Our Staff
Richard E. Braunstein, M.D.
Dr. Braunstein is the Miranda Wong Tang Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute of Columbia University. He is Chief of the division of Anterior Segment and Director of Refractive Surgery.
Dr. Braunstein graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, magna cum laude, with Honors in Biochemistry and received his medical education at Columbia University’s College of Physicians & Surgeons. Dr. Braunstein completed his ophthalmology residency at Columbia’s Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute and a fellowship in Cornea and External disease at The Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, MD. He joined Columbia’s faculty in 1994 where he has built a practice specializing in refractive surgery, corneal disease, cataract surgery and lens implant complications. Dr. Braunstein’s surgical specialties include LASIK, PRK, no stitch cataract surgery, and corneal transplantation.
Dr. Braunstein’s research has included working with new instruments for both the study and treatment of corneal disease. He has been extensively involved in excimer laser research and has served as principal investigator for national clinical trials using the excimer laser for the treatment of farsightedness and farsightedness with astigmatism. Dr. Braunstein has participated in numerous clinical trials to assess new surgical treatments as well as new pharmacologic therapies for many corneal diseases. Dr. Braunstein initiated a corneal genetics program at Columbia University with Dr. Rando Allikmets to help identify genetic defects associated with corneal diseases such as Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy and keratoconus. Most recently, Dr. Braunstein has treated patients with keratoconus and post-LASIK ectasia using Corneal Cross-linking as part of a multi-centered U.S. FDA clinical trial to study the safety and effectiveness of this new technology. In addition, Dr. Braunstein is working with Dr. Paik on a new method of corneal cross-linking using beta nitro alcohols in an animal model. Dr. Braunstein has numerous publications and has lectured nationally and internationally on his research and experience.
Dr. Braunstein is a certified excimer laser trainer and has trained hundreds of physicians in the use of the excimer laser for refractive eye surgery. Dr. Braunstein established one of the first residency training programs in laser vision correction in 2001 and has incorporated laser vision certification into the residency training program. In addition, Dr. Braunstein has trained Cornea fellows at the Harkness Eye Institute in all aspects of refractive eye surgery since 2004.
Stephen Trokel, M.D.
Professor, Columbia University
Dr. Stephen Trokel graduated from Cornell University with a degree in physics and subsequently received his master's degree in radiation biology. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Rochester, New York. After completing his residency at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and fellowships at the National Institutes of Health and at Columbia's Edward Harkness Eye Institute, Dr. Trokel received a Doctor of Medical Science degree in Ophthalmology-Physiology, also from Columbia.
Dr. Trokel is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons, the National Board of Medical Examiners, and is a member of both the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Widely regarded as the first ophthalmologist to recognize the significance of the excimer laser for use in corneal refractive surgery, Dr. Trokel's vision and exhaustive research has made laser vision correction a realistic alternative to glasses and contacts for millions worldwide. Today, he remains an innovator working closely with VISX, Inc. to further develop and implement new technology. In 1999, Dr. Trokel was nominated by over 30,000 of his peers as one of the 20th Century most influential ophthalmologists.
Dr. Trokel is Vice Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Columbia, and the Director of Columbia Vision Correction Center.
Leejee H. Suh, MD
Dr. Leejee H. Suh is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute of Columbia University. She joins the faculty after her professorship at the famed Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Suh graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with top honors in Biology. She received her medical education at the New York University School of Medicine, where she graduated with honors in the honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Suh completed her ophthalmology residency at the renowned Wilmer Eye Institute at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. During her time there she was honored for her research in corneal diseases with the Mitchell Prize for resident research, in addition to numerous other research grant awards. She was accepted into the prestigious ophthalmological honor society of Heed Fellows after her residency training. She completed her fellowship in cornea and external diseases at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami Florida where she joined the faculty. She has published extensively on corneal diseases and transplantation. She returns to New York, her hometown, to join the faculty at Columbia University.
Dr. Suh is a certified excimer laser physician and is an expert on bladeless refractive surgery with the femtosecond laser, Intralase. Dr. Suh’s surgical specialties include LASIK, PRK, cataract surgery, corneal transplantation, corneal imaging, and endothelial corneal surgery (DSEK, Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty).