About Dr. Stefano

For more than two decades, Dr. John A. Stefano has been known by his patients and colleagues for offering quality eye care throughout Northern Shenandoah Valley. Since 1979 he has established himself as a skilled eye surgeon, performing over 1200 major surgical cases each year. In 1986, Dr. Stefano was the first surgeon in his area to perform RK (radial keratotomy) to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism. Ten years later, Dr. Stefano saw vision correction technology evolving, and in 1996 he received his certification to perform laser vision correction to correct nearsightedness with the Summit excimer laser and became the first eye surgeon in the Winchester area to perform laser vision correction (PRK). The technology for laser vision correction advanced again in 1997, and Dr. Stefano received his certification to correct nearsightedness and astigmatism by performing LASIK with the VISX excimer laser. In January 1999, technology allowed him to offer LASIK to farsighted patients as well. In November of 2003 Dr. Stefano become one of the first refractive surgeons in the area to perform Custom-Vue LASIK. Currently Dr. Stefano is performing Refractive Lens Exchange for patients with prescriptions too strong to be treated by LASIK. He is currently preparing himself and his practice for use of Phakic IOL's (intra-ocular contact lenses) . As a pioneer of technology, in April 2005, Dr. Stefano was in the first group of Ophthalmologists in the USA to be approved to implant the ReStor® Lens, a diffractive IOL, restoring natural distance and near vision to patients with cataracts. Rounding up his expertise, in March of 2005, Dr. Stefano was one of the first surgeons in the area to become certified and offering his patients over the age of 40 the ability to regain near vision with the minimally invasive Refractec Near Vision CK procedure, (Conductive Keratoplasty). Dr. Stefano has committed himself to offering his patients the most advanced type of surgical vision correction available, having performed over 6,000 refractive surgical procedures surgeries and over 10,000 cataract procedures. In addition to refractive surgery, Dr. Stefano's surgical experience includes clear corneal no-stitch no-patch phaco-emulsification of cataracts with insertion of a foldable lenses implant, , corneal transplant surgery and ophthalmic plastic surgery. Dr. Stefano also schedules time to see patients in his office for regular eye examinations. Dr. Stefano received his undergraduate degree in biophysics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971. He then went on to complete his medical degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo - School of Medicine in 1975. From 1975-78, he served as an intern and later as a resident at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. From 1978-79 he was Chief Resident in Ophthalmology at Beth Israel. Dr. Stefano is a Board-certified ophthalmologist, a Fellow of the American College for Surgeons, a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery. In addition to his private practice, he is on attending staff at the Surgi-Center of Winchester in Winchester VA , and the Robinwood Surgery Center, in Hagerstown , MD. He is also on the consulting staff at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester, VA. Dr. Stefano is also a member of LaserVision the largest nationwide network of laser vision providers. He is currently rated as one of the Top 100 Surgeons in the network. The Shenandoah LASIK and Cataract Center is rated as one of the Top 50 Practices within the national network. Dr. Stefano and his wife Karen have four children and live in Charles Town, WV. In his spare time he enjoys skiing, scuba diving, working with computers and listening to jazz and classical music. Click here to learn more about Dr. Stefano's private practice.