Robert Schultze, M.D.

Dr. Robert Schultze, M.D., serves as Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Cornea, Cataract, and Laser Vision Correction Surgery at the Albany Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology Lions Eye Institute. He is Medical Director and a founding partner of his medical practice, Cornea Consultants of Albany, the Lions Eye Bank at Albany and TLC Laser Eye Center. He is a leading authority on cataract, cornea and laser vision correction surgery with 25 years of experience.

He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Schultze received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in 1994 where he was distinguished with the Lamport Biomedical Research Award. Upon completion of ophthalmology residency at Albany Medical College in 1998, Dr. Schultze elected to further his education with one additional year of specialty fellowship training in Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery also at the Albany Medical College.

Dr. Schultze has performed more laser vision correction procedures than any Capital District surgeon. He was selected as one of only 50 U.S. surgeons to serve as a VISX and Intralase Trainer (proctors other surgeons on the use of the lasers). He was also the first area surgeon to perform CustomLasik and blade-free LASIK on both the VISX and Alcon Wavelight platforms. Dr. Schultze has also participated in several national multi-center trials including an FDA-monitored trial for excimer laser correction of farsightedness and astigmatism.

One of the first surgeons in the country to perform partial thickness cornea transplants in 2001, Dr. Schultze has been instrumental in the development of DSAEK and DMEK in the northeastern United States. Numerous residents, fellows, and established regional surgeons have come to observe him operate and share his expertise. A frequent lecturer at most major ophthalmic meetings, Dr. Schultze has presented his research in Panama, Greece, China, India and Italy.

Dr. Schultze serves as Director of the Albany Medical Center Cornea Fellowship Program and has previously served as Ophthalmology Residency Program Director and Director of Medical Student Education in Ophthalmology. He teaches medical students, residents, and fellows the latest diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in ophthalmology.

On a national level, Dr. Schultze has participated in the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Committee on Eye Banks, Annual Program Committee and the Basic and Clinical Science Course Section 2 Committee. For the Eye Bank Association of America, he has served on the Medical Advisory Board, the Committee on International Relations and the Accreditation Board. Dr. Schultze works with the American Board of Ophthalmology as an Examiner and on the Question Writing Committee working to help administer the exam and improve the examination process for new candidates. Locally, he also has served on the Northeastern Association for the Blind at Albany’s Board of Directors for eight years.

Personally Dr. Schultze remains true to his Pittsburgh, middle-class upbringing. Philosophically he is a realist and an eternal optimist, telling it like it is while offering hope. He strives for personal excellence in every aspect of his life and is most proud of his two adult children Amanda and Robert who remind him every day how much more he still has to learn.