Academic eye departments combine patient care with teaching and research, and that's how these centers describe themselves. NYEE calls itself a teaching leader, and NYU Langone describes more than 178 years of work in research, education and patient care. If you've been referred to one of them, or you're deciding where to start, this page gives you each center's verified contact details and points you to its official pages.
We include details only when we could confirm them on the institution's own website or another source we can cite. Other systems in the city, including SUNY Downstate, Montefiore, Northwell (including Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital) and NYC Health + Hospitals, aren't covered yet because we haven't verified their information. Their absence here says nothing about them.
At a glance
| Center | System or school | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE) | Mount Sinai Health System | East 14th Street; East 102nd Street | 212-979-4000 |
| Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute | Columbia Department of Ophthalmology | 622 W 168th Street | Check Columbia's department website |
| Department of Ophthalmology | NYU Langone Health | Check NYU's department website | Check NYU's department website |
| Israel Englander Department of Ophthalmology | Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian | 1305 York Avenue | (646) 962-2020 for specialist appointments |
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE)
NYEE is part of the Mount Sinai Health System and is affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, according to its Wikipedia entry, a secondary source worth confirming on Mount Sinai's own pages. On its education page, NYEE describes itself as a teaching leader in ophthalmology, otolaryngology and plastic surgery, and it lists the phone number 212-979-4000.
East 14th Street faculty practice
NYEE's East 14th Street ophthalmology practice is a faculty practice offering both routine eye exams and specialty care.
East 102nd Street office
NYEE also has an ophthalmology office on East 102nd Street on the Upper East Side.
Because NYEE has more than one ophthalmology location, confirm which office your appointment is at, and write down the full street address, when you book.
Columbia: Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute
Columbia's Department of Ophthalmology is associated with the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute. Its faculty and physicians page lists the people who practice in the department, which is a useful starting point if your referral names a specific doctor.
Columbia says its corneal research began with the first corneal transplant performed there, in 1933. A Columbia clinic location is listed at 622 W 168th Street, New York, NY.
We haven't verified a central appointment number for Columbia ophthalmology, so we don't list one. Use the department's own pages or the contact details on your referral.
NYU Langone Health: Department of Ophthalmology
NYU Langone's Department of Ophthalmology says it has worked in research, education and patient care for more than 178 years. According to its about page, NYU Langone committed in 2016 to expanding the department.
Neuro-ophthalmology sits in Neurology
At NYU Langone, the Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology is part of the Department of Neurology, not the Department of Ophthalmology. If you've been referred for neuro-ophthalmology there, look under Neurology when you search the website or ask about scheduling, so you reach the right team.
We haven't verified a single address or appointment line for NYU Langone ophthalmology, so check the department website for the location that matches your referral.
Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian: Israel Englander Department of Ophthalmology
Weill Cornell's eye department is the Israel Englander Department of Ophthalmology, connected with NewYork-Presbyterian. It's at 1305 York Avenue, and the department lists (646) 962-2020 for ophthalmology specialist appointments.
Its patient services page describes the department as "nationally-ranked." That's the department's own description; this guide doesn't rank centers. The department also has an eye care website and a Weill Cornell Medicine unit page.
Getting there
We've confirmed addresses, not transit details, so we don't give subway or bus directions. Plan your route with official transit tools before the day of your visit. Ask the office about building access, accessibility and where to check in, and ask whether you should arrange for someone to go home with you after the appointment.
How to decide where to start
There's no single right answer, and this site won't pick one for you. These practical factors usually matter most:
- Your referral. If a physician referred you to a specific center or doctor, start there, or ask them why before switching.
- Your coverage. Confirm that both the center and the specific doctor are in your plan's network. See our insurance and referrals guide.
- Location. Some centers have more than one office, so choose the one you can reliably reach.
- Credentials. Run the license and board certification checks on whoever you'll actually see.
- Where the service sits. As NYU shows with neuro-ophthalmology, a service may be organized under a different department than you expect. Ask the office to route you to the right clinic.
Before you call: a short checklist
- Have your insurance card and any referral details in front of you.
- Know the name of the doctor or clinic you were referred to, if any.
- Ask which location you'll be seen at and note the full address.
- Confirm the visit is in network for your specific plan.
- Ask what to bring and how long to plan for.
Frequently asked questions
What is NYEE?
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, part of the Mount Sinai Health System. It describes itself as a teaching leader in ophthalmology, otolaryngology and plastic surgery, has ophthalmology offices on East 14th Street and East 102nd Street, and lists 212-979-4000 as its phone number.
How do I book a specialist appointment at Weill Cornell ophthalmology?
The Israel Englander Department of Ophthalmology lists (646) 962-2020 for ophthalmology specialist appointments. The department is at 1305 York Avenue.
Where is Columbia's Harkness Eye Institute?
A Columbia ophthalmology clinic location is listed at 622 W 168th Street, New York, NY. Check Columbia's department pages for the doctor and location on your referral.
Where is neuro-ophthalmology at NYU Langone?
In the Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology, which sits inside NYU Langone's Department of Neurology rather than its Department of Ophthalmology.
Why aren't other NYC hospitals listed?
We publish only details we've verified. Other systems, including SUNY Downstate, Montefiore, Northwell and NYC Health + Hospitals, haven't been reviewed yet. Not being listed isn't a judgment about them.
Sources
- New York Eye and Ear Infirmary — Wikipedia
- Education — New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
- East 102nd Street location — New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
- East 14th Street ophthalmology location — New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
- Our Faculty and Physicians — Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Cornea and External Disease Research — Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Clinic location at 622 W 168th Street — ColumbiaDoctors
- Department of Ophthalmology — NYU Langone Health
- About the Department of Ophthalmology — NYU Langone Health
- Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology — NYU Langone Health
- Weill Cornell eye care — Weill Cornell Medicine
- Ophthalmology Specialist Appointments — Weill Cornell Medicine
- Israel Englander Department of Ophthalmology — Weill Cornell Medicine
- Ophthalmology patient services — Weill Cornell Medicine