SUNY Optometry

SUNY Optometry SUNY Optometry is dedicated to the education of optometrists, the advancement of eye and vision care

Founded in 1971 and located in New York City, the State University of New York College of Optometry is a leader in education, research, and patient care, offering the Doctor of Optometry degree as well as MS and PhD degrees in vision science. Its patient care facility, University Eye Center, is one of the largest eye and vision clinics in the country with 70,000 patient visits annually. The Colleg

e conducts a robust program of basic, translational, and clinical research and has 65 affiliated clinical training sites.

Supporting student mental health means building a community that knows how to recognize when someone may need help and h...
08/21/2026

Supporting student mental health means building a community that knows how to recognize when someone may need help and how to connect them with support.

We were pleased to welcome SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. to SUNY Optometry, along with Assemblymember Keith Powers, Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos, and Senate Constituent Liaison Director Sabrina Ellis.

During the visit, Chancellor King highlighted our Mental Health First Aid training program, one of 27 campus programs supported by SUNY’s Mental Health First Aid Grant Program. Through the program, members of our faculty are gaining practical skills to recognize mental health
challenges, respond with care, and connect students with appropriate resources.

“A temple to eye science sits, unassumingly, in midtown Manhattan,” writes E. Tammy Kim in The New Yorker, describing SU...
08/17/2026

“A temple to eye science sits, unassumingly, in midtown Manhattan,” writes E. Tammy Kim in The New Yorker, describing SUNY College of Optometry in a new feature exploring presbyopia, myopia and how our vision changes as we age.

The story takes readers inside the University Eye Center and research labs, where Dr. Marina Su, Dr. Xiaoying Zhu and other members of the SUNY Optometry community are working to better understand vision and eye health.

Presbyopia, the age-related loss of the eye’s ability to focus up close, affects around 1.8 billion people worldwide.

By 2030, that number is projected to reach 2.1 billion. And, as the article notes, it’s something nearly all of us will experience as we age. Read more at The New Yorker

We’re wrapping up our 2026 Alumni Award recipient spotlight series with Dr. Ora Esfahani ’16, a recipient of the Alumni ...
08/13/2026

We’re wrapping up our 2026 Alumni Award recipient spotlight series with Dr. Ora Esfahani ’16, a recipient of the Alumni Rising Star Award!

Dr. Esfahani is an optometrist at Richlin Eye in Los Angeles and has distinguished herself as a leader in patient care, organized optometry, and service. She previously served as Director of Optometric Services at Southern California Eye Institute, where she helped develop the optometry division at CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital and foster collaboration between optometry and ophthalmology.

Beyond clinical care, Dr. Esfahani has held several leadership roles with the Los Angeles County Optometric Society, including serving as President, and remains committed to mentorship and supporting the next generation of optometrists. Her contributions have earned her several honors, including the California Optometric Association’s 2025 Young OD of the Year Award and recognition among Beverly Hills Living Magazine’s 40 Under 40 in 2024.

Congratulations, Dr. Esfahani, on this well-deserved recognition and to all of our incredible 2026 Alumni Award recipients!

Join us at Alumni Reunion on October 24 as we come together to celebrate this year’s honorees and reconnect with the SUNY Optometry alumni community.

In light of today’s solar eclipse, we’re reminiscing about the 2024 eclipse, when our SUNY Optometry community stepped o...
08/12/2026

In light of today’s solar eclipse, we’re reminiscing about the 2024 eclipse, when our SUNY Optometry community stepped outside to look up and experience it together. 👓☀️

For a community dedicated to vision, there’s something extra special about witnessing a sight like this.

Orientation week is here! Welcome, SUNY Optometry Class of 2030! As you get settled in and begin your journey, don’t for...
08/11/2026

Orientation week is here!

Welcome, SUNY Optometry Class of 2030! As you get settled in and begin your journey, don’t forget to show off your class pride with exclusive Class of 2030 merch. 👕🧢

Shop the collection at sunyopt.edu/store.

Here’s to an exciting first week and the start of an incredible four years!

The future of vision care starts with seeing the bigger picture. 👁Meet Rani Banik, MD, guest speaker at the inaugural Ad...
08/11/2026

The future of vision care starts with seeing the bigger picture. 👁

Meet Rani Banik, MD, guest speaker at the inaugural Advancing Vision Summit: The Intersection of AI, Eye Care, and Public Health.

A board-certified neuro-ophthalmologist with additional certification in Integrative and Functional Medicine, Dr. Banik will bring a unique perspective on the intersection of AI, vision science, and whole-body health, including what the eyes can reveal about our overall well-being.

Join leaders across healthcare, technology, and vision science for a day of ideas, innovation, and collaboration.

Register today: sunyopt.edu/summit

⭐ Meet our 2026 Alumni Award recipients!Congratulations to Dr. Kyriakos Mandadakis '01, recipient of the 2026 Alumni Men...
08/06/2026

⭐ Meet our 2026 Alumni Award recipients!

Congratulations to Dr. Kyriakos Mandadakis '01, recipient of the 2026 Alumni Mentor of the Year Award.
A dedicated clinician, educator, and mentor, Dr. Mandadakis has made a lasting impact by guiding and inspiring the next generation of optometrists. His commitment to mentorship and the profession exemplifies the values of the SUNY Optometry community.

Congratulations, Dr. Mandadakis, on this well-deserved recognition! We look forward to celebrating with you at Alumni Reunion 2026.

⭐ Meet our next 2026 Alumni Award recipient!We're honored to recognize Dr. Anshu Chandra '08, R'09 as the recipient of t...
07/30/2026

⭐ Meet our next 2026 Alumni Award recipient!

We're honored to recognize Dr. Anshu Chandra '08, R'09 as the recipient of the 2026 Alumni of the Year Award.

As founder of the Global Eye Project, Dr. Chandra has dedicated more than 17 years to expanding access to sustainable eye care in underserved communities. Her work in rural Haiti has helped provide more than 139,000 free eye examinations, trained local eye care professionals, and is paving the way for a permanent eye care center that will serve generations to come.

Congratulations, Dr. Chandra, on this well-deserved recognition. Your leadership, compassion, and commitment to making quality eye care accessible are an inspiration to the entire SUNY Optometry community.

⭐ Meet our 2026 Alumni Award recipients!We're proud to kick off this year's honoree series by celebrating Dr. Marianna B...
07/23/2026

⭐ Meet our 2026 Alumni Award recipients!

We're proud to kick off this year's honoree series by celebrating Dr. Marianna Butera '21, R'22, recipient of the 2026 Alumni Rising Star Award.

As an Assistant Clinical Professor at SUNY College of Optometry and Interim Chief of Pediatrics at the University Eye Center, Dr. Butera is making a meaningful impact through patient care, teaching, and clinical research.

Congratulations, Dr. Butera, on this well-deserved recognition! We look forward to celebrating your accomplishments at Alumni Reunion this October.

Stay tuned as we introduce the rest of this year's Alumni Award recipients each week

The future of eye care starts with collaboration.Join us for the inaugural Advancing Vision Summit, where experts from h...
07/21/2026

The future of eye care starts with collaboration.

Join us for the inaugural Advancing Vision Summit, where experts from healthcare, technology, and vision science will explore how AI is shaping the future of eye care and public health.

Featuring keynote speaker David C. Rhew, MD.

📅 September 25, 2026
Register: sunyopt.edu/summit

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