Herzig Eye Institute

The Surgeons

The Herzig Eye Institute takes great pride in our surgeons' credentials, surgical accomplishments and their passion for excellence. They are the cornerstone of our leading-edge vision correction centre. Our surgeons uphold the Herzig Lifetime Commitment, which guarantees that you will always receive the best care, including no-cost enhancements to your original procedure for as long as you live. They also share our commitment to utilizing the best technology available, as demonstrated by our High Definition Vision^® promise and our continued dedication to our ISO:9001 certification.

We don't offer the lowest price in the market for vision correction by using substandard, outdated technology, but we will ALWAYS offer you the best possible solution for your unique eyes. Our patients appreciate this kind of dedication. Many of them, such as firefighters, pilots and law enforcement officers rely on their eyes for their own safety and the safety of all society. We are proud to be in a position to help our patients have visual freedom from their glasses and contact lenses.

“My patients have been able to enjoy sports more fully, advance career opportunities, improve their appearance, and simply feel more secure and confident.” - Sheldon Herzig, MD, FRCSC

Sheldon Herzig, MD, FRCSC
Co-Founder, Medical Director

Dr. Herzig completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Toronto, after which he completed a fellowship in corneal and cataract surgery at the Mary Shiels Eye Hospital in Dallas, Texas. There, Dr. Herzig was trained in the most advanced micro-surgical techniques for cataract and refractive surgery. Upon his return to Toronto, he introduced these techniques to the ophthalmic community, and over the past decade has been acclaimed for his groundbreaking work in laser vision correction.

Dr. Herzig has developed techniques and instruments that are now used worldwide. After mastering, utilizing, and teaching earlier laser vision correction methodologies, he began using the LASIK technique. His work with thousands of patients has led to technique modifications and innovations on which he has lectured extensively; his courses on the LASIK technique are attended by eye surgeons and optometrists from all over the world.

Dr. Herzig is the past president of the Canadian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (1998-2000) and continues, through his practice and teachings, to be on the leading edge of his specialty.

Dr. Herzig co-founded the Herzig Eye Institute in 1996.

Joseph J.K. Ma, MD, FRCSC

With more than a half a decade of clinical and surgical experience in training and teaching at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Ma has been an instructor in surgical courses focusing on complex corneal surgeries and currently lectures on refractive surgery at the University of Toronto. As an Associate Staff at Harvard's prestigious Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Dr. Ma sub-specialized in the most intricate of corneal, intraocular, cataract and refractive surgical techniques.

Dr. Ma specializes in custom vision correction procedures as well as the leading edge in refractive cataract solutions including Intralase-LASIK, Epi-Lasik, Intraocular Collamer Lenses (ICL's) and presbyopic/multifocal/Wavefront optimized lenses. Dr. Ma has lectured at major respected professional ophthalmic conferences including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and has received many academic awards.

"I believe that it is fundamental for a surgeon to personally examine each and every patient's eyes pre and post-operatively. For example, a subset of Asian eyes has unique, definite and defined anatomical characteristics for which surgical approaches can be modified to provide optimal results."

Navdeep Nijhawan, MD, FRCSC

Dr. Nijhawan has established a solid reputation as an outstanding surgeon, highly skilled in both oculoplastics and custom vision correction procedures. He is devoted to providing the very best in patient care and to making a significant contribution to the field of ophthalmic medicine through his ongoing research and training.

Dr. Nijhawan is a noted speaker and educator on topics related to his areas of expertise, presenting in North America and the European continent. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Nijhawan is actively involved in teaching medical students, residents and fellows at the University of Toronto and also at McMaster University where he is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology. Most notable is his research and vast interest in ophthalmic and facial surgery.

Raj Rathee, MD, FRCSC

Dr. Raj Rathee completed medical school at Dalhousie University. He specialized in ophthalmology at Queen's University, where he served as chief resident focused on cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Rathee trained in basic and clinical ophthalmology at Stanford University, as well as ocular pathology and uveitis at McGill University. He has also had extensive postgraduate experience in refractive surgery, having trained directly under Dr. Herzig.

During his residency Dr. Rathee was actively involved in research and teaching, and has won numerous academic research awards and has presented at various international meetings over the last 15 years. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Rathee is also accredited by the Bermuda Medical Council and affiliated with the Bermuda Eye Institute. He is an active member of several international academic societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Dr. Rathee is currently a staff ophthalmic surgeon at North York General and Scarborough Grace Hospitals, as well as part-time academic staff at the University of Toronto. He is dedicated to exceptional patient care both in his comprehensive ophthalmology practices in North Toronto, as well as in refractive surgery at Herzig Eye Institute. Dr. Rathee is committed to lifelong learning, and attends international conferences on recent advances in ocular surgical procedures on a continuous basis.

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