James D. Auran, MD

Ophthalmology
Cataract Surgery, General Ophthalmology
More specialties
Accepting New Patients
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Overview

james_d._auran_md_-_columbiadoctors_ophthalmologist

Dr. James D. Auran's clinical interests include comprehensive ophthalmology, eye trauma, cataract surgery, intraocular lens complications, dry eye, and blepharitis. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 papers in the field of ophthalmology.

Dr. Auran graduated with honors from Harvard College with a B.A. in Biology and received his M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College. He performed his ophthalmology residency training at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital (MEETH), followed by fellowship training in Cornea and Anterior Segment Surgery with Richard Gibralter, M.D. at MEETH and Anthony Donn, M.D. at Columbia University.

Dr. Auran is listed in Castle Connolly's Top Doctors in the New York Metro Area, New York Magazine Top Doctors, New York Super Doctors, and U.S. News and World Report Best Doctors.

Dr. Auran served as Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology at the NYC Health and Hospitals/Harlem from January, 2016 to June, 2022 and now serves as the Associate Program Director for the Columbia University Ophthalmology Residency at that site.

He cofounded, served as President, and is now the Executive Vice-President of the American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma (ASOT), an organization dealing with the prevention and treatment of eye injuries. He is currently leading the effort to create a national eye care disaster plan. 

He received the Alfred Markowitz Service Award from the Society of Practitioners of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in 2004, the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award in 2004, and the Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology Resident Teaching Award (in recognition of teaching advanced cataract surgical techniques) in 2008 and the Philip Knapp Memorial Teaching Award in 2018. In 2023, he received the ASOT Ferenc Kuhn Award, given annually to the most outstanding individual in the field of ocular traumatology.

His many other interests include gardening, photography, reproductive health, and history.

Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated

  • Blepharitis
  • Cataract
  • Comprehensive Ophthalmology
  • Diabetic Eye Disease
  • Dry Eye Syndrome
  • Laser Surgery

Academic Appointments

  • Professor of Ophthalmology at CUMC

Hospital Affiliations

  • NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
  • NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center

Gender

  • Male

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Location(s)

622 W 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
Disabled Accessible
Primary

Insurance Accepted

Aetna

  • Aetna Signature Administrators
  • EPO
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • NYP Employee Plan
  • NY Signature
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Student Health

Affinity Health Plan

  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care

AgeWell

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • Special Needs

Amida Care

  • Special Needs

Cigna

  • EPO
  • Great West (National)
  • HMO
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO

Emblem/GHI

  • Medicare Managed Care
  • PPO

Emblem/HIP

  • ConnectiCare
  • EPO
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • POS
  • PPO
  • Select Care (Exchange)
  • Vytra

Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield

  • EPO
  • HMO
  • PPO

Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Fidelis Care

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

Healthfirst

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Leaf (Exchange)
  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

Local 1199

  • Local 1199

MagnaCare (National)

  • MagnaCare

Medicare

  • Railroad
  • Traditional Medicare

Multiplan

  • Multiplan

MVP Health Care

  • Child/Family Health Plus
  • Essential Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid Managed Care

Quality Health Management

  • Quality Health Management

RiverSpring

  • Special Needs

UnitedHealthcare

  • Columbia University Employee Plan
  • Compass (Exchange)
  • Empire Plan
  • HMO
  • Medicaid (Community Plan)
  • Medicare Managed Care
  • Oxford Freedom
  • Oxford HMO
  • Oxford Liberty
  • POS
  • PPO

WellCare

  • Medicaid Managed Care
  • Medicare Managed Care

World Trade Center Health Plan

  • World Trade Center Health Plan

*Please contact the provider’s office directly to verify that your particular insurance is accepted.

Credentials & Experience

Education & Training

  • MD, Weill Cornell Medical College
  • Internship: Lenox Hill Hospital
  • Residency: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital
  • Fellowship: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital

Board Certifications

  • Ophthalmology

Honors & Awards

2008-2019 Top Doctors: New York Metro Area listing, Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.

2007-2019 New York Super Doctors listing, Key Professional Media, Inc.

2003-2013 Best Doctors in America listing, bestdoctors.com

1997-2019 New York Ophthalmological Society

2011 Compassionate doctor award; American Registry

2008 Resident Teaching Award, Columbia University Department of Ophthalmology

2018 Philip Knapp Memorial Teaching Award, Columbia University, Department of Ophthalmology

1994-2006 Physician's Recognition Award, American Medical Association

2004 Alfred Markowitz Service Award, Society of Practitioners of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center

2004 American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology

EyeWiki.org section editor, 2019

America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor

Research

Selected Publications

Original Peer-Reviewed Articles:

Du TD, Wessels IF, Underdahl JP, Auran JD: Stereoacuity and depth perception decrease with increased instrument magnification: comparing a non-magnified system with lens loupes and a surgical microscope. Binocular Vis & Strabismus Quarterly 16:61-67,2001.

Smith RT, Moscoso WE, Trokel S, Auran J: The barrier function in Nd:YAG capsulotomy. Arch Ophthalmoll13:645-652, 1995.

Auran JD, Koester CJ, Kleiman NJ, Rapaport R, Bomann JS, Wirotsko BM, Florakis GJ, Koniarek JP: Scanning slit confocal microscopic observation of cell morphology and movement within the normal human anterior cornea. Ophthalmology 102:33-41, 1995.

Auran JD, Koester CJ, Rapaport R, Florakis GJ: Wide field scanning slit confocal microscopic observation of flattening- induced corneal ridges and banding. Scanning 16: 182-186,1994.

Auran JD: Discussion re: management of patient with atopic dermatitis and anterior subcapsular cataracts. Ophthalmic Practice 11:310-312, 1994.

Koester CJ, Auran JD, Rosskothen RD, Florakis GJ, Tackaberry RB: Clinical microscopy of the cornea utilizing optical sectioning and a high numerical aperture objective. J Optical Soc Am (A) 10:1670-1679, 1993.

Assessment of the Visual System Technical Digest 1992 (Optical Society of America, Washington, D.C., 1992), Vol. 1, pp. 179-182.

Koester CJ, Auran, JD, Rosskothen HD, Florakis GJ, Brady J, Tackaberry RB: "Clinical microscopy of the cornea utilizing optical sectioning and a high numerical aperture objective," in Noninvasive

Auran JD, Florakis GJ, Waring GO III: Corneal refractive laser surgery: A critical appraisal of current lasers and methods. Refract Corneal Surg 6:465-466, 1991.

Auran JD, Koester CJ, Donn A: In vivo measurement of posterior chamber intraocular lens decentration and tilt. Ophthalmology Digest 8: 17-18, 1990.

Auran JD, Koester CJ, Donn A: In vivo measurement of posterior chamber intraocular lens decentration and tilt. Arch Ophthalmol 108:75-79, 1990.

Snodderly DM, Auran JD, Delori FC: The macular pigment. II. Spatial distribution in primate retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 25:674-685, 1984.

Snodderly DM, Brown PK, Delori FC, Auran JD: The macular pigment. I. Absorbance spectra, localization, and discrimination from other yellow pigments in primate retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 25:660-673, 1984.

Case Reports:

Airiani S, Braunstein RE, Kazim M, Schrier A, Auran JD, Srinivasan BD: Tegaderm transparent dressing (3M) for the treatment of chronic exposure keratopathy. Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstr Surg 19(1): 75-6, 2003.

Florakis GJ, Moazami G, Schubert H, Koester CJ, Auran, JD: Scanning slit confocal microscopy of fungal keratitis. Arch Ophthalmoll15: 1461-1463, 1997.

Moazami G, Auran JD, Florakis GJ, Wilson SE, Srinivasan DB: Interferon treatment of Mooren's ulcers associated with hepatitis C. Am J Ophthalmol 119:365-366, 1995.

Auran JD, Starr MB, Koester CJ, LaBombardi V: Confocal scanning slit corneal in vivo microscopy of an Acanthamoeba cyst and the cellular infiltrate of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Cornea 13: 183-185, 1994.

Auran JD, Donn A, Hyman G: Multiple myeloma presenting as crystalline vortex epithelial keratopathy and complicated by endocapsular hematoma. Cornea 11:584-585, 1992.

Auran JD, Koester CJ, Donn A: Continuous tear capsulotomy and intraocular lens decentration. (letter) J Cataract Refract Surg 16:777, 1990.

Auran JD, Gross N, Hornblass A: Nasolacrimal duct obstruction necessitating dacryocystorhinostomy as a complication of Stevens- Johnson syndrome. Ophthal Plastic Reconstr Surg 6:60-63, 1990.

Auran JD, Jakobiec FA, Krebs W: Benign mixed tumor of the palpebral lobe of the lacrimal gland. Clinical diagnosis and appropriate surgical management Ophthalmology 95:90-99, 1988.

Reviews, Chapters, and Editorials:

Auran JD: Both patients and physicians cheated by medicare's geographic pay policy. American Medical News November 25, 2002 (http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2002/11125/edlt1125.htrn)

Auran J: Internet guide to free physician listings and web pages. NY Sight, pp. 12-17, Winter 2001.

Auran JD: Medical care is going to the dogs. (letter) The New York Times, p. A28, Friday, March 15, 1996.

Auran JD, Starr MB, Jakobiec FA: Acanthamoeba keratitis: A review of the literature. Cornea 6:2-25, 1987.

Auran JD, Rothstein A: Mercury in eye medications: an overlooked threat. Manuscript in preparation.

Rothstein A, Auran JD, Flynn J; eye medications and pregnancy: a review. Manuscript in preparation.

Courses:

Auran JD, Odrich S, Barile G, Rothstein A: The use of ophthalmic medications in pregnancy. Course given at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. October, 2001, October, 2002 and November 16,2003.

Auran JD, Odrich S, Barile G: The use of topical, locally injected, and systemic ophthalmic medications in children, pregnancy, and breastfeeding. Course given at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. October 27, 1999 and October 22,2000.

Koester CJ, Auran JD: A scanning slit confocal microscope for corneal research. Course given at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 23, 1996.

Auran JD: Moderator, New developments in dry eye and contact lenses symposium. Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, February 3, 1996.

Auran JD: Skills Transfer Course Monitor. Annual Meetings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 1993-1994.

Auran JD: Faculty, Techniques in microsurgery of the anterior segment. Course given at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Anaheim, CA, October 14, 1991.

Auran JD: Faculty, Single Stitch Systems Resident Seminar. Columbia University, March 9-10,1991.

Auran JD: Course Director, Corneal Refractive Laser Surgery: A Critical Appraisal of Current Lasers and Methods. Columbia University, September 15, 1990.

Selected papers:

Justin GA, Rapuano CJ, Pelton RW, Auran, JD. Ocular Futilty: How to Approach End of Sight Care. (editorial). Ophthalmology, in press.

Auran, JD, Casper DS. Blepharitis and Conjunctivitis. The Columbia Guide to Basic Elements of Eye Care. Eds. Casper DS, Cioffi GA. Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, 2019.

Florakis GJ, Moazami G, Schubert H, Koester CJ, Auran, JD: Scanning slit confocal microscopy of fungal keratitis. Arch Ophthalmol 115:1461-1463, 1997.

Auran JD, Koester CJ, Kleiman NJ, Rapaport R, Bomann JS, Wirotsko BM, Florakis GJ, Koniarek JP: Scanning slit confocal microscopic observation of cell morphology and movement within the normal human anterior cornea. Ophthalmology 102:33-41, 1995.

Auran JD, Starr MB, Koester CJ, LaBombardi V: Confocal scanning slit corneal in vivo microscopy of an Acanthamoeba cyst and the cellular infiltrate of Acanthamoeba keratitis. Cornea 13:183-185, 1994.

Auran JD, Koester CJ, Donn A: In vivo measurement of posterior chamber intraocular lens decentration and tilt. Arch Ophthalmol 108:75-79, 1990.

Auran JD, Starr MB, Jakobiec FA: Acanthamoeba keratitis: A review of the literature. Cornea 6:2-25, 1987.

Snodderly DM, Auran JD, Delori FC: The macular pigment. II. Spatial distribution in primate retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 25:674-685, 1984.

Snodderly DM, Brown PK, Delori FC, Auran JD: The macular pigment. I. Absorbance spectra, localization, and discrimination from other yellow pigments in primate retinas. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 25:660-673, 1984.