Dr. Puneet Panda, M.D.

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Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. Puneet Panda, who serves patients in Georgia. 

A board certified ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon, Dr. Panda serves as a surgical associate at Marietta Eye Clinic. He operates out of Kennestone Eye Doctors (Marietta), West Cobb Powder Springs Eye Doctors (Marietta), Paulding – Dallas and Hiram Eye Doctors & Optical (Hiram), and Marietta Eye Surgery Center. 

Precise and empathetic in his work, Dr. Panda helped Marietta Eye Clinic grow to 29 providers serving nearly 70,000 patients per year. His specialties include dry eye, cataract surgery (laser cataract surgery), LASIK (PRK), cornea (Fuchs’ Dystrophy, corneal transplantation, and recurrent corneal erosion), as well as comprehensive ophthalmology and refractive cataract surgery, including use of Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract surgery (FLACS). 

Dr. Panda always wanted to be a doctor. “My aunt was a physician. My earliest memories are of meeting her in the hospital cafeteria for mac and cheese. I liked being in the medical environment” says Dr. Panda.

However, when it came time for college, his father – a Cornell man and a material science engineer – was adamant that Dr. Panda follow in the family footsteps. “My dad really wanted me to pursue engineering, but my passion was medicine. However, I actually really appreciate my engineering background because it gave me a problem solving approach that I use in my practice now.”

Scholastically, Dr. Panda graduated from Cornell University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Biological and Environmental Engineering, earning cum laude honors in research. Subsequently, he pursued his medical education at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, from 2005 to 2010. Following this, he undertook a transitional year residency at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, during the academic year 2010-2011.

In the years 2011-2014, Dr. Panda furthered his specialization in ophthalmology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, where he had the honor of serving as Chief Resident within the Ophthalmology Residency Program. Following this, he continued his professional development at the Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, and Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he served as a Cornea Clinical Fellow from 2014 to 2015. 

Board certified in ophthalmology, Dr. Panda is recognized as a Diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO is an independent, nonprofit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists (eye physicians and surgeons) in the United States.

Among his professional affiliations, Dr. Panda is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, and Student Sight Savers.

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, glaucoma, and corneal surgery.

When he isn’t seeing patients, Dr. Panda can be found playing tennis on nearby courts, watching comedy and historical movies, indulging in architecture and interior design, and exploring the Atlanta area with his wife and children.

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