Our Doctors

Training
Dr. Belin attended Northwestern University (Evanston, IL) where he majored in Bio-Medical Engineering and received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Rutgers Medical School. He completed his internship and residency at the Albany Medical College and furthered his education with specialty fellowship training in Cornea and External Diseases of the Eye at the University of Iowa. He subsequently completed (by invitation) a traveling fellowship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England Foundation and was the first Ophthalmologist ever selected. Dr. Belin is Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Albany Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Ottawa (Ontario, Canada).

LASIKExperience
Dr. Michael W. Belin is a board certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist and the area's most experienced laser vision correction specialist. Dr. Belin serves as Medical Director at the TLC Laser Vision Center and Medical Director of the Albany Lions Eye Bank. Prior to coming to Albany in 1989, Dr. Belin was Director of the Corneal Division at the George Washington University Medical Center. Dr. Belin was instrumental in the development of laser vision correction in the Capital Region. He was the first area ophthalmologist to perform both LASIK and PRK and was performing Laser Vision Correction surgery years before any other area surgeon. He has performed over 9,000 LASIK and PRK procedures. Dr. Belin's research includes computerized corneal analysis (corneal topography), corneal transplantation immunology and laser vision correction.

Accomplishments
Dr. Belin is an internationally recognized authority in the field of refractive surgery and has published or presented over 180 papers. Dr. Belin is a frequent guest speaker at most major ophthalmic meetings, having been an invited speaker on Laser Vision Correction in many countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Germany, Italy, Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, Scotland and Switzerland. Dr. Belin has also been featured on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX television as an expert in Laser Vision Correction. He has served as a consultant to VISX, LaserSight and Chiron-Technolas (laser manufacturers), and is the area's only VISX certified trainer (trains other physicians in the use of the VISX excimer laser) and a LASIK instructor. He is the only area surgeon to serve as a consultant and principal investigator for two laser manufacturers and has served on the FDA Ophthalmic Device Panel and Drug Panel as a special government consultant. Dr. Belin co-authored the instructional manual for the VISX laser and the MORIA microkeratome (surgical instrument utilized to make the LASIK flap).

Awards
Dr. Belin was awarded the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Honor Award in 1988, received the prestigious Senior Honor Award in 1998 (an honor bestowed on less than 1% of all ophthalmologists) and the Secretariat Achievement Award in 2002.

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Training
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Schultze received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in 1994. He completed residency and fellowship training in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Albany Medical College. Upon completion of his training, Dr. Schultze earned his board certification and currently holds a faculty appointment as Associate Professor of Ophthalmology.

LASIKExperience
Dr. Schultze received certification to perform excimer laser surgery in 1997 and has completed over 3,500 successful LASIK, PRK, Intacs, and Conductive Keratoplasty procedures. He is the first Albany surgeon to perform a CustomLasik procedure and to implant the Verisyse phakic intraocular lens for high nearsightedness and the Restor presbyopic intraocular lens for patients over the age of 40.

Accomplishments
Dr. Schultze serves as Co-Director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery service at the Albany Medical College Department of Ophthalmology Lions Eye Institute where he teaches medical students, residents, and fellows the latest diagnostic and therapeutic techniques in ophthalmology. In addition, Dr. Schultze is Associate Medical Director of the Lions Eye Bank at Albany and sits on the National Accreditation Board of the Eye Bank Association of America as well as the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Committee on Eye Banks. He has been invited to participate in several FDA monitored clinical trials for excimer laser correction of hyperopia and astigmatism, dry eye syndrome and allergic eye disease. Additionally, Dr. Schultze has served as a consultant to the New York State Department of Health to evaluate the measurement of visual quality.

Dr. Schultze is an expert in the latest revolutionary techniques in corneal transplantation and welcomes surgeons from around the Northeast to observe him in the operating room. He lectures around the world and has produced two award-winning videos of his surgery. Dr. Schultze is recognized as a leading authority on cornea and refractive surgery and makes frequent appearances in the local news for his accomplishments. As a result of his hard work, he has been recognized in the “Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists” and has received their ‘Top Ophthalmologist’ award.

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