Rajen Uday Desai MD FACS

Cataract Related, Glaucoma Related

Board Certified Cataract and Glaucoma Surgeon

385 NJ-18Suite H, Witlin Center for Advanced Eye CareEast Brunswick, NJ 08816

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Summary

After earning a MD from the Stanford School of Medicine, Dr. Desai completed residency and a Heed glaucoma fellowship at Northwestern. Having produced over 50 peer-reviewed publications and presentations across the country, Dr. Desai earned the 2013 Society of Heed Fellows Award, one of only 5 awarded nationally each year.

Clinical Expertise

Glaucoma, General / Comprehensive ophthalmology, Glaucoma and related disorders, Cataract surgery, Minimally invasive cataract surgery, Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery

Education & Training

Stanford University School of MedicineClass of 2008, MD
Stanford UniversityB.S. with Honors and Distinction, Biological Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa, 1998 - 2002

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Certifications & Licensure

NJ State Medical License 2017 - 2027
NY State Medical License 2014 - 2017
IL State Medical License 2010 - 2014
American Board of Ophthalmology Ophthalmology
AlconLenSx Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery
AllerganXEN gel stent certified
GlaukosiStent Inject certified
Johnson and Johnson VisionCatalys Precision Laser System cataract surgery
New World MedicalKahook dual blade certified

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Society of Heed Fellows Award (1 of 5 selected across the country) Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 2013
Best Teacher of Medical Students Dept. Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 2012
Lieutenant United States Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, 1998

Clinical Trials

Ranibizumab in Preventing Failure of Ahmed Valve Glaucoma Surgery Start of enrollment: 2008 Apr 01
Terminated
Not Applicable
5-Year Postoperative Outcomes of Patients Who Completed the CREST Study Start of enrollment: 2025 Sep 15
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Longitudinal Study on Glaucoma Surgery Using XEN® Gel Stent Start of enrollment: 2015 Jan 01
Active, not recruiting
Not Applicable

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

1 citations
Hyphema and vitreous hemorrhage after micropulse cyclophotocoagulation a case report.
Megh K Shah, Sapna Syal, Rajen U Desai, Albert S Khouri
European Journal of Ophthalmology. 2024-07-01
Appositional Choroidal Detachment Following XEN45 Gel Stent Requiring Surgical Drainage.
Yash Shah, Marko Oydanich, Rajen U. Desai, Nicholas Chinskey, Albert S Khouri
Journal of Glaucoma. 2021-11-12
18 citations
The effect of amblyopia on visual-auditory speech perception: why mothers may say "Look at me when I'm talking to you".
Robert J. Burgmeier, Rajen U. Desai, Katherine C. Farner, Benjamin N. Tiano, Ryan Lacey
JAMA Ophthalmology. 2015-01-01

Abstracts/Posters

Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Response to Intravitreal Bevacizumab, Ranibizumab, and Photodynamic Therapy Associated with Complement Factor H an...
Desai RU, Charalel R, Jain A, Feliciano D, Moshfeghi DM, Sanislo SR, Blumenkranz MS, Vollrath D, Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, FL
IOP and Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injections.
Wong LJ, Desai RU, Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Chicago, IL
Sensitivity and Specificity of Frequency Doubling Perimetry With the Humphrey Matrix in the Detection of Homonymous Visual Field Defects.
Desai RU, Schrier A, Berg PD, Smith EF, Annual Meeting of the Assoc. for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 1/1/2011

Authored Content

New goniotomy device + careful post-op care limits intraoperative bleedingDecember 2022
Co-managing Glaucoma: One MD’s Experience7/11/2018
Rediscovering the goniotomy option7/1/2018

Press Mentions

Co-Managing Glaucoma: One MD’s ExperienceJuly 11th, 2018

Grant Support

Heed FellowshipHeed Ophthalmic Foundation, Society of Heed Fellows2013–2014

Committees

Stanford School of Medicine, Admissions Committee 2005 - 2006

Professional Memberships

Society of Heed Fellows
Fellow
American Glaucoma Society
Member
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons - ASCRS
Member
American Academy of Ophthalmology - AAO
Member
American College of Surgeons - ACS
Member

Other Languages

Gujarati

Industry Relationships

Consultant, Alcon2025 - Present
Consultant, Glaukos2025 - Present
Consultant, AllerganEducating physicians about glaucoma medical therapiesDisclosure: Speakers panel2018 - Present
Consultant, New World MedicalGlaucoma surgical device companyDisclosure: Speakers panel2018 - Present
Study Co-Chair, GenentechRanibizumab (Lucentis) in Ahmed valve glaucoma surgeryDisclosure: Research grant recipient2006 - 2007