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Dr. Lambert, the founder of RVT in 1997, graduated from the United States Air Force (USAF) Academy in 1970 with a BS in Physics and Math and started his professional life as a USAF supersonic jet instructor pilot (T-38). In 1974 he entered Baylor College of Medicine following a short stint at the University of Texas to obtain an Biology degree and pre-med courses, graduating in three years, followed by internship and residency in Ophthalmology at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio. He then completed a fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery and Diseases at Duke University with the father of vitreous surgery, Dr. Robert Machemer and faculty members Drs. Brooks McCuen, Reece Landers, and Jim Tiedeman.

Returning to San Antonio, Dr. Lambert served in various roles including Chief of the Retina Service, Residency Program Director and Chairman of the Air Force’s Ophthalmology residency program as well as Chief of the Division of Surgery and Consultant to the Surgeon General from 1983 to 1990. After "retiring" from the Air Force as a Colonel and receiving the Air Force's Legion of Merit, Dr. Lambert served on the faculty at Emory University as Chief of the Ophthalmology Service at Emory Hospital. In 1992 he was recruited to the full-time faculty at Baylor College of Medicine. He is currently on several clinical faculties as Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Cornell University/Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD.  He was the Associate Chief of Ophthalmology at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital and has served as an Executive Committee member of the Methodist Hospital and a board member of the St. Luke's IPA of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital as well as a board member at Gramercy Medical Center in Houston.  

Dr. Lambert has authored over 120 publications, has given over 500 national and international lectures, is the inventor of 40+ instruments with 2 patents, and has been the author of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) Retina update manual for ophthalmologists as well as director of the AAO’s course in Retina, Vitreous, and Ocular Trauma and the Senior Author of the Retina Specialty Clinical Updates for the AAO. He is a Reviewer for seven ophthalmology journals and serves as the Civilian Consultant in Ophthalmology to the USAF Surgeon General. He has been the Principal Investigator on multiple clinical studies in the diseases listed below.

Dr. Lambert was awarded the AAO’s Honor Award in 1991 and Senior Honor Award in 2001, the Vitreous Society's Honor Award in 2002, was honored by the Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center Ophthalmology department by having its library named after him and is listed in the peer nominated Best Doctor’s in America since the awards' inception, America's Top Doctors, and is one of Texas Monthly magazines' "SuperDocs" to the present. In 2003 he was honored to have the Distinguished Residency Graduate award (Lambert Award) from the combined Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center Ophthalmology residency named after him.

Dr. Lambert is the Director of the Texas Foundation for Eye Research, is a board member of the 100 Club of Central Texas, a board member of the Robert Machemer Foundation at Duke University, and supports various charities such as the 100 Club of Houston, the 100 Club of Central Texas, Benevolent Missions International, I Care San Antonio, and a fund raiser and donor to various USAFA projects including the SEA Pavilion dedicated in 2010. 

He specializes in complex vitreoretinal surgical procedures in both adults and children and is one of the pioneers of macular and submacular surgery. He specializes in the surgical treatment of macular holes, epiretinal membranes (macular pucker), retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy, trauma,  macular degeneration and other diseases causing subretinal neovascularization and is researching new treatments for macular degeneration and transplantation as well as surgical treatments for vein occlusions, diabetes, complicated retinal detachments (PVR) and other disorders.  He has performed over 20,000 complicated vitreoretinal procedures and is one of the most experienced surgeons in the country.  His specialty and love is repairing very complicated eyes.

He has been married to his wife Jenny since 1970 and they have one terrific son, Josh, who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Josh and his beautiful wife, Yvonne, have a band that is constantly touring and have six terrific CD's out to date. You can find information on them at www.theoctopusproject.com or by listening to some episodes of CSI: NY or the movie "21".

Mike and Josh restored an old car in their spare time and Mike enjoys exercise, hiking, computers (including the RVT website), video editing, photography, traveling, auto rallying and concours, auto restoration and flying. He is the current President of the Hill Country Chapter of the Ferrari Club of America.

Dr. Lambert is in the process of creating a foundation to provide free care to complicated vitreoretinal patients from anywhere in the world without charge and to restore vision via new techniques and stem cell research.

Disclaimer Stuff: The opinions expressed in this website are those of RVT.  Diagnosis and therapy should be based on a thorough examination by and recommendations of a qualified eye provider.