Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology

What Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology does

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology is a private ophthalmology practice founded in 1989 and headquartered at 157 West 19th Street in Manhattan's Chelsea Gallery District, where it has operated since expanding there in 1999. The practice is legally organized as Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology, PLLC under New York state regulations and is owned and operated by Dr. Christopher T. Coad, MD FACS, a board-certified ophthalmologist and pioneer in laser refractive surgery whose surgical experience dates to 1984 and who has performed thousands of LASIK and cataract procedures since FDA approval in the early 1990s. The clinical team comprises Dr. Coad plus two optometrists, Dr. Jay Yoon and Dr. Jasmine Nouravi, with a total headcount of 1-10 staff and no external investors, parent company, or funding history.

The practice provides a full spectrum of vision correction and medical eye care services. Core surgical offerings center on laser refractive procedures — iLASIK (combining IntraLase femtosecond laser flap creation with Advanced CustomVue wavefront-guided correction), traditional LASIK, Advanced PRK/Advanced Surface Ablation, and Visian ICL implantable lenses — alongside cataract surgery with premium IOL implants and no-stitch techniques. Medical eye care includes glaucoma management (with Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty), dry eye treatment including IPL therapy, eye exams with WaveScan 3D corneal mapping, chalazion and eye infection treatment, and emergency eye care. Dr. Coad is affiliated with New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, where procedures such as Visian ICL are performed.

Revenue is generated through three streams: fee-for-service surgical vision correction procedures (financed in part through CareCredit with payments as low as $80 per month and FSA/HSA acceptance), insurance-reimbursed professional services for medical eye care (accepted across Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Fidelis, Emblem Health, Medicare, United Healthcare, Oxford, and others), and ancillary optical product sales (contact lenses via yourlens.com and ocular vitamins). The go-to-market model is direct-to-consumer, driven by Dr. Coad's reputational standing (Castle Connolly Top Doctor 2017 and 2026; Super Doctors New York 2026; FACS fellowship; US News & World Report Patient's Top Choice), earned media appearances (CBS, Fox News, Real Simple, Your Health Magazine), an active blog and social media presence, and patient referrals.

Name

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology

Legal name

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology, PLLC

Website

https://chelseaeyeophthalmology.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology is a private Manhattan ophthalmology practice founded in 1989, led by Dr. Christopher T. Coad. It provides LASIK, cataract surgery, and comprehensive eye care to individual patients in NYC through direct-to-consumer marketing and insurance reimbursement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (621320), Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Cataract Surgery Systems & IOLs (Phaco Systems, IOLs, Intraoperative Aberrometry, Viscoelastics) (HLAHAJAH), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN)

Keywords

• Laser vision correction
• Ophthalmology medical practice
• Cataract surgery services
• Comprehensive eye care
• LASIK refractive surgery

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Surgical Vision Correction Procedures: Fee-for-service revenue from LASIK, iLASIK, PRK/Advanced Surface Ablation, Visian ICL, and cataract surgeries with premium IOL implants. Procedures are performed in-office or at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. The practice offers financing through CareCredit and accepts FSA/HSA payments.
2. Medical Eye Care Services: Revenue from comprehensive eye exams, treatment of medical conditions (glaucoma, dry eye, chalazion, eye infections), and ongoing patient care. The practice accepts numerous health insurance plans including Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Fidelis, Emblem Health, Medicare, United Healthcare, and Oxford.
3. Optical Products: Revenue from prescription eyewear and contact lenses. The practice offers online ordering through yourlens.com and sells ocular vitamins.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology is a private ophthalmology practice in Manhattan that provides laser vision correction procedures (iLASIK, traditional LASIK, Advanced PRK/ASA, and Visian ICL) and cataract surgery with premium intraocular lens implants. It also delivers comprehensive medical eye care including eye exams, glaucoma management, dry eye treatment, and emergency eye care, supported by physician-performed diagnostics and patient financing options.

Product overview

Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology is a comprehensive eye care practice offering a full spectrum of vision correction and eye health services. The core offerings center on laser vision correction procedures including iLASIK (the flagship blade-free, all-laser procedure using Intralase and CustomVue technology), traditional LASIK, Advanced PRK/Advanced Surface Ablation (for patients with thin corneas), and Visian ICL implantable lens. Surgical services include cataract surgery with premium IOL implants using no-stitch techniques. The practice also provides medical eye care including glaucoma management with laser therapy, dry eye treatment with IPL, emergency eye conditions, and routine primary eye care including eye exams, contact lenses, and ocular vitamins. These services are delivered through a unified practice model at a single Manhattan location, with Dr. Christopher T. Coad, MD FACS as the founding ophthalmologist supported by optometrists Dr. Jay Yoon and Dr. Jasmine Nouravi.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• iLASIK Blade-free, all-laser LASIK procedure combining IntraLase femtosecond laser for flap creation with Advanced CustomVue wavefront-guided personalized vision correction; described as the only NASA-approved laser vision correction procedure.
• Traditional LASIK Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis procedure using a microkeratome or femtosecond laser to create a corneal flap and an excimer laser to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors.
• Advanced PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) Laser vision correction that reshapes the corneal surface without creating a flap, removing the outer epithelial layer before laser treatment; suited for patients with thin corneas or other LASIK contraindications.
• Visian ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) FDA-approved procedure that places a biocompatible implantable lens behind the iris and in front of the natural lens to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism, with UV protection and reversibility.
• Cataract Surgery Outpatient surgical removal of the clouded natural lens and replacement with artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implants, with premium IOL options and no-stitch technique.
• No-Stitch Cataract Surgery Advanced cataract removal technique using a small incision that self-seals without stitches, with ultrasound and suction to remove the cataract and implant an artificial lens.
• Premium Intraocular Lens Implants (IOL) Artificial lens implants used in cataract surgery, including premium options that may correct presbyopia and reduce dependence on glasses after surgery.
• Eye Exams Comprehensive eye and vision examinations including visual acuity testing, eye pressure measurement, retinal examination, and corneal mapping for pre-LASIK candidacy assessment.
• Dry Eye Treatment Diagnosis and treatment of dry eye syndrome, including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy and other therapeutic options.
• Glaucoma Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of patients achieve 20/20 or better vision after LASIK
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount SinaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Coad is affiliated with the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Some surgical procedures, including Visian ICL, are performed at this facility. The affiliation provides access to a renowned medical center for complex procedures and reinforces the practice's medical credibility.
• Castle ConnollycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDr. Coad has been selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, allowing use of the Top Doctor designation in marketing materials and profile listing on the Castle Connolly website, which drives patient referrals.
• Super DoctorscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDr. Coad has been named to the Super Doctors New York list, enabling use of the Super Doctors designation and providing a profile on superdoctors.com for patient referrals.
• CareCreditcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCareCredit provides healthcare financing services for patients, allowing them to pay for procedures over time with affordable monthly payments. The practice offers CareCredit as a payment option, making procedures more accessible to patients who cannot pay upfront.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island (OCLI): Large multi-specialty ophthalmology group serving the greater NY metro with LASIK, cataract, glaucoma, and comprehensive eye care. Comparable service breadth and NY-area catchment but materially larger scale and multi-site footprint.
• LasikPlus: National LASIK-focused chain with multiple US centers offering standardized laser vision correction. Comparable on the elective refractive procedure but competes on convenience, financing, and national marketing rather than bespoke physician reputation.
• TLC Laser Eye Centers: Large multi-location North American LASIK chain offering branded laser vision correction across many markets. Overlaps on LASIK service line and patient demographic but operates at much larger scale across many geographies.

Direct peers

• Manhattan LASIK Center: Midtown Manhattan refractive surgery center offering LASIK, PRK, SMILE, and cataract surgery with multiple surgeons. Direct competitor for elective vision-correction procedures from the same Manhattan catchment.
• Dello Russo Laser Vision: Long-established independent Manhattan/NJ refractive surgery practice founded by Drs. Joseph and Jeffrey Dello Russo, offering LASIK, PRK, and cataract surgery. Comparable single-region physician-led premium LASIK brand competing for the same elective-surgery patient pool in the NYC metro.
• Park Avenue LASIK / Eye Center: Park Avenue-based Manhattan ophthalmology practice offering LASIK, cataract surgery, and comprehensive eye care. Competes in the same premium, reputation-driven NYC refractive segment with a similar physician-brand model.
• Kelly Laser Center / Liberty Laser Eye Center: Independent Manhattan-based refractive surgery practice offering LASIK and related vision-correction procedures, marketing around physician experience and advanced laser technology — directly comparable boutique NYC model.

Regional players

• Columbia Ophthalmology (ColumbiaDoctors): Academic ophthalmology department at Columbia University Medical Center offering comprehensive eye care, refractive surgery, and subspecialty services in the Manhattan market. Competes for high-acuity and reputation-sensitive NYC patients.
• New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai Ophthalmology: Hospital-based ophthalmology department at the same institution where Chelsea Eye's founder has privileges. Provides tertiary ophthalmology including refractive surgery, cataract, and subspecialty care within Mount Sinai's academic system.

Others

• YourLens.com: Online contact lens ordering platform integrated into Chelsea Eye's practice for direct patient reorders. Functions as an enabling technology/e-commerce partner for the practice's contact lens revenue stream.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ChelseaEyeOphth
• Facebookfacebook.com/2020CEO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chelsea-eye-ophthalmology-pllc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chelsea Eye Ophthalmology