GME - Brooklyn Queens Ophthalmology

Patient Care Services

We provide the following services to all of our patients in the Queens Community.

Comprehensive Ophthalmology / Cataract Surgery

Our residents provide Comprehensive Ophthalmology services to the residents of Jamaica, Queens. Our services include general ophthalmic care (routine eye exams), diagnosis of ophthalmic disorders, and laser, medical, and surgical care for all types of conditions of the eye and surrounding structures. Patients are screened for specific ocular problems and appropriately referred to specialty services if needed.

Resident cataract surgery is coordinated and mentored by our Program Director, Dr. Laurence Weissman, and the entire attending staff of comprehensive ophthalmologists. Residents are exposed to a variety of techniques for cataract removal and management of intraoperative complications. Residents graduate from this program with a strong proficiency in cataract surgery.

Glaucoma Service

The Glaucoma Service provides evaluation, and medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma and diseases. Management includes proper drug therapy, laser procedures, and/or filtering surgeries. Visual field assessment, optic nerve imaging, gonioscopy, and pachymetry are used in the diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma patients. Dr. Kerline Marcelin heads our glaucoma service and actively teaches the residents in the clinic and operating room.

Oculoplastics Service

The Oculoplastics Service, under the supervision of Dr I. Rand Rodgers, provides ophthalmic plastic and orbital examinations, diagnosis and treatment of oculoplastic/orbital disorders, pre-op and post-op evaluation, and surgical management of oculoplastic/orbital problems. Our residents perform a variety of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, including blepharoplasty, repair of ectropion/entropion, and traumatic lid repair.

Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Service

The pediatric ophthalmology service offers primary eye care to children. Routine eye and vision exams are a large portion of our service, and patients with amblyopia, strabismus, tear duct disorders and other conditions of the eye receive excellent evaluation and treatment. Dr. Douglas Freeley offers over 25 years of pediatric ophthalmology experience in his encounters with the residents. Residents also have a routine weekly lecture schedule with Dr. Freeley, and the second-year residents devote one day a week at two clinical sites specifically for pediatric patients.

Vitreoretinal Service

The Vitreoretinal Service consists of Dr. Joseph Crapotta, Dr. Uri Shabto, Dr. Peter Weseley and Dr. Alan Dayan. Our retina department instructs the residents in all aspects of disease and surgery of the retina and vitreous. The residents manage a wide spectrum of retinal diseases including diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal detachments, and retinal vascular events. The residents graduate from the program with an impressive number of retinal lasers and a firm understanding of retinal ancillary testing such as fluorescein angiography and OCT.

Cornea

Dr. Richard Najac specializes in surgical and medical management of corneal disorders, cataract surgery, and refractive surgeries and is the main clinical instructor for the Cornea service. Dr. Najac is active in teaching the residents in the clinic and in the operating room. The residents achieve surgical and clinical expertise in cataract surgery, corneal transplantation surgeries, and management of corneal and external diseases.

Neuro-Ophthalmology

The cornerstone of our Neuro-Ophthalmology service is Dr. Jacqueline Winterkorn. Dr. Winterkorn devotes an enormous amount of her time towards teaching the residents and also allows the residents to participate in her private clinic. Disorders such as ischemic optic neuropathy, optic neuritis, cranial nerve palsies, and tumors of the optic nerve are a mere fraction of the pathology that the residents encounter in neuro-ophthalmology clinic. In addition, an extensive lecture schedule is coordinated by Dr. Winterkorn and Dr. Christian Wertenbaker.

Low Vision

Evaluation for low vision patients is performed under the supervision of Marc Epstein, OD at Mary Immaculate Hospital. The residents gain valuable experience in fitting patients for rigid gas permeable contact lenses and prescribing low vision aids and telescopes.