Dr. Rajiv Luthra, MD

Media Releases

Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. Rajiv Luthra, who serves patients in Washington, D.C.

An experienced ophthalmologist & cornea and external diseases specialist, Dr. Luthra is the Founder of Columbia Eye Associates in Washington, D.C.

He has extensive experience in performing cataract surgery (including the use of specialized intraocular lenses for correcting astigmatism and presbyopia), corneal transplant surgery, pterygium surgery and LASIK surgery. He is experienced in performing diabetic eye exams, monitoring of patients with macular degeneration and routine eye exams. In addition, he is proficient in glaucoma management, contact lens fittings, and a variety of advanced laser procedures for the eye.

Columbia Eye Associates has been serving the community in and around Washington, D.C. for over 25 years. Its goal is to provide its patients with the highest quality eye care that will improve their vision and afford them complete spectacle independence after cataract and LASIK surgeries.

Alongside his private practice, Dr. Luthra is on the faculty of the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He previously served on the faculty of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, both of which have been ranked as premier eye institutes by the U.S. News and World Report.

Regarding his educational background, he graduated from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with highest honors. He completed an internship and residency in ophthalmology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, where he also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Luthra followed this up with a research fellowship in ophthalmic epidemiology at The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins, and a clinical fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at Louisiana State University under the direction of world-renowned cornea specialist, Herbert Kaufman, MD.

As a testament of his continued education, the doctor is board-certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO is an independent, nonprofit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists in the United States. 

A Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Luthra was elected as the President of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Ophthalmological Society (WDCMOS) in 2019. It represents over 150 ophthalmologists in the greater Washington D.C. area.

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are experts in the diseases, functions, and anatomy of the eye. They may provide routine care such as vision testing, as well as prescribe and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, ophthalmologists are also surgeons. They repair traumatic injuries to the eye and perform cataract and corneal surgery.

Among his various accolades, Dr. Luthra has received the “America’s Top Ophthalmologist” in “Cataract, Cornea and Refractive Surgery” by Consumer Research Council of America (2007-2015), Compassionate Physician’s Award from Healthgrades (2010), Award for “Outstanding Patient Satisfaction” (2002), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2011), On-Time Doctor Award (2014), and the First Prize “Michigan Ophthalmological Society” (1998).

Recommended Articles

• Which Doctors Treat Diabetes?

  There are many healthcare providers who can diagnose and treat diabetes. While most people may see a primary care doctor if they start having symptoms of diabetes, other physicians and specialists can also help monitor the condition.Doctors who treat diabetesThe following are doctors and specialists...

• What are the Pros and Cons of Lasik Eye Surgery?

  Lasik eye surgery, short form for laser in situ keratomileusis, is the most exercised surgical option for correcting eye vision discrepancies in America. Its immense popularity has a lot to do with the significant vision improvement it brings about completely dispensing eyeglasses or contact lenses....

• What Are the Side Effects of Lasik Eye Surgery?

  Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are eye disorders that can be rectified through eye surgery, enabling you to avoid the tedium of using glasses and contact lenses to see distant objects and to read comfortably. In Lasik eye surgery, an excimer laser removes tissue from the cornea,...

• What Could a Swollen Eyelid Mean?

  Your eyelid’s skin is stretchy and loose with a thickness of less than 1 mm. Your eyelids can swell if there is a buildup of fluid in the tissues that surround your eyes.In most cases, swollen eyelids are not a cause for concern and can return back to its normal shape and size after a few days....

• What to Expect After LASIK Eye Surgery

  LASIK eye surgery is a corrective procedure that aims to rectify vision distortions that are caused by the changing curvature of the cornea and shifting length of the eyeball. The cornea is a transparent coating that bulges on the outside of the eyeball, and allows light to penetrate its surface at...

• Should I Opt for Cataracts Surgery?

  Cataracts is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye that blocks the light entering the eye, thus affecting vision. Surgery is one of the most common options to treat cataracts and improve vision. It is performed by an ophthalmologist and in most cases, is an outpatient procedure. Cataracts is an eye...