Cornea Eye Institute

I was as nearsighted as they come. My own hand was blurry when I held it out in front of me with no contacts on. I was not a candidate for Laser Eye Surgery due to how bad my vision was. So I did PRK after having avoided it for years due to being afraid. It hurt like hell but it was so worth it! In a few days the pain was gone and now (a year later), my eyes are perfect. They were pretty close to perfect within a month of the procedure. For those of you who have been nearly blind, you can imagine the miracle it is to be able to see without any help. Dr. Rabinowitz was kind and caring the whole way through. My only regret is that I didn’t have it done years earlier. Don’t hesitate to come to Dr. R. for PRK or any other eye issue.

Dr. Rabinowitz did laser surgery on me over 10 years ago and my vision is still ²⁰⁄₁₅. Eagle eyes. I see some reviews saying bad service and rude staff and all I can say is that 10 years ago, experience was amazing and the staff was incredible. They worked diligently helping me to get my surgery financed since I could not afford it all in cash at the time. I also got a nice discount because I was a referral. I highly recommend Dr. Rabinowitz. You do not want someone Messing with your vision that does not know what they’re doing. And this guy definitely knows what he is doing as he is a pioneer of the procedure!

Amazing staff and the doctors are amazing. They really care about their patients. My son is on the quiet side and they try to always make him feel comfortable. If possible they bring him back early for his appointment. As for post op they are always there if you have questions or concerns.

Worst service ever, very unprofessional rude staff. Its a Puppy mill for eye care. Do yourself a favor and find another place.

I am going to get PRK surgery soon and I am 100 percent confident in Dr. Rabinowitz, he is the most helpful doctor that I have talked to so far and I have talked to many doctors. I don’t trust anyone else to do this surgery, and that is a sad commentary, but a lot of doctors are not as trustworthy as the general public would believe they are.

Dr. Gaster is a knowledgeable ophthalmologist and a wonderful, kind human being. I was diagnosed with Keratoconus at a young age and have been under his care for about 5 years. I am fortunate to have found him. In the last 5 years, Dr. Gaster has allowed me to reach the best vision I can. After a corneal crosslinking procedure, a corneal transplant, and PRK, I see respectively ²⁰⁄₂₅ in both eyes (unaided). This is a significant improvement as I was ²⁰⁄₆₀ in the right eye and ²⁰⁄₄ fingers in the left.
Dr. Gaster is extremely straightforward. He will not recommend a procedure he does not think is necessary, will thoroughly review details (along with complications), and answer any questions. His honesty is refreshing because other doctors, in my experience, will allude to being able to somehow cure or «conquer» your Keratoconus — which is not the case at all. A frank conversation with a medical professional is imperative for anyone who has a progressive, chronic disease (such as Keratoconus). Furthermore, Dr. Gaster has a strong work ethic that truly benefits his patients. He’s answered emails and taken phone calls during after-​hours.
In regards to the procedures, the surgeries have been life changing. For the first time in over a decade, I have functioning vision in my left eye. No words could ever describe how thankful my family and I are to him. We value and respect him.
I have such wonderful memories and positive things to speak of Dr. Gaster because he has always been supportive and professional.
So if you need an ophthalmologist, pay him a visit at the Cornea Eye Institute! The gals at the office are also a pleasure to work with — you are truly in great hands.

I am extremely grateful for the treatment from Dr. Rabinowitz and his expertise. His staff has always gone the extra mile to be helpful, personable, and professional. In the mid 1990’s I was diagnosed with Keratoconus and had corneal transplants in both eyes shortly after. Unfortunately I still could not wear glasses due to the high irregular astigmatism following post-​transplant surgery. My only options were wearing extremely uncomfortable rigid gas permeable hard contact lenses or glasses that still gave me distorted vision. I wore the hard contact lenses for about 10 years and even though it was the best correction, the discomfort was very debilitating.
After researching the topic of everything relating to my eye condition, I learned that Dr. Rabinowitz would be my best choice. Since 2008, I have commuted to the Cornea Eye Institute from San Diego because Dr. Rabinowitz has provided life changing corrective procedures for my condition. There was a time when I didn’t think there was hope for any type of correction after corneal transplants. Dr. Rabinowitz has significantly reduced my high prescription and irregular astigmatism and now I can wear glasses comfortably again. More often than not when I discuss my treatment with other ophthalmologists close to home, even those apprehensive about post-​transplant correction in general, they smile with assurance and tell me I am in good hands with Dr. Rabinowitz. I have also been told by other eye doctors that my vision is the best post correction they have seen on a corneal graft. I am looking forward to the topography guided laser correction in the near future. Thank you Dr. R and Staff!

I really don’t like leaving such a bad review, but given the circumstances, I figured I’d share my experience to allow people to see. Things started out very promising. Dr. Rabinowitz spent time to answer my questions and provided me with some important information and appeared thorough. After leaving his office, I fully considered him as the surgeon I would choose for PRK and was not going to look any further.
However… The next day my left eye was irritated (slightly painful when I blinked). I wondered if it was due to the tests they did during my consultation and figured it would probably go away. The next day it persisted and I started getting some of the same mild symptoms in my right eye. I realized that I had gotten an eye infection. There were several tests that they did at my consultation that may have led to this eye infection. They did a dry eye test, in which they inserted tissue into my eye and maybe the hands of the person who did it weren’t clean. Dr. Rabinowitz also dilated my eyes using a eye dropper which touched my eyeball and I’m not sure whether these drops were reused from patient to patient, but it wasn’t that small of a dropper and I didn’t see him throw it away…
Regardless of how it happened, I personally would not choose a clinic to perform surgery on me that has given me an eye infection. The last thing I would want is to get an infection post-​surgery due to uncleanliness. Maybe there is more care during the surgery, but I’m just not going to chance it.
On a side note, after my consultation I wanted asked the clinic if they would send my results to a eye surgeon I saw in Canada 10 years ago who told me I wasn’t a candidate at the time. Before going through with surgery I wanted to get their opinion on whether I’d be a candidate now with the changes in technology. However the clinic told me they wouldn’t give me the information or send it to the other clinic unless I paid $ 200. Not sure why they would charge me for something they already have and since it’s my information.

6 weeks ago I had LASIK surgery with Dr. Robinowitz. Not only was Dr. R a master at his craft, he cares deeply about your vision and wants the process to be easy as possible. The rest of the staff is also very helpful and timely! Before the surgery I couldn’t see 6 inches in front of my face. Now… ²⁰⁄₂₀!!! Thank you!

I saw Dr Oleynikov after having an eye infection that another ophtalmologist was treating and my eye wasn’t improving. Thankfully Dr. Oleynikov recognized that my infection wasn’t bacterial– pulled me off the antibiotics that the previous doctor prescribed and put me on an anti-​fungal which cured my infection.
Unfortunately the infection left me with a scar on my cornea that gave me an astigmatism. However Dr Oleynikov performed a PRK procedure that cleared the scar and fixed my prescription too! Now I see ²⁰⁄₂₀ which is better than I saw before the infection.
Dr Olekinov is a cornea specialist which gave me a lot of confidence in his abilities– that also makes him very good at laser procedures– especially in cases like mine that are not normal. His bedside manner is excellent and makes you feel comfortable throughout the procedure– he even related some of the things he was doing to things I was familiar with– which made me feel even better.
If you are looking to get your eyes done — don’t go cheap. I almost lost my vision– I wouldn’t trust my eyes with anyone but the best and Dr Oleynikov fits the bill.

I had my LASIK surgery done by Dr. Rabinowitz. The screening process was very good (you really don’t want to get this voluntary surgery if you don’t qualify so PLEASE do not go somewhere where their screening process is lame)
You need to have all your questions answered.
Dr. Rabinowitz was very clear about what to expect in terms of results. I got better than I expected (²⁰⁄₁₅ vision. Previously … well, I don’t know how bad it was but let’s just say I absolutely couldn’t read the ‘E’ at the top of the eye chart).
Please keep in mind that LASIK is a compromise. You are probably not going to have 100% perfect vision after the procedure. You probably see better now with your glasses than you will after LASIK. Keep these expectations clear and you will be happy with the results. (My favorite new experience: when it rains, I can let the rain fall on my face without glasses)

Dr. Rabinowitz saved my eyesight in my right eye!
I was diagnosed with moderate Keratoconus in my right eye (mild in my left eye so for now, nothing needs to be done), in July of 2013, and after my initial appointment with another doctor, I was told that there was no known solution, and I would have to be subjected to rigid contact lenses and a potential/​inevitable corneal transplant later in life. This was obviously terrifying news, and I truly thought the vision in my right eye was doomed. This is a common diagnosis by doctors who don’t understand Keratoconus or do not want to get involved with attempting to correct this disorder as the corrective measures are not FDA-​approved.
So, after my mother did some frantic searching for her terrified son, she was referred to Dr. Rabinowitz by an independent, unbiased, highly credible third-​party from the East Coast (I am from New Jersey), the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia. They had no vested interest in referring us to him, and they did so anyway.
So, I met with Dr. Rabinowitz for an initial appointment, and he stated that I would need both an INTAC implant and cross-​linking done in my right eye. So you know, and I am not a doctor, but to summarize in crude terms, the cross-​linking serves to halt the deterioration/​further astigmatism of the cornea, and the INTACS essentially flatten the cornea so that vision is restored and the astigmatism is corrected. After another meeting with Dr. Rabinowitz, I went into minor, outpatient surgery for both procedures on my right eye, and after about five months, I can tell you that I have gone from being legally blind in my right eye to having at least ²⁰⁄₃₀ vision! For me, the recovery took about a week, and it definitely was painful, but Dr. Rabinowitz’s staff was very friendly and helpful, and each patient has their own experience; they walk you through every step of the way so not to fear. The whole procedure took about three hours, and then I was back home.
I am not a solicitor or being paid to say this. This man saved my vision, and it was truly the best $ 10,000, uninsured, non-​FDA approved investment my family has ever made in my life. I owe my sight to Dr. Rabinowitz. Please, if you have been diagnosed with Keratoconus, do not wallow in despair or believe doctors when they say there is no clear solution and rigid contact lenses and an eventual corneal transplant are the only way to manage this disorder. It is true, the path of INTACS and cross-​linking is very expensive, I can’t deny that, but it is worth every penny, and there is monthly financing available.
To my knowledge, the only reason cross-​linking and INTACS are not FDA-​approved is because they are not officially out of trials, however, Dr. Rabinowitz has been following, by the book, the official medical journal methodology that has been established for these procedures for many years. He has successfully performed INTACS and cross-​linking procedures on literally thousands of patients all over the world, and we are all living proof that you can continue with a totally normal life even if you have been diagnosed with this scary, misunderstood condition.
When I was terrified and diagnosed with Keratoconus, I looked through Unilocal just as you do, to see people’s responses to different doctors and this condition. I needed someone, an actual patient or relative of a patient, to tell me that it was going to be ok. So, I am promising anyone who wants to talk, I am here to share my REAL story with anyone who is searching for a solution. Please take me up on my offer and message me via Unilocal, and I will gladly share my success story in detail on a phone call.
Dr. Rabinowitz, thank you so much for saving my eyesight! Without you, my life would never be the same. There is no way to put a price on saving my vision.
Sincerely,
Eric

Dr. Rabinowitz is, without question, the absolute best! I’m a long time patient and would never think of trusting my eyesight to anyone else.
I was very nearsighted with astigmatism and wanted LASIK. Because my sister has keratoconus, I felt it necessary to find a doctor with keratoconus knowledge who wouldn’t hesitate to tell me if I was not a LASIK candidate. After meeting with Dr. Rabinowitz and going through his screening and mapping process, he determined it best to do LASIK on one eye and PRK on the other. It’s been 15 years since my procedures and I still see ²⁰⁄₁₅ out of the LASIK eye and ²⁰⁄₂₀ out of the PRK eye — no question the best decision of my life!
Dr. Rabinowitz’s confidence, skill, knowledge and use of the latest technology instills a security in his patients that nothing is ever a problem. Since my procedures, Dr. Rabinowitz performed cataract removal on my Mom 10 years ago and will be doing the same for my Dad via laser next month. We look forward to making the trips to see Dr. Rabinowitz, as I come from San Diego and my parents from Palm Springs.
Look no further than Dr. Rabinowitz for whatever eye care issues you may have and you will not be disappointed.

I found Dr. Rabinowitz through my sister who researched Dr’s both on the East and West coasts. His mastery of the «blend» procedure is a God send! I never have to use glasses for any reason and my life has transformed. I have sent a few other friends to Dr. Rabinowitz who are thrilled with their result as well.
Dr. Rabinowitz is personable, knowledgable and intuitively gifted. Within a few moments of my consultation I knew I was in good hands and all worry or fear of the procedure was gone.
It’s a life changer and Dr. Rabinowitz is fantastic.

Like others, the idea of having someone going in and doing a ‘number’ on my eyes was something that I had no urgent desire for… yet, after all these years I had had enough with glasses and really wanted to be ‘free’ of them once and for all! The morning of my decision, I had woken up and couldn’t see because I had knocked my glasses off of the dresser. I then proceeded to knock my phone off from the same dresser while looking for the glasses, and the proceeded to simultaneously kick the laundry hamper, the cat, and then a suit case and that was the final straw!
I have always been researching and waiting for the right moment, and with the advancement of technology and techniques, I finally felt that this was the moment to pull the trigger and just do it! And oh boy, did I ever find the best time and doctor to do so! Dr. Yaron Rabinowitz has obviously had more than a handful of conversations on this topic, and it really shows when he speaks with you.
Sure, I came into the office a little tentative, with my list of questions, but after answering my questions he offered up some of his own. I think he literally went through about as many questions that I hadn’t asked as answering the ones that I did! What was extremely comforting was the level of thoroughness and professionalism he conveyed during the entire process.
I have had numerous eye exams over the years, and it was always quite annoying when the optometrist would say something like, ‘You are a great candidate for LASIK!’ Of course, lo and behold, the optometrist themselves would be wearing glasses and not had the procedure done on themselves… I would always follow-​up with, ‘If the procedure is so great, why haven’t you had it done?’…silence…
In this case, Dr. Yaron Rabinowitz, made an interesting comment when I had asked him the same question, since he does wear reading glasses…‘If I could, I would pay any amount of money to never have to wear these (glasses).’ For me, this was enough said… sign me up!
The staff, and I will especially call out Rozie, were extremely helpful! The obvious is quite busy, but I never felt like I was ‘lost in the shuffle’ of patients and documents.
Truly a memorable experience and I have already recommended this office to numerous others! I am today glasses free with better than ²⁰⁄₂₀ vision, and hope that you have the same experience as well!

Dr. Yaron Rabinowitz is absolutely the BEST! I was diagonsed with a degenerative cornea condition and eventually cornea transplants were my only option. Dr. Rabinowitz performed both of the surgeries (1 year apart). There is no surgeon whom I trust more. I felt completely confident in his care. I am exceedingly grateful for his knowledge and skill. My new corneas are completely healthy, and I literally have a new lease on life.
Dr. Rabinowitz answered all of my questions patiently during all phases of these delicate procedures. He was even available to speak with personally after hours when I had some post-​surgery pain. I was amazed and grateful.
I highly recommend Dr. Rabinowitz!

Highly recommend Cornea Eye Institute! The staff are very friendly and professional. Never had to wait in the waiting area more than 5 minutes. And great results…1 week after my LASIK surgery I had ²⁰⁄₁₅ vision in both eyes!
Dr Gaster was also a wonderful doctor, very patient and kind and very thorough about explaining the procedure before and during the surgery. So I knew what to expect throughout the surgery.
Also they have the latest technology. I opted for Intralase, so a laser created the flaps instead of a blade… i just didn’t like the idea of a blade cutting my corneas. It was a little extra $$ but when it comes to your eyes do you really want to go cheap?

I researched several Eye Centers to get my LASIK done. The Cornea Eye Institute is the best decision I could have made. The staff was very courteous and made me feel at ease during the whole process, not to mention the teddy bear I got to squeeze during surgery :)
I had a speedy recovery and have perfect vision now.

My sister and I came here about 7 years ago. My brother came here about 4 years ago. We all have great vision till this day. I just got my eyes checked by an optometrist and she said I still don’t need glasses and my eyes are in good health.
Warning of my bad experience at Laser Eye Center: I went to the original Laser Eye Center about 12 years ago. Dr. Moosa and Dr. Garabet (Founder) tried to correct my vision THREE (yes, I said 3) times! I still had to wear glasses afterwards! I did NOT get a refund.
After my sister had success with Dr. Rabinowitz, I came to him with what was left of my corneas. He fixed them and I NO LONGER wear glasses!

I was happy with the care here.
Thank you