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.

09/12/2023
5 stars 5
The diagnosis of Keratoconus was unexpected and scary. Dr. Greenstein was great and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. The treatment plan with cross linking has gone as described and we are appreciative of the support of Dr. Greenstein and the staff at CLEI. Highly recommend!
08/01/2023
5 stars 5
Had a great experience here. Top notch team that explains everything clearly and in detail, and multiple times so there's no confusion. They take care of you from start to finish and the entire staff, doctors to reception, are all friendly and easy to communicate with. Most importantly, they took care of me during and after my surgery, along with all the follow ups (to date). Even prior to surgery, they did multiple checks by different doctors to make sure that there's perspective from multiple viewpoints. My eyes are considerably better now, thanks to the CLEI team. Highly recommend.
07/25/2023
5 stars 5
Had an amazing experience
07/05/2023
5 stars 5
Dr. Greenstein was recommended to me when I complained that even with reading glasses I was not able to see clearly.He told me I had cataracts which were affecting my vision. His recommendation was catarct surgery.I had surgery last week on the first eye. The next day I was able to see so well that I no longer need any glasses. This has been an amazing transformation for me. I am scheduled for surgery on my other eye next week. I cannot wait to have this done.Everyone at Dr. Greenstein's office has been extremely helpful in preparing me for both procedures and follow up exams.I live on Long Island and can say that traveling to the Cornea and Laser Eye Institute was well worth the trip.
05/23/2023
5 stars 5
I've got keratoconus and have spent a lifetime seeing eye doctors. There is no one I've found better than Dr. Gelles at fitting contacts for problem eyes.

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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