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 is the Director of the Cornea Fellowship.
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 is treating 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 cataract, cornea and refractive eye surgery since 2004. |
