Ophthalmologist and Eye Surgeon
Dr. Neda Nikpoor is a highly-acclaimed, fellowship-trained and board-certified ophthalmologist that specializes in cataract and vision correction surgeries such as LASIK, PRK, RLE, and EVO ICL. Dr. Nikpoor has made a positive global impact during her career and we are ecstatic to have her bring this wealth of knowledge and expertise to the people of Hawai’i and more specifically, the patients of Jenkins Eye Care.
After receiving her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Nikpoor completed her residency in Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, the #1 eye hospital and residency program in the United States. She continued there for a fellowship in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery.
Upon completing her formal training, Dr. Nikpoor chose to dedicate a year to serving the underprivileged, restoring sight for the world’s most vulnerable populations. She was selected for a unique fellowship opportunity during which she performed hundreds of complex cataract and cornea surgeries and taught extensively in Asia and Africa. In the United States, she served as a clinical instructor at Stanford University. During this time, she worked with the Himalayan Cataract Project (now Cure Blindness Project), a non-profit organization that has revolutionized eye care in the developing world. With 13 million people in the world blind from cataracts, Dr. Nikpoor’s passion when she is not at Jenkins Eye Care is doing everything she can to help eradicate global blindness, including serving in places like the Philippines and the Marshall Islands. She is honored to serve on the advisory board of Project Vision Hawaii, a local nonprofit that increases access to health and human services for the people of Hawaii and beyond.
Her work has resulted in numerous publications in prominent peer-reviewed journals, such as Ophthalmology, Cornea, and The American Journal of Ophthalmology. She has presented her work at numerous regional, national, and international meetings and authored several textbook chapters. Dr. Nikpoor is a section editor for the CRST Journal and holds a leadership role in the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. She finds it fulfilling to collaborate with leading ophthalmic surgical device and pharmacological companies, contributing to innovation in ophthalmology through clinical research, consulting, and peer education at both national and local levels. She has participated in and initiated numerous clinical studies bringing the latest and greatest technologies directly to patients.
In addition to her deep commitment to helping her patients achieve better vision—whether by using the best technology available here in Honolulu or through innovative, cost-effective solutions in developing countries—Dr. Nikpoor enjoys surfing, yoga, sailing, and hiking. Although she is not a native of Hawai`i, Dr. Nikpoor often says that no place has ever felt more like home. She is grateful that she and her family have chosen to make Hawai`i their home.
Education
- College: University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK
- Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine – Oklahoma City, OK
- Internship: John Peter Smith Hospital – Fort Worth, TX
- Residency: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute – Miami, FL
- Cornea, Refractive Surgery, and External Disease Fellowship: Bascom Palmer Eye Institute – Miami, FL
- Global Ophthalmology Fellowship / Clinical Instructor: Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University – Palo Alto, CA
- Physician CEO – Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University – Evanston, IL
Professional Certifications
- American Board of Ophthalmology, 2018
Awards and Distinctions
- Alpha Omega Alpha
- Phi Beta Kappa
- 2023 Cedars Aspens membership
- Every year since 2021 – Top Doctors Award (Castle Connolly)
- 2020 Super Doctors (California)
- 2020 Millennial Eye: “One to Watch”
- 2020 “Rising Stars” in Ophthalmology
Professional Affiliation
- American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons – leadership role, member
- American Academy of Ophthalmology – member
- Cedars Aspens – member
- American European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery – member
- World College of Refractive Surgery – member
- Refractive Surgery Alliance – member