Get to know Dr. Bennett Chotiner

Founder and Medical Director of Memorial Eye Institute
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Get to know Dr. Bennett Chotiner

FOUNDER AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF MEMORIAL EYE INSTITUTE

What is Dr. Ben Chotiner’s training and experience?

In this video, Dr. Ben Chotiner talks you through his training and experience

Trust your vision with a nationally recognized eye surgeon

DR. BENNETT CHOTINER IS REGARDED AS THE MOST EXPERIENCED CATARACT AND LASIK SURGEON IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA

An eye surgery pioneer

Dr. Bennett Chotiner is the Founder and Medical Director of Memorial Eye Institute.

A noted innovator, in 1977 he established his clinical practice, Pennsylvania Eye Associates. In 1984, he established Pennsylvania Eye Surgery Center, Pennsylvania’s first fully approved freestanding outpatient ophthalmic surgery center.

He pioneered outpatient ophthalmic surgery in Pennsylvania and is nationally recognized for his leadership in this field.

“Simply the Best” LASIK facility

Dr. Chotiner has been performing refractive vision correction surgery since 1981.

In 1994, Dr. Chotiner established the Laser Vision Center at Memorial Eye Institute, where he performed the first laser vision correction procedure in Central Pennsylvania.

He has been performing LASIK since 1996 and has served as a clinical investigator for several national LASIK studies.

Since 2008, Harrisburg Magazine’s Readers’ Poll has consistently judged Memorial Eye Institute to be “Simply the Best” LASIK facility.

A family of experts

Memorial Eye Institute, the facility that houses both the practice and the surgery center, is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Chotiner’s father.

Dr. Chotiner and his wife reside in Harrisburg and have three grown children and four grandchildren.

An eye surgery pioneer

Dr. Bennett Chotiner is the Founder and Medical Director of Memorial Eye Institute. A noted innovator, in 1977 he established his clinical practice, Pennsylvania Eye Associates. In 1984, he established Pennsylvania Eye Surgery Center, Pennsylvania’s first fully approved freestanding outpatient ophthalmic surgery center. He pioneered outpatient ophthalmic surgery in Pennsylvania and is nationally recognized for his leadership in this field.

“Simply the Best” LASIK facility

Dr. Chotiner is widely regarded as the leading and most experienced Cataract and LASIK surgeon in Central Pennsylvania. He has been performing refractive vision correction surgery since 1981. In 1994, Dr. Chotiner established the Laser Vision Center at Memorial Eye Institute, where he performed the first laser vision correction procedure in Central Pennsylvania. He has been performing LASIK since 1996 and has served as a clinical investigator for several national LASIK studies. Since 2008, Harrisburg Magazine’s Readers’ Poll has consistently judged Memorial Eye Institute to be “Simply the Best” Lasik facility.

A family of experts

Memorial Eye Institute, the facility that houses both the Practice and the Surgery Center, is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Chotiner’s father. Dr. Chotiner and his wife reside in Harrisburg and have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Dr Bennett Chotiner’s professional background

Discover more about Dr Bennett Chotiner

Qualifications and certifications

Dr Bennett Chotiner is:

  • Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
  • Founding member of the Pennsylvania Ambulatory Surgery Center Association

Dr Bennett Chotiner’s specialties include:

  • Cataract and refractive surgery
  • LASIK surgery
  • Glaucoma
  • General ophthalmology

Dr. Chotiner is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Kenyon College. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey. He completed his residency and fellowship in Ophthalmology at the Eye and Ear Hospital in Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hospitals, where he was a clinical instructor in Ophthalmology

Dr. Chotiner has received the following rewards:

  • Summit Autonomous Society Silver Award
  • Intralase Luminaries Award
  • Wavelight Laser Award
  • UPMC Pinnacle Service Award

Dr. Chotiner’s scientific articles and papers have appeared in numerous professional medical publications. He is an avid film and video enthusiast and has produced and directed several documentary films and videos.

Dr. Chotiner is Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and is active in both the medical and ophthalmic surgery specialty communities:

Dr. Chotiner’s career highlights include:

  • First phacoemulsification cataract surgery in Central PA
  • First cataract lens implant surgery in Central PA
  • Founder and Medical Director of Pennsylvania’s first freestanding outpatient ophthalmic surgery center
  • First laser vision correction procedure in Central Pennsylvania
  • WHTM-ABC “Live at Five” televised Lasik Surgery
  • Featured surgeon in Video Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

Dr. Chotiner serves on several local and regional boards including the Harrisburg University, the Harrisburg Symphony, and the Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority.

As a former high school and college baseball player, he is now an avid golfer and skier. He enjoys filmmaking and has produced and directed several videos for professional meetings and personal family events.

He particularly enjoys spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Thousands of happy patients in Central PA

we help PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE HARRISBURG COMMUNITY LIVE IT UP WITH BETTER VISION

Very happy with all the staff, from check in, check out and nursing in pre op. Amazing. Very clean facility. Dr. Chotiner is so efficient and fast. Would recommend him to everyone.

Vey L.

Excellent care and personal attention are provided at Memorial Eye. Hats off to Dr. E. Chotiner, nurses and staff for making my experience there so great!

Q. B.

The staff and doctor were very accommodating. Always on time, if not earlier with appointments. The surgical staff was very attentive to any needs such as extra blankets if needed, and making sure you were comfortable while you waited for your surgery.

Pam C

First time in 78 years I can see well without prescription lenses! I was apprehensive to have any elective surgery during the pandemic with my age and health history. The staff sensed it and made an effort to deal with it very professionally.

W.H.R.

Wonderful practice with kind and supportive employees. The doctors are top notch and excellent!

A. Hendrix

Surgery was quick and easy. Staff was very pleasant. Would recommend Dr. Chotiner very highly.

Patricia Scheidler

Service is very complete and professional. Dr. Erik Chotiner was very friendly and able to answer all of my questions. I am very pleased with service and will recommend.

A. Lawrence

I would recommend Memorial Eye Institute and Dr. Erik Chotiner for their expertise. They are all very professional and caring for their patients. It was an excellent experience.

Joyce K.

I was very pleased with the efficiency and professionalism of the staff. You have a well oiled team. Everyone is very thorough. Thanks Dr. Rick and staff.

M.A.B.

I am so happy at how good I can see now. Everyone was very professional and efficient. I feel my Dr is one of the best. I wouldn’t go to anyone else. Every one there was just great. Thank you so much.

Glenn C.

We have replaced the images of real patients who provided these testimonials to protect their privacy.

Our free appointments give you the confidence to grab on to a bigger life…

  • You’ll discover your suitability and whether or not you could benefit from one of our life-changing eye treatments

  • You’ll hear all about the benefits of treatment, including your expected outcome
  • You’ll get all of your questions answered and feel confident about your options
  • You’ll be one step closer to making a decision that will improve every day of the rest of your life

Voted “Simply the Best” by the Harrisburg community

We are honoured to have received the following community awards

Affiliations and memberships

We’re proud to be members of these prestigious professional organisations

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I hate my reading glasses!

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I have a high prescription and I’m not suitable for laser eye surgery

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“Why, why, why didn’t I get my eyes done sooner?”