Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology

What Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology does

Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology is an academic medical unit within the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, operating the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia University Irving Medical Center since 1993. The department executes a three-fold mission spanning clinical care, research, and physician training. Clinical services are delivered through ColumbiaDoctors Ophthalmology practice locations, ranging from routine vision-correction examinations to sophisticated diagnostics and subspecialty treatments in glaucoma, cornea, pediatric ophthalmology, neuro-ophthalmology, and vitreoretinal care; the most recent site, the Robert Burch Family Eye Center at Lighthouse Guild in Lincoln Center, opened in January 2025. Research output is organized through 10 named laboratories (Bala, John, Silverman, Sparrow, Tezel, Thakoor, Tsang, Wang, Yang, Zhang), active clinical trials, and a Precision Ophthalmology initiative, with faculty presenting at venues such as the ARVO Annual Meeting.

The educational portfolio includes an ACGME-accredited ophthalmology residency and five subspecialty fellowship programs — Mohapatra Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Jean and Kent Sheng Glaucoma, Cornea/Anterior Segment/Refractive Surgery, Danny H.-Kauffmann Jokl Neuro-Ophthalmology, and Vitreoretinal — supplemented by medical-student curricula, the Basic & Clinical Science Course, and a Digital Reference of Ophthalmology. Revenue is generated implicitly through clinical billings via ColumbiaDoctors, GME funding, sponsored research grants, and philanthropic giving (the Burch donation enabling the Lincoln Center clinic being the most recent example); no department-level revenue figures are publicly disclosed. The department is governed as a non-commercial academic unit under Columbia University and operates as a strategic clinical partner to NewYork-Presbyterian hospital and Lighthouse Guild.

Name

Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology

Legal name

Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology

Website

https://columbiaeye.org

Company type

Public

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology is an academic ophthalmology unit within the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, delivering subspecialty clinical care through ColumbiaDoctors, training residents and fellows across five subspecialties, and conducting vision research across 10 named laboratories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Ophthalmology Services

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists) (621111), Offices of Physicians (62111)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Clinics (Medical & Surgical Eye Care) (HLAKAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retina & Vitreous Specialists (HLAKAKAE), Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery (LASIK/PRK) (HLAKAKAF), Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (HLAKAKAD), Comprehensive Eye Exams & Vision Care (HLAKAKAA), Vision & Ophthalmic Diagnostic Centers (Optometry/OCT/Retinal Imaging) (HLAFAKAI)

Keywords

• Ophthalmology clinical care
• Medical residency training
• Vision science research
• Ophthalmology fellowship programs
• Clinical trials

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

The Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology provides comprehensive clinical eye care services through ColumbiaDoctors, ranging from routine vision examinations to sophisticated diagnostics and treatment of complex eye conditions. The department operates residency and fellowship training programs in ophthalmology subspecialties (pediatric ophthalmology, glaucoma, cornea/refractive surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, vitreoretinal), medical student education, and conducts vision research through the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute and multiple named research laboratories.

Product overview

The Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons operates as an academic medical center with a three-fold mission of clinical care, research, and education. The department offers comprehensive clinical eye care services through ColumbiaDoctors Ophthalmology, spanning from routine eye examinations to sophisticated diagnostics and treatments. Its educational portfolio includes an ophthalmology residency program, multiple specialized fellowship programs (pediatric ophthalmology, glaucoma, cornea/refractive surgery, neuro-ophthalmology, and vitreoretinal), and medical student education. Research activities are conducted through the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, which has operated since 1993, and includes multiple research laboratories and precision ophthalmology initiatives. The department operates clinical facilities including the Robert Burch Family Eye Center at the Lighthouse Guild in Lincoln Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patient Care Services A wide array of clinical ophthalmology services ranging from simple eye examinations for vision correction to sophisticated diagnostics and treatments for virtually any eye condition, delivered through ColumbiaDoctors Ophthalmology practice locations.
• Robert Burch Family Eye Center Outpatient eye care facility located at the Lighthouse Guild in Lincoln Center, offering comprehensive ophthalmology services through ColumbiaDoctors.
• Ophthalmology Residency Program A rigorous residency training program that trains the next generation of ophthalmologists in the science and values of clinical practice.
• Mohapatra Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship Specialized fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus.
• Jean and Kent Sheng Glaucoma Fellowship Specialized fellowship training focused on glaucoma diagnosis and treatment.
• Cornea, Anterior Segment, and Refractive Surgery Fellowship Specialized fellowship training in cornea, anterior segment procedures, and refractive surgery.
• Danny H.-Kauffmann Jokl, MD Neuro-Ophthalmology Fellowship Specialized fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology.
• Vitreoretinal Fellowship Specialized fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery and treatments.
• Medical Student Education Educational programs for medical students in ophthalmology.
• The Basic & Clinical Science Course in Ophthalmology Comprehensive course covering both basic and clinical science in ophthalmology.
• Digital Reference of Ophthalmology Digital reference materials for ophthalmology education.
• Clinical Trials Active clinical trials program for ophthalmic conditions offered through the department's research infrastructure.
• Precision Ophthalmology Precision ophthalmology research and clinical applications program advancing personalized approaches to eye care and treatment.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• NewYork-PresbyteriancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic medical center partnership providing hospital-based clinical care services. Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology physicians provide patient care through this affiliated hospital system.
• Lighthouse GuildmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobert Burch Family Eye Center opened in January 2025 at Lighthouse Guild in Lincoln Center. This clinic space was made possible through a generous donation and provides expanded ophthalmology services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stein Eye Institute (UCLA): Academic ophthalmology department at a major U.S. medical school delivering subspecialty clinical care, fellowship training, and research programs analogous in scope to Columbia's department.
• Moran Eye Center (University of Utah): University-based ophthalmology center with subspecialty clinics, residency and fellowship programs, and a sizable research footprint; comparable peer in the academic ophthalmology space.
• Casey Eye Institute (OHSU): Academic ophthalmology institute within Oregon Health & Science University offering multi-subspecialty patient care, fellowship training, and research — analogous academic three-pillar model.
• Wilmer Eye Institute (Johns Hopkins): Academic ophthalmology department at a peer Ivy-affiliated medical center with comparable subspecialty clinics, fellowship programs, and research labs. Closest analog in mission and scale to Columbia's department.
• Wills Eye Hospital: Independent specialty eye hospital with residency and fellowship training, multi-subspecialty clinics, and active research; operates a similar three-pillar model of clinical care, education, and research.
• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (University of Miami): Top-ranked academic ophthalmology institute offering comprehensive subspecialty care, residency/fellowship training, and active vision research — a direct comparable in academic ophthalmology.
• Duke Eye Center: Academic ophthalmology center at Duke University Medical Center providing subspecialty clinical services, residency/fellowship training, and vision research — comparable in mission and academic-clinical integration.
• Massachusetts Eye and Ear (Harvard): Specialty ophthalmology and ENT hospital affiliated with Harvard Medical School, operating residency and fellowship programs, research labs, and multi-subspecialty clinical services similar to Columbia's department.

Regional players

• New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai: Specialty eye hospital located in New York City offering comprehensive ophthalmology services and fellowship training; direct regional competitor for patient referrals in the same metro area.

Broad incumbents

• Moorfields Eye Hospital: Large, internationally recognized specialty eye hospital with research, teaching, and subspecialty clinical services; comparable in mission and clinical breadth, though based in the UK rather than U.S.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-retina-clinic-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology