the drive and determination to accomplish is there in all of us.”

Dell was born in Buffalo, N. Y. His family soon moved to Texas, however, and settled in Houston, where their oldest son had the good fortune to be exposed to some of the brightest medical minds and eye surgeons of the time. His decision to become a doctor was influenced strongly by these encounters and never wavered.

“I think I pretty much always wanted to be a surgeon,” he said. “Then when I started learning about the fascinating eye, I found my calling.”

Dell briefly attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, after which he segued into zoological studies at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his bachelor of arts with high honors. He returned to Houston to attend Baylor, get his medical degree and serve a transitional internship. His ophthalmology residency was completed at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he served as chief resident from 1991 to 1992. Texan Eye soon followed in Austin, and Dell Laser Consultants opened in 2002.

Studying at Tulane might have been providential – or at least it put him in the right place at the right time. Medicine’s amazing chapter on laser vision correction was just beginning; the first patient to benefit from the technology was being treated in the Louisiana city. Dell got in on the ground floor of the surgical revolution, and when such procedures were sanctioned in Canada, he went there to study. Later he became involved in Federal Drug Administration research, helped bring new laser treatment approvals to the United States and was also involved in FDA clinical trials to develop the Crystalens.

In addition to working closely with the FDA, Dell has done a lot of research and inventing on his own. The Dell Astigmatism Marker and Dell PlumeSafe Handpiece are just two of the innovative ophthalmology tools that he has devised. Significant time also is devoted to writing ophthalmology textbooks, lecturing and serving as an editor for several leading medical journals.

Dell’s professional affiliations – of which there are far too many to list – run the gamut from the American Academy of Ophthalmology to the International Society of Refractive Surgery. And each year, he’s a key player at a Colorado conference that updates military eye surgeons on the latest technology.

Laser technology to improve sight has been embraced by the military and even approved for astronauts, he points out, which is a very good indication as to its value and safety. Indeed, more and more members of the armed forces are opting for refractive surgery because, as Dell explains, you can’t very well storm a beach in spectacles or land a plane on an aircraft carrier if a contact suddenly flips out. Therefore, no matter how busy he is, the doctor makes time to do what he can to share his surgical know-how with doctors who serve the troops.

Granted, it isn’t always easy to fit the military conference into his fast-paced schedule. And, yes, he admits that all the professional commitments plus delicate operations might sound stressful. But it really isn’t. “I just have to be perfect every day,” he said.

The wry humor underscores one of Dell’s most charming qualities: a willingness to laugh a little at himself and the serious old world. It’s a trait much admired by Houston ophthalmologist, Dr. Stephen G. Slade, who not only praises his friend for contributing to the art of patient care, but also for being such a fun person to be around.

To his credit, Dell knows the healthy benefits of balancing his surgical role with a change of pace. Not long ago, for example, he helped his brother Adam put together a documentary film called, “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?” Traveling also provides respite for the doctor, as does spending time with his four great kids.

Will any of them follow in dad’s professional footsteps?

Dell, Austin’s visionary ophthalmologist, thinks this question over for a while and says there’s really no way of predicting what the future will hold for children.

“Kids are full of surprises,” he said. “I’m sure my parents would tell you that!”