Dr. Lewis is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Prior to his appointment to Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Lewis was most recently the Director of the Cole Eye Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. Before Cleveland Clinic, he also held a tenured, academic position at UCLA. He joined the staff of The Cleveland Clinic in 1993 as Chairman of the Division of Ophthalmology. Dr. Lewis conceived, designed, fund-raised and built the world-renown Cole Eye Institute that was completed in mid-1999. By taking a new approach to eye diseases, this state-of-the-art building integrates research, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and education. Since 1999, the Cole Eye Institute has had the highest patient volume in the United States and has become one of the leading ophthalmic research institutions.

Originally from Mexico, Dr. Lewis completed his postdoctoral training at several of America’s most prestigious eye institutes, including the Jules Stein Eye Institute in California where he completed his residency. He continued his studies by completing two vitreoretinal fellowships, one in surgical retina at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin and the other in medical retina at the Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

He is a member of many influential professional societies, such as, the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis, the most prestigious and exclusive international ophthalmological society in the world. Dr. Lewis has been the recipient of over 60 national and international honors and awards in his career, and is recognized as one of the top ophthalmologists in America.

As an innovator and inventor, Dr. Lewis has developed new surgical techniques, devices, and instrumentation. Currently, Dr. Lewis sits on 13 editorial boards, including Executive Editor of the American Journal of Ophthalmology. He has contributed to more than 188 publications and 32 book chapters, and is the author of the textbook, Medical and Surgical Retina: Advances, Controversies and Management.