The selection of ophthalmologist Matthew Hammond, M.D., as a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor marks the fourteenth consecutive year he has received this peer-nominated honor, placing him among the seven percent of U.S. licensed physicians chosen annually for regional specialty recognition. This sustained acknowledgment matters because it validates clinical excellence through a rigorous, physician-led selection process that patients can trust, as doctors cannot pay for inclusion. The recognition underscores the critical role of specialized, high-caliber eye care in a field where technological precision directly impacts quality of life.
Dr. Hammond practices at Carrot LASIK and Eye Center, a facility providing advanced surgical and medical vision correction to the greater Phoenix area. His focus on refractive surgery integrates modern diagnostic technology with surgical precision to address diverse vision correction needs. The consistent Top Doctor designation signals to patients and the medical community a long-term commitment to the values Dr. Hammond emphasizes: patient care, compassion, and outcomes. In a healthcare landscape where patients seek reliable indicators of quality, peer nominations and the Castle Connolly research team's evaluation offer a meaningful filter, as detailed in their selection methodology at https://www.castleconnolly.com.
The practical impact of this recognition extends to the procedures Dr. Hammond performs, which include LASIK, Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK), Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE), cataract surgery with premium intraocular lens implantation, and EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens). These interventions utilize advanced technologies to ensure safety and accuracy, supported by the center's comprehensive diagnostic capabilities like corneal mapping and ocular coherence tomography. For individuals considering vision correction, the Top Doctor distinction provides an evidence-based starting point, reducing uncertainty in selecting a surgeon.
Dr. Hammond's background further contextualizes the award's significance. After earning his medical degree from George Washington University and completing ophthalmology residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he served nine years as an active-duty U.S. Army ophthalmologist. His roles included Chief of Ophthalmology and Director of Warfighter Refractive Surgery at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, with service during the Global War on Terror and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, earning him the Meritorious Service Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal. This experience highlights a career dedicated to high-stakes care, reinforcing why peer recognition holds weight.
The broader implication for the healthcare industry is the reinforcement of transparent, merit-based accolades in an era of marketing noise. Castle Connolly's process, where physicians are nominated by peers and selected based on criteria like medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary histories, offers a model for validating expertise without financial influence. As patients navigate complex medical decisions, such third-party endorsements help bridge information gaps, promoting informed choice and trust in specialized fields like ophthalmology.
