Nicholas P. Bell, M.D.

Nicholas Bell, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in the medical, laser, and surgical management of glaucoma. Additionally, he practices general ophthalmology and performs traditional and laser cataract surgery with standard, toric (astigmatism-correcting) and multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). Dr. Bell has been repeatedly named one of Houston’s Top Doctors by both Houstonia and H Texas magazines. He has also been recognized as a Top Ophthalmologist in Houston by the International Association of Ophthalmologists.

Dr. Bell grew up in Boca Raton, FL, and received his undergraduate education at Duke University in Durham, NC, where he graduated Cum Laude with a major in Biology in 1994. He then moved back to South Florida to attend the University of Miami School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and graduated with research distinction in 1998. Dr. Bell completed his medical internship (1999), Ophthalmology surgical specialty residency (2002), and Glaucoma subspecialty fellowship (2003) training at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Before joining the Eye Center of Texas in 2020, Dr. Bell trained numerous ophthalmology residents and glaucoma fellows as a faculty member of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston (UTHealth).  Dr. Bell served as the Chief of Ophthalmology at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital in Houston from 2003-2015, and he was the Director of the Glaucoma Service and the Program Director of the Glaucoma Fellowship training program from 2007-2020. Dr. Bell was promoted to Clinical Associate Professor in 2009 and to Clinical Professor in 2015. During his tenure at UTHealth, Dr. Bell held the endowed A.G. McNeese, Jr. Professorship in Ophthalmology and also the Susan and Richard Anderson Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology.

Dr. Bell’s research interests have included working toward a better understanding of the causes and management of angle closure glaucoma, as well as investigating medical and surgical treatment options for glaucoma.  He has been an investigator in several clinical studies and presented research findings in numerous ophthalmic journals and at national and international meetings.  Additionally, Dr. Bell co-authored a textbook entitled Complications of Glaucoma Surgery.

Medical society memberships include the American Glaucoma Society, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Texas Ophthalmological Association, Texas Medical Association, Harris County Medical Society, and Houston Ophthalmological Society.

When not at work, Dr. Bell enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music, and spending time with his wife and three children. He avidly follows the Houston Rockets, Astros, and Texans but is passionate about Duke basketball!