Raphael Castillo, M.D.

January 18, 2008 - Dr. Raphael Castillo, a highly regarded ophthalmic physician specializing in diseases and surgery of the eye, has joined Doctors Charles Bloomgarden and Paul Krawitz at Huntington Eye Care. The office is located at 755 Park Avenue in Huntington.

Dr. Castillo's areas of expertise include the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, trauma, cataract surgery and comprehensive ophthalmology. His unique approach includes laser for treatment of vision threatening diabetic eye disease and vision saving injections with Lucentis and Avastin for Macular Degeneration. Dr. Castillo is an expert in cataract surgery and glaucoma and teaches surgery through his academic affiliations.

In addition to his duties at Huntington Eye Care, Dr. Castillo will continue to teach ophthalmology residents at New York University Medical Center and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York City.

Dr. Castillo earned dual Bachelors degrees from Florida International University, and completed his doctorate degree and ophthalmology residency at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Subsequent to his ophthalmology training, Dr. Castillo conducted research specializing in retinal diseases at the world-renowned National Institutes of Health, and later completed an additional fellowship in the newest retinal therapies at New York University Medical Center.

“The paradigm of treatment for both macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy has changed radically over the past two years,” says Dr. Paul Krawitz. “Dr. Castillo brings not only expertise to take further advantage of our practice’s existing technological and diagnostic capabilities, but also skills that have been previously unavailable in Huntington.”

“The response from local internists and family practitioners has been overwhelming,” adds Dr. Charles Bloomgarden. “There has been an unmet need in Huntington for a physician of this caliber and with this level of training.”

In his spare time, Dr Castillo is devoted to volunteering internationally and attends various missions to perform eye surgery.