Paul T. Finger MD

Dr. Paul T. Finger, M.D., F.A.C.S. is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is the founding Director of Ocular Tumor Services at several renowned institutions, including the New York University School of Medicine (where he also serves as a clinical professor of Ophthalmology), New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Tisch Hospital, and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. He is fellowship trained in ocular tumor, orbital disease and ophthalmic radiation therapy.

Dr. Finger has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers in and around the eye. These cancers are all rare and typically diagnosed without biopsy. That is why his more than 25 years of experience with research, teaching and clinical care are so important. In order to make the diagnosis, Dr. Finger uses the latest diagnostic imaging and ultrasound techniques. In fact, he has researched and developed many of the diagnostic techniques now employed around the world. These include high frequency anterior segment ultrasound ("ultrasonic biomicroscopy," or UBM), OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), digital imaging and the "Finger Iridectomy Technique" biopsy when indicated.

The most primary intraocular cancer is melanoma. It is often called choroidal melanoma. Dr. Finger offers the most sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic options for these cancers, including brachytherapy (radioactive material sealed in needles, seeds, or catheters is placed directly into or near a tumor). Dr. Finger has pioneered the use of palladium-103 seeds in ophthalmic plaque, which he has found to offer comparatively better eye and vision sparing than that reported for iodine-125 or ruthenium-106 (in most cases).

Dr. Finger believes in excellence through innovation. Never satisfied with less effective treatments, he invented slotted eye plaques for those rare cases where a choroidal melanoma is wrapped around the optic nerve, aspiration-cutter assisted anterior segment tumor biopsy to increase safety and effectiveness and numerous other techniques described on this website.

Dr. Finger has published more than 190 original articles, 30 book chapters and scientific reviews. He has worked on national and international committees to improve radiation therapy and develop a standard "universal" language to classify eye tumors. As chair of the Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force of the American Joint Committee on Cancer, he worked with 45 eye cancer specialists from 11 countries to make universal staging and a common scientific language a reality.

Dr. Finger is an attending physician at the following hospitals:

Professional Society Memberships:

Full Member, International Society for Eye Research
Member, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology
Member, The Retina Society
American Society of Retinal Specialists
American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology
North American Hyperthermia Group/Radiation Research Society
Fellow, The American College of Surgeons
Member, The New York County Ophthalmologic Society
Member, The Nassau County Ophthalmologic Society
Member, The New York Academy of Sciences
Member, International Society for Orbital Disorders

Dr. Finger has spent his career inventing and improving new methods of diagnosis and treatment for eye cancer.

Expert in Ophthalmic Radiation Therapy

In 1997, Dr. Finger reviewed and published the world's experience in radiation treatment for choroidal melanoma in his work: "Radiation for Choroidal Melanoma."
Dr. Finger was the only ophthalmic oncologist selected for participation in the American Brachytherapy Society's (ABS) Task Force for Eye Plaque Therapy 2003 (Click Here).
In 2006, ">Dr. Finger was selected to be the Leader of the clinical subgroup for:
The American Association of Physicists in Medicine's TG 129 "Eye Plaque Task Group."
The TG 129 group is charged with developing clinical and medical physics standards for eye plaque radiation therapy.
Dr. Finger was a principle investigator for the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS).

Patent Holder, Innovator and Teacher

In his efforts to conserve eyes and vision; Dr. Finger has pioneered the use of palladium-103 plaque radiation for choroidal melanoma, the use of 3D and high-frequency ultrasound imaging for intraocular tumors, and has created world-renowned websites (e.g. http://eyecancer.com). Dr. Finger has developed new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of many ocular tumors, holds several patents and has written hundreds of scientific publications. Dr. Finger lectures frequently at local, national and international meetings.

Dr. Finger is board certified by "The American Board of Ophthalmology" and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and cares for patients from all over the world.

Dr. Finger has a particular interest in choroidal melanoma, ciliary body melanoma and iris melanoma. He has written extensively about new ways to detect and treat retinoblastoma, conjunctival melanoma, squamous carcinoma, metastatic cancer to the eye and orbital tumors.

Proponent for International Cooperation

In 2005, Dr. Finger was selected Chairman of the American Joint Committee on Cancer - International Union Against Cancer (AJCC-IUCC): Section on Ophthalmic Oncology. Dr. Finger has formed a committee of international cancer specialists charged with developing classifications for ocular cancers and to find biomarkers for the risk of metastasis.

Founder of a Charitable Organization

Dr. Finger established a non-profit charitable organization, The Eye Cancer Foundation, to conduct and support research to help patients with ocular tumors and macular degeneration. With his guidance, The Eye Cancer Foundation has supported multicenter clinical research, informational websites (communities), and fellowship education. The Eye Cancer Foundation continues to help people help themselves.

Dr. Finger has assembled a team of experts to care for patients with eye tumors. By picking the best doctors from several institutions, his team includes the top radiation, medical and pediatric oncologists in New York City.

Advice about protecting your eyes from the sun: Dr. Finger says "Think of Sunglasses as Sunblock for your Eyes."™

Reviews of Important Clinical Subjects and Problems in Ophthalmic Oncology

Dr. Finger believes a subspecialist must review, analyze and present important subjects for others in his field. So far, he has written or participated in the following reviews of the literature:

Articles: