Welcome Dr. Raja Narayana to the Flaum Eye Institute

Raja Narayanan, MBBS, MS, MBA, joined the Eye Institute as Professor of Ophthalmology and Chief of the Retina Service. He brings more than 20 years of experience in clinical and surgical retina care, with a special interest in diseases of the macula—the central part of the retina responsible for most of our visual perception. He is also a leading clinical researcher, focused on developing new treatments to preserve or restore vision.

Dr. Narayanan received his medical training at Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University, where he also completed a residency and senior residency in ophthalmology at Guru Nanak Eye Centre. He went on to complete a retina fellowship at the University of California, Irvine, where he also taught ophthalmology residents as a clinical instructor. He was a visiting scholar at Harvard University in ocular immunology and uveitis, and was adjunct faculty at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

He later returned to India to join the LV Prasad Eye Institute, where he rose through the ranks to become Director of the Anant Bajaj Retina Institute and Director of Human Resources, overseeing nearly 2,800 clinicians, researchers, and staff. He also led LV Prasad’s clinical research operations and held an adjunct faculty appointment at the University of Rochester during this time.

An expert clinician, Dr. Narayanan has performed more than 10,000 retinal surgeries, including endoscopic vitrectomies, and numerous additional innovative procedures such as autologous retinal transplant and subretinal surgeries. He is actively involved in clinical trials exploring sight-restoring stem cell therapies for patients with age-related macular degeneration. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and serves as a reviewer for more than 15 professional journals.

Dr. Narayanan is also a dedicated educator who has mentored almost 90 retina fellows from 17 countries and enjoys working with medical students and residents. He is a recipient of the Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Senior Honor Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists. He sees patients at the Eye Institute’s main campus at Strong Memorial Hospital.

Zachary Laird | 6/23/2025