Richard A Erdey, MD

Richard A. Erdey, MD is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions, with a particular focus on refractive cataract surgery. He is a corneal and refractive specialist, trained and experienced in advanced techniques such as LASIK, PRK, ICL, RK, and AK. Dr. Erdey also excels in anterior segment, corneal, and lens surgery, including innovative small incision rapid rehabilitation “Dropless” cataract surgery, intraocular lens implantation (IOL), corneal transplantation surgery (PK), and laser surgery.

Dr. Erdey is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the International Society of Refractive Keratoplasty, American College of Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and a Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology.

A New York City native, Dr. Erdey completed his undergraduate degree at Hofstra University in Long Island before earning his M.D. at The Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He returned to New York for an Internal Medicine internship and an Ophthalmology residency at North Shore-Cornell University Medical College, where he served as chief resident. Following his residency in 1988, he pursued further specialization at Ohio State University, focusing on refractive and corneal surgery. As a corneal fellow, he participated in early excimer laser research, laying the groundwork for mastering advanced refractive surgery techniques and rapid rehabilitation “no stitch” cataract removal.

His dedication to ophthalmology research and education led him to co-direct the Cornea Research and Laser Laboratory at the University of Rochester-Strong Memorial Hospital in 1989. Under his direction, ophthalmologists from around the world trained in corneal clinical and research fellowships. That same year, he became an investigator for the FDA clinical trials of the VISX excimer laser system for PRK, contributing to its approval for use in the United States.

Since establishing his practice in Columbus in 1992, Dr. Erdey has been at the forefront of corrective vision surgery, participating as an investigator in numerous clinical studies, including those on Intacs for Keratoconus, Iris Reconstructive lenses, CRS LASIK, and the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL). His pioneering work includes performing the first ICL implant in Ohio in 1998, which received extensive media coverage. He has gained extensive experience with various Excimer laser systems, performing thousands of refractive surgical procedures and innovating new surgical techniques and instrument designs.

Dr. Erdey has championed advanced tissue-sparing cornea transplantation techniques such as DALK, DSEK, and DMEK, offering significant advantages over traditional methods. As an advisor to the Central Ohio Lions Eye Bank, he has helped refine and establish these procedures in Columbus.

In 2014, he introduced “Dropless” cataract surgery to Central Ohio, offering a safer and more cost-effective alternative to postoperative eye drops, which has become the standard of care in his practice.

Dr. Erdey lectures extensively, and his numerous research and clinical articles are published in multiple professional journals and textbooks.