UTHealth Houston Clinic Earns OBS Accreditation

The Robert Cizik Eye Clinic can now perform ophthalmology surgeries on-site.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Robert Cizik Eye Clinic, part of UTHealth Houston, has received Joint Commission accreditation for its office-based surgery (OBS) program. This allows the practice to perform ophthalmology procedures like cataract surgery, eyelid lifts, oculoplastic surgery, and cornea procedures in the clinic rather than at an ASC or hospital, reducing costs by eliminating facility fees.

Why it matters

The OBS accreditation enables UTHealth Houston to provide more convenient and cost-effective ophthalmology care to patients by allowing common procedures to be done on-site at the clinic. This aligns with broader industry trends of shifting certain surgeries from hospitals to outpatient settings to improve efficiency and affordability.

The details

To receive the OBS accreditation, the Robert Cizik Eye Clinic had to meet over 1,500 criteria set by the Joint Commission. Performing procedures in the clinic, rather than at a hospital or ambulatory surgery center, eliminates the facility fee that patients would normally have to pay.

  • The Robert Cizik Eye Clinic received the OBS accreditation on February 23, 2026.

The players

UTHealth Houston

A public academic health science center and part of the University of Texas System, providing clinical care, education, and research.

Robert Cizik Eye Clinic

An ophthalmology clinic that is part of UTHealth Houston and has now received accreditation to perform certain eye surgeries on-site.

Joint Commission

An independent, not-for-profit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs in the United States.

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What’s next

The Robert Cizik Eye Clinic can now begin offering select ophthalmology procedures in their office-based setting, providing patients with a more convenient and cost-effective option for their care.

The takeaway

The OBS accreditation allows UTHealth Houston's Robert Cizik Eye Clinic to bring certain ophthalmology surgeries out of the hospital setting and into their own clinic, aligning with industry trends towards outpatient care and reducing costs for patients.