OPTIMUM EYE CARE: “We are dedicated to providing each patient with the best care possible and an excellent office experience. We have high end state-of-the-art equipment, and we strive for perfection in every way.” Board certified ophthalmologist David Mostafavi M.D., founder of Mostafavi Eye Princeton, is shown with his wife Rachel Mostafavi, who is office manager and administrator.

By Jean Stratton

The advances in the equipment and technology surrounding ophthalmology care have been truly amazing.

As remarkable as they may be, however, the need for a skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced physician at the helm is crucial.

Patients in Princeton are glad to know that board certified ophthalmologist David Mostafavi M.D. is such a physician.

Founder of Mostafavi Eye Princeton, he opened his practice at 300 Witherspoon Street, Suite 203, in August 2022. It is located just to the rear of the popular Homestead Princeton furniture and gift store.

Full Range

Dr. Mostafavi’s practice is comprehensive, covering the full range of ophthalmologic diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment.

A graduate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, he then completed his ophthalmology residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he was named administrative chief resident by the faculty. He later extended his training with a fellowship in ocular immunology and uveitis (eye inflammation) at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai in New York City.

Education was very important to Mostafavi’s family, he explains. Born in Iran, he came to the U.S. when he was 2 years old. The family settled in northern New Jersey.

“My mother had been a teacher in Iran, and education was always emphasized,” he says. “I became interested in medicine in high school, and I felt I wanted to help people.”

He was attracted to ophthalmology, he recalls. “There were so many opportunities and advances in the field, and also, my brother was an ophthalmologist, and so I knew something about it.”

In fact, Mostafavi has practiced with his brother, Ray Mostafavi M.D., for 9 years at the Mostafavi Eye Institute in Staten Island, N.Y. In addition, he is chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Richmond University Center in Staten Island, clinical assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Ophthalmology, and is a member of the American Board of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Numerous Publications

Mostafavi is also the author of numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and text books.

Having moved to Princeton seven years ago, he wanted to establish an office here. “I loved Princeton, and my wife Rachel was a teacher in the Princeton Charter School when we met. We wanted to be here with our family,” he explains. “Rachel is now the office manager, and we are able to work together. She made a career change to do this — administering the office, handling the insurance, and overseeing everything.”

At his Princeton practice, Mostafavi focuses on cataract surgery, toric intra-ocular lenses to correct astigmatism and multi-focal intraocular lenses to correct presbyopia. These are lenses placed inside the eye during cataract surgery. Uveitis (ocular inflammation) diagnosis and treatment, and comprehensive eye care, including but not limited to macular degeneration, glaucoma, dry eye disease, and diabetic retinopathy, are other specialties.

His patients typically include adults of all ages with varying conditions, he reports.

Interestingly, Mostafavi says that conditions in other parts of the body, including autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sarcoidosis, and others like hypertension and diabetes, can be revealed in the eye before they are seen elsewhere.

“Treating ocular inflammation is an important part of my practice. Many autoimmune conditions which affect the body can also manifest in the eyes such as dry eye,” he explains.

Earlier, the Better

“Dry eyes are becoming more common due to various factors — environmental, including staring at the computer screen for many hours, as well as from side effects of many oral medications used to treat hypertension, depression, and seasonal allergies, to name a few, he says.” Increased age, hormonal changes, history of chemotherapy, autoimmune conditions, and blepharitis are all potential exacerbating factors for dry eye.”

Glaucoma and macular degeneration are serious conditions, and the earlier they can be treated, the better, emphasizes Mostafavi. “The earlier the diagnosis the better, especially for glaucoma which doesn’t have any symptoms and causes a slow loss of peripheral vision. Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser, or surgery.

“Wet macular degeneration can be treated with intraocular injections of a medication,” he continues. “Currently, we don’t have a great treatment for dry macular degeneration other than advising patients to eat healthy, avoid smoking, wear UV protective sunglasses, and probably, for some, to start eye vitamins.”

Cataracts are treated surgically, and this has become a very commonplace procedure.

Cataract surgery can be done at different ages, depending on the seriousness of the condition and the individual’s needs, he explains. “The truth is that everybody will develop a cataract in their lifetime. Whether they will need cataract surgery is a different and more complicated question to answer. A person’s lifestyle and personality can be factors in if and when they have surgery. Difficulty with night time driving from glare could be an important motivating factor for surgery as well.”

“The lens technology we use during cataract surgery keeps getting better, and the results are typically very positive,” he adds.

Experience and Skill

Helping patients’ vision to improve is Mostafavi’s priority. Whatever their situation, they can count on his extensive experience and skill to treat their condition. As he points out, “Over the years, I have worked in different settings, including hospitals. I have seen patients with many conditions, often very serious. My experience has encompassed a wide range of circumstances.”

He has deliberately chosen to keep his office small, so he can thoroughly treat each individual’s needs. He has also included a modern motif and decor, the most advanced equipment, and has personalized the setting with wall displays of the work of local artists.

“This is a smaller office, and we have a smaller number of patients. I want to be able to give them my full attention. We typically see 13 patients a day, and that number is growing. Word-of-mouth has been excellent. We are getting many referrals from patients, and also from hospitals.”

Great Feeling

“It’s a great feeling to be able to help people to see well,” he says. “I look forward to continuing to do this, and grow the practice. But we won’t let it get too big; I want to be sure I have time for each patient.

“I hope we will be considered as a local entity for the best eye care possible, where patients can come for the best medical diagnosis and treatment and the best surgery. We will be sure that they have an excellent patient experience.”

Mostafavi Eye Princeton is open Thursday and Saturday, and also for emergencies on other days/evenings. “We are here to help our patients when they need us,” emphasizes the doctor. Major insurance coverage is accepted.

For more information and appointment times, call (609) 480-6698. Visit the website at mostafavieyeprinceton.com.