Notice: Appointments cannot be made or changed from Sept 8-13 due to updating our systems.

Contact Princeton Eye Group by phone

Locations

Request Appointment

Rahul Tonk, MD, MBA

Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgeon, Princeton Eye Group Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Wills Eye Hospital

Rahul S. Tonk, MD, MBA

An International Leader in Ophthalmology

Dr. Rahul Tonk is a distinguished cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon who brings the highest level of academic medicine to Central New Jersey. His transition to Princeton Eye Group marks a homecoming after serving as Associate Professor and Associate Medical Director at the nation's number one-ranked eye hospital, the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, FL. Today, he concurrently serves on the faculty as an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, which is consistently ranked among the top eye centers in America.

Recognized as a "Rising Star" on The Ophthalmologist's global Power List and named to Ophthalmology Management's "40 Under 40," Dr. Tonk is a key opinion leader actively shaping the future of vision care. His expertise is sought after worldwide — he has delivered over 100 invited lectures and presentations at national and international medical meetings.

View Dr. Rahul Tonk's CV

Leadership and Distinction

Dr. Tonk holds leadership positions in the field's most respected organizations, serving on committees for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and the Cornea Society. He is also an inductee of two prestigious, invitation-only honorary societies — the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS) and CEDARS/ASPENS — recognizing him as one of the foremost surgeon-innovators in refractive and cataract surgery. Locally, he serves in the executive leadership of the New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology.

Banner media
Rahul S. Tonk, MD, MBA

Heart of an Educator

Dr. Tonk is a "surgeon's surgeon"—a testament to the high technical regard in which his peers hold him. Because of this expertise, he has been entrusted with training the next generation of elite eye surgeons at two of the country's top institutions: first at Bascom Palmer and now at Wills Eye Hospital. This commitment to education profoundly shapes his approach to patient care. Dr. Tonk believes that the best surgical outcomes are achieved when patients are fully empowered partners. He brings the same clarity and depth of knowledge to the exam room that he brings to the podium, ensuring every patient understands their condition and feels confident in their treatment decisions.

Innovator and Researcher

Advancing the field of ophthalmology is central to Dr. Tonk's practice. He is a committed researcher who has served as an investigator for major clinical trials, including studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Eye Institute (NEI). By remaining at the forefront of scientific discovery, he ensures that his patients in Princeton have access to the latest technologies and therapies before they are widely available. His work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and presented at major academic conferences.

Deep Roots and Community Commitment

Dr. Tonk's return to New Jersey is a deliberate choice to deliver world-class academic care within a warm, community practice. While his career has taken him to the pinnacle of ophthalmology, his story began locally. A graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, Dr. Tonk earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Cornell University and his combined MD/MBA from Rutgers.

He completed his ophthalmology residency and served as Chief Resident at Albany Medical College before undertaking his fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He is thrilled to return home with his family to serve the community that raised him, providing top-tier surgical expertise with a neighborly touch. Dr. Tonk is fluent in English, Spanish, and Hindi.

Banner media

Additional Information about Rahul S. Tonk, MD, MBA

Clinical Expertise

Dr. Tonk specializes in advanced vision correction, cataract, and cornea surgery. His areas of expertise include:

Refractive Surgery

A full suite of vision correction options, including all-laser LASIK, PRK, Custom Lens Replacement, and the EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) for high myopia.

Premium Cataract Surgery

Advanced technology and astigmatism-correcting lenses are designed to reduce or eliminate dependence on glasses.

Keratoconus Management

Treatments to halt disease progression and improve vision, including corneal cross-linking, topography-guided PRK, CAIRS, and CTAK.

Corneal Transplantation

Advanced partial-thickness graft techniques, including DMEK and DSAEK, for patients with endothelial disease.

Complex Anterior Segment Reconstruction

Surgical repair of eyes affected by trauma or previous surgical complications.

Education, Experience & Leadership

Current Appointments

  • Princeton Eye Group — Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgeon
  • Wills Eye Hospital / Thomas Jefferson University — Associate Professor of Ophthalmology [Faculty Profile]
  • Penn Medicine Princeton Health — Medical Staff [Profile]

Previous Academic Experience

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami (2016–2025) — Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Associate Medical Director, and Co-Director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Fellowship

Education and Training

  • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami — Fellowship in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery
  • Albany Medical College / Lions Eye Institute — Ophthalmology Residency and Chief Residency
  • Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers Business School — MD and MBA
  • Cornell University — BS in Applied Economics and Management, magna cum laude

Professional Leadership

Dr. Tonk's professional leadership and committee service have included the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Cornea Society, Keratoplasty Alliance International, and New Jersey Academy of Ophthalmology.

Honors & Awards
  • IIRSI Gold Medal, Indian Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery Convention, 2026
  • Inductee, CEDARS/ASPENS, 2025
  • Power List: Rising Star, The Ophthalmologist, 2023
  • Best Paper of Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 2023 — "Intracameral
  • Enoxaparin for Complex Endothelial Keratoplasty: A Pilot Safety Study"
  • 40 Under 40, Ophthalmology Management, 2022
  • One to Watch, MillennialEYE, 2022
  • Best Poster of Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 2022 — "Impact of Total
  • Keratometry Measurements on IOL Power Calculation Accuracy in Patients with Keratoconus"
  • Rising Star in Ophthalmology, Rising Eye Stars Lecture Series, 2022
  • Inductee, American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery, 2021

Teaching & Invited Presentations

Dr. Tonk has delivered more than 100 invited lectures and presentations at international, national, and regional medical meetings. He also directs and teaches surgical courses and wet labs for ophthalmologists, fellows, and residents. His educational work has included course leadership and surgical instruction in microsurgical suturing, endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK and DSAEK), intraocular lens calculations for atypical eyes, refractive surgery enhancements, and corneal surgical techniques. He previously directed the Bascom Palmer Cornea Conference Series and contributed to surgical curricula for national ophthalmology organizations.

Representative Invited Presentations

  • "Total Anterior Segment Reconstruction" — Indian Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery Convention, Chennai, India, 2026
  • "Finishing the Job: The Playbook for Refractive Enhancements" — American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, 2026
  • "Intracameral Enoxaparin for Keratoplasty" — World Cornea Congress IX, Washington, DC, 2025
  • "Intrastromal Keratoplasty for Corneal Ectasia" — American Academy of Ophthalmology Refractive Subspecialty Day, Chicago, Illinois, 2025
  • "IOL Power Calculations in Irregular Corneas" — Wills Eye Hospital Biennial Cornea Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2025

Research & Publications

Dr. Tonk's academic work focuses on corneal transplantation, keratoconus, refractive surgery, intraocular lens calculations, and ocular surface disease. He has authored or co-authored more than 40 scientific and professional publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and invited articles for ophthalmology periodicals. His work has appeared in Ophthalmology, American Journal of Ophthalmology, Cornea, and JAMA Ophthalmology, as well as EyeNet Magazine, Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today, and Ophthalmology Management. He is also the author or co-author of more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific abstracts presented at major ophthalmology meetings.

Rahul S. Tonk, MD, MBA

Selected Publications

Accessibility: If you are vision-impaired or have some other impairment covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or a similar law, and you wish to discuss potential accommodations related to using this website, please contact our Accessibility Manager at (609) 921-9437.
Request an Appointment