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.

06/14/2021
5 stars 5
Dr. Greenstein was first rate from start to finish! My vision was -425 in my right and -475 in my left before my Lasik procedure. By the next morning my vision was nearly 20-20 and 36 hours after the procedure my left eye was 20-15 and my right was 20-12.5. Very very happy!
06/03/2021
5 stars 5
I want to give a huge shoutout to my amazing eye surgeon Dr Greenstein at the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute in Teaneck, NJ.Ive been wearing glasses and/or contacts since I was in the third grade. I was legally blind and nearsighted with astigmatism in both eyes. I was also losing my vision for reading. Well, after having surgery last month I am now 20/12.5 in one eye and 20/16 in the other which is better than perfect and no astigmatism! Its amazing! I can see perfectly for reading as well. I cant say enough wonderful things about this doctor, his staff and the entire experience.I highly recommend Dr Greenstein if you are thinking about laser eye surgery.
03/23/2021
5 stars 5
I had CTAK and CXL (epi-on) done on my Keratoconic right eye from The Cornea & Laser Eye Institute. I'm very impressed with the amount of visual acuity gained from this combination procedure. Unlike Intacs, CTAK did not add any additional halo, glare, streaks, after post operation. In fact, all of those immediately reduced quite a bit right after the procedure. Once my eye heals and stabilizes from CXL, I'll be going in for further treatment with tPRK. I have high hopes that my vision will improve even further. CTAK is relatively a new procedure to treat Keratoconus. For those with moderate to advanced Keratoconus, should look into being treated via CTAK.
03/04/2021
5 stars 5
I put off lasik for more than 20 years because of fear. I was recommended The Cornea & Laser Eye Institute by my boss, who had his procedure there years before and I know how much research he does on everything so 1/2 the decision was made for me already 🙂 The staff were all very nice, and Dr. Greenstein was patient with my questions and explained all the possibilities and steps. I was able to see quite well the next day and 3 months out my vision is perfect. I have recommended them to two of my friends already!
03/02/2021
5 stars 5
It's been maybe two years since I got my LASIK surgery and I have great vision! Dr. Greenstein and the staff were extremely courteous, warm, and welcoming. Everyone made sure to explain the procedures so that I'd be comfortable. I also appreciate the website which has a lot of information regarding the LASIK and other surgeries. I've recommended this place to my friends and colleagues who were interested in LASIK.

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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