Locations
Office
New York, NY
Practice website
Office
Old Bridge, NJ
Office
Ridgewood, NY
About
Bio
Having performed thousands of successful laser procedures, Dr. Ilan Cohen is one of the most experienced surgeons in the nation. He was the first surgeon in the New York City area to perform cutting edge corneal surgery such as the implantable contact lens and the artificial corneal transplant. He has been featured on CBS, CNBC and Fox news for his innovative surgical techniques. He is a graduate of the Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and completed a unique cornea and Refractive Surgery fellowship at the renowned Vanderbilt University Hospital.
Dr. Cohen is considered the experts’ expert by his colleagues and is the address to which they refer their most challenging cases. He teaches at the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, where eye surgeons from all around the world gather to learn about the cutting edge advances in eye surgery.
Dr. Cohen has devoted his entire life to the perfection and fine tuning of innovative surgical techniques that provide an added level of safety and new options that were previously unavailable.
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Ophthalmology
Languages spoken
Hebrew
Doctor Q&A
427 Answers
627 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Pupil size/Flash: The "red eye" is caused by light from the camera flash reflecting off of the retina in the back of the eye through the pupil. This will only occur if ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 74-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Numerous reasons: There are far too many possibilities that could cause blur in one eye to list here. The options would be narrowed by asking questions; was the blur su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Blur, distortion: Macular degeneration causes reduced central vision. Patients complain of blurry vision, black spots in the vision and distortion of images. If you hav... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Eye movement: This is a test in which your eye movements are recorded in response to images, movement and heat applied to the ears. The purpose is to discover abnor... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Changes with age: As we age, the vitreous (the gel inside the eye) breaks down and transitions from a more solid state to a more liquid state. As this happens, patients... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Yes: Migraines often cause visual symptoms ranging from lights to temporary loss of vision. See your eye doctor and/or a neurologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Hereditary problem: This is a rare hereditary disease of the back layer of the cornea. It can be progressive in some patients and non-progressive in others. If the impact... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Cold compresses: Cold compresses and antihistamine eye drops. See your eye doctor for a recommendation on which eye drops are best for you. Using over the counter prod... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Yes: Laser vision correction can correct your prescription but it is not self adjusting. If the prescription changes in the future, the laser treatment wil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Many possibilites: Sudden decreases in vision warrant immediate examination by an eye doctor. See yours today.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Mangeable: There is no "cure" for dry eyes but there are different types of management. There are punctal plugs, devices that slow the drainage of your own tears... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Yes: Herpes simplex virus (hsv) can cause infections and inflammation of the skin around the eye, the cornea, the conjunctiva and in rare cases the retina.... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
I'm concerned about my mother. she looks like her eyes are bulging compared to pictures 7 years ago?
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Check it out: Take her to an eye doctor to check this out and take the old pictures with you. Bulging of both eyes can be a sign of changes in the function of the t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Perhaps nothing: Something could have gotten into your eyes but these symptoms could also describe a number of different problems ranging from infections to dryness. S... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Depends: The type of drops which will be most effective for you depends on the root cause of your dryness. Your best bet is to be evaluated by an eye doctor wh... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
No: The prescription need to correct your vision is a function of the physical characteristics of your eye including it's length and the curvature of the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Resistant?: When you say lasik resistant, i assume you mean not a candidate? If that is the case, thin corneas, high prescriptions, corneal irregularities/scarrin... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Blood pressure: A sudden drop in blood pressure when you get up too quickly can cause a darkening of the vision lasting a few seconds due to decreased blood flow to t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Find the cause: See your eye doctor to find out why the eyes are red. Then the cause can be treated.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
See your eye doctor: Surgical intervention or vision therapy may be helpful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Hot compresses: Start hot compresses immediately. If there is no resolution in 2-3 days, see your eye doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
See your eye doctor: The injury may have caused an inflammatory condition called uveitis. See your eye doctor immediately for treatment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Pinkeye: Pink eye is a generic term that refers to conjunctivitis (inflammation of the white part of the eye). To treat it, you have to find out the source of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Depends on age: If the amblyopia is mild and is discovered before a certain age (usually 4-6), it can sometimes be corrected with the use of glasses alone. If it is m... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Not advisible: Firstly, the neosporin you buy over the counter is not formulated for the eye and will likely burn and sting. Secondly, the vast majority of cases of ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Yes: Blepharitis can increase ocular surface inflammation, lead to dryness and change the make-up of the tears. All of these factors can impact contact len... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Depends: The risks and benefit profile of any surgery is dependent on the patient. See a refractive specialist for a consultation and they will likely go over ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Not enough info: There are literally hundreds of things that could match the description you gave. There is no way to narrow it down to a few options without a physica... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Constantly changing: The field of refractive surgery is constantly changing and improving. Refractive surgery is now a safe, proven and accurate alternative to glasses and... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
See your doctor: If you suspect an eye infection you should see an eye doctor. Some eye infections do not require treatment whereas others can threaten your vision wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Depends on the cause: See your eye doctor to find out why the eye is bloodshot. Than you can find out how long it will be that way.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Blurred vision: If there is any doubt, you may as well see your eye doctor to be sure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Variable: Fluctuating blood sugar levels can cause changes in the shape of the lens inside the eye. This can result in fluctuations in the refractive error of t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Depends: The cause of your decrease in vision needs to be identified before a solution can created. The most common cause of decreased vision is refractive err... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Redness: Symptoms vary based on the cause of the conjunctivitis (viral, bacterial, allergic etc.). All forms of conjunctivitis have some degree of redness.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Unlikely: While it is possible to have reactions to the preservatives used in artifical tears, it is not common. You could try preservative free artificial tear... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Identify cause: The best solution for any problem is to identify the cause. Once the cause is identified, the correct treatment plan can be implemented. Using visine ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Redness: The most common symptoms of a pterygium are redness, irritationa and a feeling that there is something inside the eye. If the pterygium is large enoug... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
See an eye doctor: Swelling can be caused by a number of different things. See your doctor to establish cause and get correct treatment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Use water: If your goal is to rinse something out of the eye, use plain water or over the counter eye wash. If your goal is to lubricate the eye, use over the co... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
None: There are no real alternative treatments. Your options are surgery, or no surgery. If you choose not to have surgery, you can slow the progression by ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Options: Phmb, chlohexidine, brolene
acanhtamoeba can be difficult to manage. Different combinations of medications may be tried. See a corneal specialist s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Inflammation: Endophthalmitis is an inflammatory reaction of the inner layers of the eye. It can occur after surgery or severe trauma. Most of the time it is caused... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Yes: Macular degeneration, as the name suggests, affects the macula. The macula is the central, most sensitive part of the retina.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Many reasons: Cataract is only one cause of vision loss. There could be many other potential problems with your vision including corneal, retinal and optic nerve pr... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Likely: Itching and tearing are classic symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. See you eye doctor to confirm that this is the problem and get appropriate treatm... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Severity: Most types of viral conjunctivitis are mild and will pass without medical intervention in around 10 days. There are some forms which are more severe w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Other prevention: The main risk factors for macular degeneration are smoking, age, high blood pressure and having minimal pigmentation (blue eyes, blond hair). Suppleme... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Inflammation: Inflammation in or behind the eye can cause this. You should see an eye doctor soon, and immediately if you develop a decrease in vision.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Ilan Cohenanswered
Ophthalmology 27 years experience
Depends: Depends on the operation and the techniques used. Discuss with your surgeon.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
7
Recommendations
446
Thank you notes
Jul 4, 2012
Great answers to online questions!
Feb 27, 2013
I recommend this physician!
Jul 15, 2013
Amazing fund of knowledge
HealthTap member
I saw the eye doctor today and he said to was my eye out often with antibacterial soap. It's a severe case of conjunctivitis. Left eye was starting to show signs of the infection. Thanks.
HealthTap member
My aunt had a spot in her eye very like mine and she did end up with cancer of the eye from that spot. I will mention it to my opthomoligist. Thank you
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! My son was hit by a friend's "flying pen"; got external hemorrhage, lucky the retina only swollen, no tear or damage!!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Tufts University School of Medicine
MD
Medical/Graduate school
Tufts University School of Medicine, MA
Graduated 1996MD
Awards
Top Ophthalmologist , First Place, East Long Island, NY - Winter
2013
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