Smita AGARWAL

Dr Smita Agarwal (MBBS; FRANZCO, Grad Dip in Refrac Surg) is a comprehensive ophthalmologist with a special interest in refractive cataract surgery, complex cataract surgery including post corneal refractive cataracts, and anterior segment eye diseases. She completed her ophthalmology training at Monash Medical Centre before undertaking her advanced training in cataract surgery at the same institution. She also completed Grad diploma in Refract surgery through University of Sydney. She has vast experience with a variety of intraocular lenses available and provides customized treatment suitable to patient’s lifestyle and ocular health. She is ex- Head of Ophthalmology at Wollongong and Shellharbour Hospitals and a visiting medical officer at various private hospitals in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region.

Dr Agarwal works privately in Illawarra and Shoalhaven region and holds an academic post as a Clin A/Prof at the University of Wollongong and Senior clinical lecturer at University of Sydney. She is actively involved in the teaching of medical students, registrars and general practitioners in the area.

Dr Agarwal started her state of the art first laser center in Illawarra region in 2018, where she performs refractive laser treatment including PRK/LASIK/SMILE using the latest laser platforms. In 2023, she opened her customized day surgery with all the latest phacoemulsification machines, digital image guided toric marking systems and intelligent connection of all the relevant machines to the operating microscope and phacomachine for work efficiency and avoid any transcription errors.

Dr Agarwal holds a deep sense of responsibility to the community, particularly those with limited access to adequate health care, and has provided voluntary health care to underprivileged communities. She also has a keen interest in education and research, acting as a mentor for young researchers and keeping up to date in ophthalmology.

Her innovation of the instrument (Smita’s Epithelial Cell Curette) and technique to remove epithelial cells from under the LASIK flap and SMILE pocket recently won runners up trophy at the prestigious ASCRS meeting held in Boston 2024. She has been an invited speaker at various Ophthalmology meetings and has publications in peer reviewed journals. Recently, she has earned a certificate in “AI in Health Care From Strategies to Implementation” from Harvard Medical School (Feb 2025).