Dr. Rudrani Banik
Board-certified Neuro-Ophthalmologist
Integrative practitioner and researcher specializing in vision and brain health.
Meet Dr. Rudrani Banik
Dr. Rudrani Banik is internationally known for her expertise in ophthalmic and neuro-ophthalmic care. She manages a wide spectrum of conditions affecting vision, including macular degeneration, dry eye, blepharitis, and migraine, as well as the complex connections between the eye and brain. She combines traditional medical and surgical treatments of the eye with nutritional and lifestyle approaches for a more integrated, holistic approach to vision and brain health.
Dr. Banik’s deep research into the benefits of carotenoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin and meso-zeaxanthin has led her to be a strong advocate for their daily use, not only for eye and brain health but as essential antioxidants providing significant anti-inflammatory benefits throughout the body. These three nutrients, Dr. Banik says, are the most important eye nutrients because they are highly concentrated in the macula, the centermost part of the retina that’s essential to healthy vision. And since we don’t get enough of these nutrients from our diet, supplementation is critical.
Shop Dr. Banik's Preferred Eye Health Products
A true complementary practitioner, combining integrative and traditional medicine
Dr. Banik develops a personalized treatment and wellness plan for each of her patients, including a combination of:
- Root cause analysis for chronic eye disease to identify imbalances
- Personalized nutritional plan for optimal vision and brain health
- Pharmaceutical grade supplements to promote eye and brain metabolism
- Lifestyle modification to address stressors and improve sleep
- Essential oils, meditation, and movement for vision, mind, and body
Her approach, remarkable results, and dedication to the field of neuro-ophthalmology have earned her multiple awards, including recognition by her peers as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and as New York Magazine's Best Doctor in Ophthalmology every year since 2017.
"I knew very early on that I was interested in ophthalmology. I explored other fields as well, but ophthalmology always drew me back. I love the eye, such a fascinating organ, and it's so instrumental to how we function, perceive the world, and go about our daily lives. Most people may not know that we don't actually see with our eyes. Our eyes collect information and then send that information through electrical signals to the brain for processing. So, what we call vision is really the outcome of this constant flow of communication—a true “team effort” you might say. This eye-brain connection is an ever-changing and fulfilling discipline to be in, being able to help people see today and for their entire lives."
Rudrani Banik, MD
Unparalleled Credentials
Dr. Banik has thirteen years of training at some of the finest medical and eye institutes in the country. She graduated with a B.A with Honors and an M.D. from Brown University. She trained in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, followed by Ophthalmology at the University of California, Irvine. She went on to pursue Neuro-Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins. She has served on full-time faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. She is currently Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Exam Development Committee, which sets the standards for board certification in her field.
Dr. Banik is founder of Envision Health NYC, a private practice based on the Upper East Side in New York City specializing in eye health, neurological conditions, and migraine headaches. She is the author of two upcoming books, "Beyond Carrots - Best Foods For Eye Health A to Z" and "The Macular Degeneration Protocol," soon to be released in 2022. Healthy Directions is thrilled to have Dr. Banik as part of our family of distinguished experts and encourage readers to follow her important work through the links below.
