Dr. Mark Cohen

50,000 LASIK procedures performed

Professional Background

Dr. Mark Cohen co-founded LASIK MD along with Dr. Avi Wallerstein. He is the president of LASIK MD, and one of its two national medical directors. As a cornea and laser vision correction specialist, Dr. Cohen is responsible for teaching laser eye surgery to ophthalmology residents from the University of Sherbrooke, University of Montreal and McGill University.

Educational Background

Dr. Cohen completed his medical degree (MD, CM) and specialization in ophthalmology (FRCSC) at the internationally renowned McGill University. While at McGill, Dr. Cohen was awarded the prestigious Holmes’ gold medal, given to the graduate of the faculty of medicine with highest academic standing upon completion of four years of medical school. He then completed his training with a post-doctoral fellowship in corneal transplantation surgery and laser vision correction of the cornea.

Refractive Experience

Dr. Cohen has extensive experience in laser surgery using several types of lasers and microkeratomes. Dr. Cohen has over ten years of experience performing surgery with a scanning-spot laser and large flap microkeratome, now a LASIK standard used to resolve night vision problems. In 2001, Bausch & Lomb requested Dr. Cohen to assess its new "zero compression" keratome, specifically designed to allow for safer and thinner corneal flaps for LASIK surgery. Dr. Cohen has also performed thousands of advanced custom wavefront procedures. Doctor Cohen has collaborated on a number of research studies involving the Bausch & Lomb Technolas 217 laser. He has also done extensive research on improved night vision quality with newer LASIK technologies.

Accomplishments and Awards

Dr. Cohen is a certified C-LASIK instructor, one of 14 surgeons in North America with this designation to teach LASIK. He has lectured and taught the PRK and LASIK procedures to over 100 eye surgeons and ophthalmologists-in-training. He has given six international courses on beginner and advanced LASIK techniques. Dr. Cohen is co-author of the governmental Council for the Evaluation of Health Care Technology's report on LASIK and PRK. Dr. Cohen (along with Dr. Avi Wallerstein) was awarded the Ernst & Young 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the professional/financial services category for Quebec. Also in 2008, Dr. Cohen was honored to be named one of Canada’s ‘Top 40 Under 40’, in a national competition sponsored by the Globe and Mail. This award is given annually across Canada to 40 individuals who have demonstrated “vision, innovation, achievement and community involvement under the age of 40”. In 2007, Dr. Cohen was named Young Professional of Québec by the Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montreal at its 30th edition of the Arista competition, which aims to recognize the success of young people (executives, entrepreneurs, professionals and self employed workers) in Québec.