About CLEI

The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute

CLEI staff

Founded in 1995, the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute is a nationally renowned center specializing exclusively in vision correction and corneal surgery. The founder, Dr. Peter Hersh, envisioned a center of excellence dedicated to the eye surgery subspecialty of laser, refractive, keratoconus, and corneal surgery, devoted to the best patient results and a leadership role in the U.S. in this unique medical field. 

Today the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute is a recognized leader in the field of vision correction procedures , corneal surgery, and keratoconus. In addition to our surgeon’s and doctor’s extensive training and experience in LASIK and other refractive surgical techniques, CLEI’s excellent patient results derive from our meticulous attention to detail, highly trained team, state-of-the-art equipment and laser technology, humidity and temperature-controlled laser room and sterile procedure technique, and careful screening and examination of our patients. 

To assure your experience is of utmost comfort and success, our team has been carefully trained in all procedures correcting refractive errors and other corneal disorders, including LASIK, LASEK, PRK, Evo ICL, Intacs, Wavelight, reading vision correction, implantable lenses, advanced corneal surgery and transplantation techniques, premium cataract surgery with the newest implants and laser innovations, and other procedures. Our team will provide you with the essential information regarding vision correction surgery based upon your individual needs, and help you make a better educated decision as to whether laser vision correction is right for you. 

The CLEI team will make your experience with us pleasant, informative, and successful. We are always available to discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

The Cornea and Laser Eye Institute is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm and Tuesday from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. We understand the busy schedule of our patients, so our courteous patient management team will try to accommodate your schedule as much as possible.

CLEI is located in Teaneck, New Jersey and we serve the nearby Paramus, Morristown, and Princeton communities. We are the choice destination for Manhattan, New York City patients seeking LASIK laser eye surgery. We know that a number of people will be traveling longer distances to see us. For your convenience, we have a hotel in our complex and also work with a number of doctors around the U.S. and internationally. In addition, please click on the links below for travel information and accommodations near us.

04/04/2023
5 stars 5
I have been a patient at CLEI ever since I was first diagnosed with Keratoconus in both eyes in 2010. Under their care, my vision has significantly improved which has increased my confidence in performing my daily activities.With CLEI, I have had great success stopping the progression of my Keratoconus as well as managing it firat through Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL) in both eyes in 2010 with Dr Peter Hersh and in 2020 through Corneal Tissue Addition for Keratoconus (CTAK) in both eyes with Dr Steven Greenstein. Both sets of procedures went well, with no negative side effects, quick recovery times, and I am extremely happy with the results.In addition, after each of the procedures, I have been fitted with specialty contact lenses. While the fittings took several visits to ensure the right fitting for me, the shape of the lenses then remained unchanged until my next procedure. That made for a very easy process to get new lenses due to the age of the lenses or if I needed a changed prescription. Most recently I have been fitted with scleral lenses with Dr. John Gelles after my CTAK procedures. Dr Gelles takes his time to ensure the best fit for me.The entire CLEI Team is friendly, extremely knowledgeable on all the state-of-the-art equipment in the office, and caring. They take their time with me during each visit to ensure all my needs are met and all my questions are answered.Going to CLEI to help with my Keratoconus was a great decision for me.
03/21/2023
5 stars 5
amazing experience! from the front end office (especially jenn) to the nurses and doctors, everyone was knowledgeable, friendly and caring. they all made me feel so comfortable so i knew i was in good hands!
02/15/2023
5 stars 5
I want to express my sincere appreciation to the doctors and staff of The Cornea & Laser Eye Institute for 23 years of excellent care.I first visited them in 2000 when Dr. Hersh performed LASIK surgery on my severely astigmatic left eye. I did not need glasses for the first time since I was seven years old!Years later, when my twenty-year-old son was diagnosed with keratoconus, he was referred to The Cornea and Laser Institute. Once again, I was impressed with their knowledge, professionalism, and empathy.Given my prior positive experience with The Cornea & Laser Eye Institute, I contacted them once again five years ago, after unsuccessfully being treated by two prior ophthalmologists for Dry Eye Syndrome. Stacey Lazar, General Manager, referred me to Dr. Greenstein.Being treated by Dr. Greenstein has been a true blessing. His expertise and perseverance resulted in significant improvement in my condition and my quality of life. I have complete trust in Dr. Greenstein and would wholeheartedly recommend him.Finally, I want to acknowledge the effort of everyone I have been in contact with at The Cornea & Laser Eye Institute. In particular, Stacey, who referred me to Dr. Greenstein; Jennifer, who helped me navigate the complex world of prescription prices; and Raluca, who carefully performs preliminary tests before I see Dr. Greenstein and always has words of encouragement.Thank you all for your professionalism and expertise!!
02/01/2023
5 stars 5
At 67 years old I developed Kerataconus; rare for someone my age. My contact fit (monovision - 1 eye for distance) was no longer working. Dr. Greenstein monitored the progression of the disease, and Dr.Gelles and his team put me in a new trial for sclera lenses.In the dictionary under patience, professionalism, caring, and respect are pictures of the entire staff of CLEI. If you have any eye issues that warrant specialists, look no furtherLee Dornfeld 2/1/2023
02/01/2023
5 stars 5
Outstanding experience. Was recommended to the practice by ophthalmology professor at the medical school. The entire staff and Drs. Greenstein and Hersh were caring and helpful. Highly recommend

Meet Our Expert Team of Doctors

Dr. Steven A. Greenstein, MD

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Steven A. Greenstein, MD is the medical director and director refractive surgery at CLEI. He graduated from New York University and received his M.D. from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he graduated with a special distinction in clinical research. Dr. Greenstein completed his Ophthalmology Residency training at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. While at Rutgers, Dr. Greenstein trained under Dr. Peter Hersh. He completed a Cornea, Refractive, and External Disease Fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is an internationally recognized expert in cornea and refractive surgery. He is a team ophthalmologist for the New York Jets.

You can view a small selection of the research and clinical trial results Dr. Greenstein published here.


Dr. John D. Gelles, OD

OPTOMETRIST

John D. Gelles, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FCLSA, FSLS, FBCLA is the director of the specialty contact lens division at CLEI. He graduated from the University of Oregon and received his O.D. from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. He went on to complete a Cornea Fellowship under Dr. Peter Hersh. He is an adjunct clinical professor in Cornea and Contact Lens for the New England College of Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry, and State University of New York College of Optometry. Additionally, he is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is an internationally recognized expert in specialty contact lenses and PROSE treatment. 

You can view a small selection of the research and clinical trial results Dr. Gelles published here.


Dr. Peter S. Hersh, MD

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Peter S. Hersh, MD, FACS is the director of Cornea and the research division at CLEI. He graduated from Princeton University and received his M.D. from Johns Hopkins Medical School. He completed his ophthalmology residency and Cornea fellowship at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School and remained on faculty at Harvard for several years. In 1995, he founded the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute and in 2002 the CLEI Center for Keratoconus. He is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Division at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a Visiting Research Collaborator at Princeton University. He is an internationally recognized expert in cornea and refractive surgery and the official team ophthalmologist for the New York Jets.

You can view a small selection of the research and clinical trial results Dr. Hersh published here.


Dr. David S. Chu, MD

OPHTHALMOLOGIST

David S. Chu, MD is a clinical collaborator at CLEI. He received his bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College. He graduated from the New York University School of Medicine and completed his ophthalmology residency at New York Medical College. He completed a fellowship in Ocular Inflammatory Disease and Uveitis at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School. He is a Clinical Professor at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He is an internationally recognized expert in complex immunologic corneal disease and surgery. He is a team ophthalmologist for the New York Jets.

You can view a small selection of the research and clinical trial results Dr. Chu published here.

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