Dr. Rajen Desai, MD - East Brunswick, NJ - Ophthalmology Open Now

Dr. Rajen Desai, MD

Ophthalmology
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
5 
69
Accepting New Patients Visit Website
Rajen Desai MD FACS is a board certified cataract and glaucoma surgeon with the Witlin Center for Advanced Eye Care, Freehold Ophthalmology and Santamaria Eye Center.Dr. Desai graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors from Stanford University, followed by a M.D. from Stanford Medical School, with an extra year of training in clinical research. He served as 2nd Lieutenant and pilot in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol in Texas, followed by residency, chief residency, and glaucoma fellowship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, ranked as one of the top 10 medical centers in the nation.With over 20 years of experience in vision research, Dr. Desai has produced over 50 peer-reviewed publications and presentations across the country. In 2007, he served as a study chair on an FDA clinical trial to introduce a new medication to reduce scarring after eye surgery. In 2019, he served as a principal investigator for another FDA clinical trial to develop a more effective surgical
technique of implanting a novel glaucoma stent.Dr. Desai brings the latest advances of vision research to the operating room, including laser-assisted cataract surgery, and advanced intraocular lens implants that treat astigmatism for both distance and near vision.For his consistently high surgical success rate, various ocular device companies often select Dr. Desai to be their first surgeon in New Jersey to introduce the least invasive and latest upgrades of surgical devices, including:First surgeon on the East Coast (and second in the world) to operate using the TrabEx Pro, to remove diseased tissue obstructing the glaucoma drain.First surgeon in New Jersey to implant the iStent Inject, smallest metallic device used to treat open angle glaucomaFirst surgeon in New Jersey to utilize the upgraded inserter to implant the Xen stent, a gel device used to treat glaucoma when medications are ineffective or have intolerable side effectsFirst surgeon in New Jersey to implant the Ahmed ClearPath, a glaucoma shunt with less risk of double vision and greater pressure reductionFirst surgeon in New Jersey to operate using the Omni Next Generation system for an implant-free glaucoma surgeryFirst surgeon in New Jersey to operate using the Streamline, the least invasive implant-free glaucoma procedure to open and dilate the drainage canalFirst surgeon in New Jersey to be certified on the Micropulse Trans-scleral Laser Therapy Rev2 Probe, a glaucoma device that avoids surgical incisionsThese devices reduce the eye pressure in a much safer and controlled manner than other procedures performed elsewhere in the state.Having operated on thousands of patients, Dr. Desai has been regularly trusted by other physicians, optometrists, and nurses to perform cataract and glaucoma surgery on their and their own parents' eyes.  Other New Jersey cataract surgeons have chosen Dr. Desai to train them one-to-one in the operating room during cataract surgery.Passionate about producing excellent surgical outcomes, and teaching others, Dr. Desai received the "Patient's Choice Award" and the "2011 Best Teacher of Medical Students Award." In 2013, he earned the Society of Heed Fellows Award, one of only 5 honorees chosen across the nation. In 2018, he earned the "America's Top Ophthalmologist" award.Dr. Desai is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, the American Glaucoma Society, the Society of Heed Fellows, and the American College of Surgeons.When not in the office or operating room, Dr. Desai enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters, and photography.
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Quick Facts

  • accepting new patients
  • 5
  • 16 years of experience
  • 93 insurances accepted
  • speaks English
  • Northwestern University
  • 18 comments
  • 1 specialty
  • 13 areas of expertise
  • 1 board certification
  • 1 location

Patients’ Perspective

  • On-time appointments
  • Good bedside manner

Location

The Witlin Center For Advanced Eyecare

385 State Route 18 Ste H East Brunswick, NJ 08816
Accepting New Patients

Insurance Plans Accepted by Dr. Rajen Desai

  • Advantage EPO
  • Aetna AWH NJ Choice POS II MultiTier
  • Aetna AWH NJ Choice POS II MultiTier - Maximum Savings
  • Aetna AWH NJ Choice POS II MultiTier - Standard Savings
  • Aetna Choice POS II
  • Aetna Elect Choice EPO
  • Aetna Elect Choice EPO Open Access
  • Aetna HMO
  • Aetna Innovation Health Aetna Premier Care Network Plus
  • Aetna Managed Choice POS Open Access
  • Aetna Open Choice PPO
  • Aetna Premier Care Network APCN Choice POS II OAMC
  • Aetna Savings Plus of Metro NY
  • Aetna Select
  • Aexcel PPO
  • AmeriHealth Advantage
  • AmeriHealth HMO, POS, DPOS
  • Amerihealth Hospital Advantage
  • AmeriHealth Local Value EPO
  • AmeriHealth Local Value HMO
  • AmeriHealth Local Value Network POS+
  • AmeriHealth Preferred HMO
  • Amerihealth Regional Preferred
  • AmeriHealth Regional Preferred POS+
  • BCBS Blue Card PPO
  • BCBS PPO
  • BCBS WNY PPO
  • BCBSA Blue Card High Performance Network
  • BCBSA High Performance Network - Tiered
  • Blue Shield NE NY PPO 6000 Series
  • Capital BC PPO
  • CIGNA LocalPlus
  • CIGNA Open Access Plus
  • CIGNA PPO
  • Empire BCBS Blue Access Employer Sponsored
  • Empire BCBS Blue Priority NY
  • Empire BCBS Gatekeeper X HMO Bronze - NY
  • Empire BCBS PPO
  • Empire Blue Priority NY
  • Empire PPO
  • Empire Prism EPO Blue Priority
  • Excellus BCBS BluePPO HSA
  • Excellus BCBS SimplyBlue/SimplyBlue Plus
  • Harvard Pilgrim PPO
  • Highmark BCBS Blue High Performance Network
  • Highmark BCBS Community Blue PPO
  • Highmark BCBS PPO
  • Highmark BCBS PPOBlue
  • HMO Local Value
  • HMO Preferred
  • Horizon BCBS Direct Access
  • Horizon BCBS HMO
  • Horizon BCBS OMNIA
  • Horizon BCBS OMNIA - TIER1
  • Horizon BCBS POS
  • Horizon BCBS PPO
  • Horizon BCBSNJ Managed Care Network
  • Horizon Direct Access
  • Horizon HMO
  • Horizon OMNIA
  • Horizon POS
  • Horizon PPO
  • Humana / ChoiceCare Network PPO
  • Humana Choice POS
  • Humana ChoiceCare Network PPO
  • Humana/ChoiceCare+ Network PPO
  • IBC Keystone HMO POS
  • IBC Personal Choice PPO
  • Local Value
  • Local Value Network POS+
  • MagnaCare PPO
  • Medica Choice With UHC
  • MEDICA CHOICE WITH UNITEDHEALTHC
  • Multiplan PPO
  • MVP Health Plan EPO/PPO
  • Oscar Circle
  • Oscar Circle Plus
  • Oxford Freedom
  • Oxford Garden State
  • Oxford Liberty
  • PHCS PPO
  • PPO
  • PPO 6000 Series
  • QualCare HMO
  • QualCare PPO
  • Regional Preferred
  • Regional Preferred POS+
  • Savings Plus of Metro NY
  • UHC Choice Plus POS
  • UHC Navigate HMO
  • UHC NAVIGATE PLUS POS
  • UHC Nexus Open Access
  • UHC Options PPO

Specialties

Dr. Rajen Desai has the following specialty

Specialty Expertise

Dr. Rajen Desai has the following 13 areas of expertise

  • Blindness
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Glaucoma
  • Dry Eye Syndromes
  • Eye Pain
  • Vision Issues
  • Open-Angle Glaucoma
  • Eye Exam
  • Lasik Surgery
  • Glaucoma Surgery (Trabeculectomy)
  • Neovascular Glaucoma
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Cataract

Education

Northwestern University

Residency

Stanford University School Of Medicine

Graduated in 2008

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