Omar Shakir, MD, MBA

Dr. Shakir grew up in Florida near Cape Canaveral on the Space Coast. Before pursuing a career in ophthalmology, he played Division III baseball at Union College in Schenectady, New York.

Board-certified Ophthalmologist

Omar Shakir, MD, MBA, is a board-certified ophthalmologist with extensive experience in eye care. Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, he brings a wealth of expertise to Coastal Eye, where he practices as an ophthalmologist in Greenwich, CT, and provides comprehensive eye care services to patients throughout Fairfield County.

Dr. Shakir has been voted one of the Best Cataract Surgeons in America 2022, 2023 and 2024, and he has been recognized as a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, and Connecticut Magazine. He serves as a Principal Investigator for many Phase 2, 3, and 4 Clinical Trials and is committed to using the latest technologies and most advanced techniques, ensuring that his patients receive top-quality care.

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Fellowship-trained Retina Specialist

Dr. Omar Shakir is the founding partner of Coastal Eye, specializing in cataract and vitreoretinal surgery. He is also a Clinical Instructor at Yale University School of Medicine, where he has shared his expertise with the next generation of eye care professionals since 2018.

Dr. Shakir received a Doctor of Medicine with Distinction from Albany Medical College in Albany, New York, followed by an internship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. During a residency at the University of Florida, where he was named Chief Resident, he honed his skills in ophthalmology.

Dr. Shakir completed a two-year vitreous and retina surgery fellowship at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where he gained extensive experience treating complex eye conditions. With his exceptional training and expertise, Dr. Shakir is committed to providing his patients with the highest quality ophthalmology care.

View Dr. Shakir's CV

Our mission at Coastal Eye

At Coastal Eye, our mission is to make your eyesight the best it can be. Dr. Shakir provides a boutique-style setting that features the latest technologies and always puts patients first. He performs most treatments in-office and tailors care to each individual's unique health history and concerns.

Dr. Shakir's team provides a full suite of ophthalmic services, including treatment for cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, dry eyes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, floaters, cornea problems, and eye allergies. Dr. Shakir's focus is top-notch surgical eye care - namely laser cataract surgery, custom lens replacement, EVO implantable collamer lens as a better option to LASIK, and floater removal.

Clinical Research Leadership at SightSERA

Clinical research is a central part of Dr. Shakir's work. Since 2022, he has served as Principal Investigator at SightSERA (Shakir Eye Research Accelerator), his clinical research site in Greenwich. In that role, he has led more than 15 Phase II–IV ophthalmology trials for sponsors including Alcon, Bausch + Lomb, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech-Roche, and Ocular Therapeutix.

These studies evaluate emerging treatments for wet and dry age-related macular degeneration, geographic atrophy, diabetic macular edema, and diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Shakir also leads surgical studies of next-generation intraocular lenses, including the enVista Envy™ IOL and the RxSight® Light Adjustable Lens.

For patients, this research means care from a surgeon who works directly with the treatments shaping the future of ophthalmology. Eligible patients may also gain access to investigational therapies through an active trial. Learn more on our Clinical Research page or visit SightSERA.

Advisory Work With Bausch + Lomb, ZEISS, and Alcon

Leading ophthalmic manufacturers rely on Dr. Shakir's surgical perspective as they develop new technology. Since 2021, he has held strategic advisory roles with Bausch + Lomb, Carl Zeiss Meditec (ZEISS), and Alcon, guiding research and development for next-generation intraocular lenses and vitrectomy systems.

At Bausch + Lomb, Dr. Shakir served on the steering committee for the enVista Envy™ IOL, which launched in 2025. For ZEISS, he has led global surgeon training programs for the ARTEVO® 850 3D visualization system.

Much of this industry interest stems from his leadership in office-based surgery. Dr. Shakir founded the Coastal Eye Surgery Center in 2021, an in-office facility dedicated to advanced retina and cataract procedures. The center now performs more than 700 cases each year and has been featured in Modern Retina and Ophthalmology Times.

Publications and National Presentations

Dr. Shakir regularly shares his findings with fellow ophthalmologists through peer-reviewed journals, trade publications, and national meetings. His recent work focuses on office-based retina surgery, intraoperative OCT, and IOL selection for cataract surgery. Selected highlights include:

"My First 500 Office-Based Retina Cases," presented at the American Retina Forum, 2024
"Revolutionizing Preoperative Care with Neuroresponsive Audio," presented at ARVO, 2025
Debate panelist on office vitrectomy feasibility, Vit-Buckle Society, 2025
"Office Vitrectomy: A Full-Scale Replacement for the ASC and Hospital," Modern Retina, July 2024
"Panretinal Photocoagulation Along the Long Ciliary Nerve in Diabetic Retinopathy," Ophthalmology Retina, 2019 (co-author)

A complete list of publications and presentations appears in Dr. Shakir's CV.

Board Certification and Professional Affiliations

Dr. Shakir has been board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology since 2018. He holds active medical licenses in Connecticut, New York, and Florida, along with hospital privileges at Yale New Haven Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, and Stamford Hospital.

His professional memberships include:

American Academy of Ophthalmology (Fellow)
American Society of Retina Specialists
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Vit-Buckle Society
American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery

Awards and Honors

Dr. Shakir's recognition spans his training years and his practice in Greenwich. Notable honors include:

Top Doctor, Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, and Connecticut Magazine
Best Cataract Surgeons in America, 2022, 2023, and 2024
Chief Resident, University of Florida Ophthalmology Residency, 2016
Robert D. Reinecke Prize for Ophthalmology Research, Albany Medical College, 2012

Schedule a Consultation With Dr. Shakir in Greenwich, CT

Patients choose Dr. Shakir for Yale fellowship training, active research leadership, and surgical expertise in both retina and cataract care. Whether you are considering laser cataract surgery, floater removal, or custom vision correction, he will build a plan around your eyes and your goals.

Coastal Eye welcomes patients from across Connecticut, New York, and beyond. Call (203) 318-6522 or book online to schedule your consultation.

Sources

American Board of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Society of Retina Specialists
Lu AJ, Shakir OR, et al. Panretinal photocoagulation along the long ciliary nerve in diabetic retinopathy. Ophthalmology Retina. 2019;3(12):1105-1107.
Dr. Omar Shakir's CV, Coastal Eye Surgeons
SightSERA