Now local: A specialist for specialists

Norman Saffra, MD, FACS
22 Bayberry Road
Lawrence
(516) 239-6789

As one of the nation’s leading ophthalmic laser and micro surgeons, Norman Saffra, MD, FACS, brings his expertise to Long Island. Anyone with visual impairment knows how difficult it is to travel, so having a local expert is a great convenience for those with who would otherwise have to manage a trip to Manhattan.

Dr. Saffra specializes in serious diseases of the retina and vitreous. Some of the issues he addresses are diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal tears and detachments, uveitis, and neuro-ophthalmic disorders.

“Over the last three years, diagnosis, management and surgical treatment have dramatically changed,” said Dr. Saffra. “New treatments are improving the quality of people’s lives. Diabetes retinopathy is one of the most common causes of vision loss. And, macular degeneration is the number one cause of permanent vision loss for those over 65.” 

“Now, eye surgery can often be done with local anesthesia in the office, without stitches. New office treatments are minimally invasive. And, even if there is no cure for a condition at this time, discoveries occur every year. Patients are put into databases, so that when new treatments are available, the candidates for that treatment can be notified,” he added.

Dr. Saffra is considered to be a specialist for specialists. For example, if an ophthalmologist, an endocrinologist, or a neurologist feels that a patient has a rare eye problem, then Dr. Saffra is an expert they can refer to. Believing in a team approach, he works with the patient’s other physicians all the way through. Care and treatment is customized to the individual.

Actively involved in clinical and surgical research, Dr. Saffra frequently lectures in medical schools and to physicians throughout the United States. He has contributed to dozens of journals and scholarly papers, has been quoted on television and in newspapers, and co-designed two different surgical instruments.