Ophthalmology near Elmhurst, NY

Biography: Dr. Konstantinou is a retina specialist and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Konstantinou specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of ocular tumors including plaque application, photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy, laser photocoagulopathy of abnormal of retinal diseases, including conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal tears, retinal vein occlusions, and macular diseases, ocular tumors.Dr. Konstantinou graduated in the top 3% from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. She received her M.D. from Athens Medical School. Her dream to pursue the rest of her training in the United States brought her to Boston Massachusetts. Throughout a three-year research fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Mass Eye and Ear/Harvard, she developed expertise in gene editing techniques, specifically CRISPR-Cas9. She focused on utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 to explore molecular pathways related to Toxoplasma gondii's pathogenicity which resulted in published works in prominent journals and multiple presentations.Dr. Konstantinou completed a surgical internship at the Massachusetts GeneralHospital/Harvard Medical School and then her ophthalmology residency at Tufts. During her residency, she served as Chief resident and also was selected to attend the Heeds resident treat by the department chair. She received the Good Neighbor Award from the University of New Mexico during her last year of residency which is awarded to consultants who demonstrated outside department-wide teaching, role models of patient advocacy, and significant contributors to the success of the clinical environment. During her residency at Tufts/New England Eye Center, she focused on clinical research and imaging of the retina fostering both clinical insight and a passion for innovating the understanding of vision impairment. Her contributions to research, particularly on age-related issues, infectious diseases, and inherited disorders, using new imaging methods for retinal study, led to publications in esteemed journals and invitations to conferences.With her clinical fellowships in medical retina at NIH and ocular oncology at Wills Eye Hospital, she extended her expertise in both clinical care and cutting-edge research of medical retinal and ocular tumors. Some of her research highlights included research to improve medical treatment and clinical outcomes for patients with Von Hippel Lindau syndrome with retinal hemangioblastomas which led to a publication in JAMA Ophthalmology with ongoing work. Going forward, Dr. Konstantinou will continue to focus on diseases of the retina and ocular tumors, on examining and understanding the retina toxicity of medications like pentosan poly sulfate as well as imaging modalities for better screening of ocular tumors, innovative diagnostic tools and treatments for medical retinal diseases and more particular ocular tumors and radiationretinopathy.Dr. Konstantinou is actively engaged in clinical and basic science research in retinal diseases and has published approximately 26 peer-reviewed research articles. She has authored several textbook chapters and has presented her research at national and international meetings. Dr. Konstantinou serves as a scientific reviewer to several major ophthalmology journals.Dr. Konstantinou is currently accepting new patients. She sees general eye patients as well as patients with retinal diseases and ocular oncology.

Biography: Rebecca Rojas, OD, FAAO, FSLS is an Instructor of Optometric Sciences (in Ophthalmology) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Rojas is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry and a Fellow of the Scleral Lens Society. She specializes in complex and medically necessary contact lens fittings, anterior segment disease, co-managing cataract and refractive surgeries, and primary eye care.Dr. Rojas obtained her Bachelor's degree in Molecular and Microbiology at the University of Central Florida along with a Bachelors in Vision Science and Doctorate in Optometry from Nova Southeastern University. She subsequently completed her residency training in ocular disease from SUNY State College of Optometry.Prior to her tenure at Columbia University, Dr. Rojas played pivotal roles in multiple eye centers across New York, focusing on co-managing refractive and cataract surgeries alongside corneal specialists. Her international experience involves working as a clinical optometrist specializing in specialty contact lenses and ocular surface diseases at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Eye Institute. Additionally, she trained and educated medical residents throughout their rotations, further adding to her enriched global perspective in the field of eye care. Dr. Rojas's contributions extend beyond clinical practice. She held the position of Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor at SUNY, where she played an integral role in the optometry residency program as a co-supervisor, mentoring and guiding optometry students and residents in their clinical rotations. Her dedication to education and research is evident through her presentations at academic meetings such as the Global Symposiums of Contact Lenses and the American Academy of Optometry. Actively engaged in professional organizations such as the New York State Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, and Scleral lens Education Society, Dr. Rojas continues to contribute to the field through lectures, academic posters and publication of peer-reviewed articles to journals such as Ophthalmology Glaucoma, Review of Optometry, Review of Cornea and Contact Lens, and involvement in ongoing clinical research studies. Dr. Rojas's commitment also extends to community outreach. She served on the clinical board of directors for regional and world Special Olympics International vision screenings and is involved in various community outreach initiatives across New York City.