Skip to main menu Skip to main content Skip to footer
Request Appointment
Cataract Self-Test
LASIK Self-Test
LASIK Cost Calculator

Robert I. Schnipper, MD

Ophthalmologist in Jacksonville, FL

Pioneer, teacher, advisor, eye physician, and Board-Certified LASIK Specialist, Dr. Schnipper has been a leader in ophthalmology in Northeast Florida for more than 30 years. He founded the Jacksonville Eye Center in 1972 with a commitment to continually improve his patients’ lives with the safest, most accurate procedures. His goal is to provide his patients with the best possible (optimal) vision at every age. He continues to bring leading-edge technology to this region, specializing in LASIK, cataract surgery, and IOL premium lenses for vision correction.

Dr. Schnipper’s reputation has spread far beyond Jacksonville, and patients often come from great distances for his consultation and care. Eye surgeons from around the world travel to Jacksonville to learn Dr. Schnipper’s advanced techniques. He is a member of the Refractive Surgery Alliance (RSA) and Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Robert I. Schnipper, MD was voted the Best LASIK Eye Doctor and Jacksonville Eye Center was voted the Best LASIK Eye Center by Folio Weekly Magazine (Best of Jax). Read on for Dr. Schnipper’s full CV.

What Dr. Schnipper’s Patients Say…

“This office is amazing! Dr. Schnipper and his staff are wonderful. They made feel at ease when I was getting the LASIK procedure done. I would recommend Dr. Schnipper to anyone wanting any eye corrective surgery!” – Amy B.

“I visited Dr. Schnipper in early May, 2015 made arrangements for correctional eye surgery in June and September. I no longer need glasses, not even for reading! Have continued yearly appointments and vision is better than ever. Staff is vey congenial and accommodating. Was the best decision I’ve made! Thank you Dr. Schnipper!” – Ali R.

“Dr. Schnipper and his staff did an absolutely top notch job with my LASIK surgery. The staff was incredibly nice and knowledgeable. The entire experience far exceeded my expectations.” – Michael H.

Curriculum Vitae – Robert I. Schnipper, M.D.

Education

  • Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts – Graduated June 5, 1962 – B.S. Degree
  • Northwestern University Medical SchoolChicago, Illinois – Graduated June 11, 1966 – M.D. Degree
  • Kings County Hospital Center – Internship – Brooklyn, New York July 1, 1966 – June 30, 1967
  • Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital – ResidencyNew York, New York – Ophthalmology July 1, 1969 – June 30, 1972

Service

  • U.S. Public Health Service and Coast Guard, Boston, Massachusetts, July 1, 1967 – June 30, 1969

Certification

Employment History

  • Sole Proprietorship – Robert I. Schnipper, M.D., P.A. – Surgical and Medical Director DBA Jacksonville Eye Center – Jacksonville, FloridaJuly 1972 – Present
  • Riverside Park Surgicenter – Surgical and Medical Director – Jacksonville, Florida – June 1992 – Present
  • Investigative Ophthalmology Aqueous Humor Dynamic (Basic Studies in Glaucoma) – December, 1967
  • Intra-ocular Lenses the Iris Suture Lens, MEETH Symposium – 1976
  • The Anterior Chamber Intra-ocular Lens and Evolution, MEETH Symposium – May 1978
  • Evolution of an Inplanter, MEETH Symposium – May 1978
  • Conversion to Extracapsular Surgery, MEETH Symposium – 1980
  • Nuclear Prolapse, MEETH Symposium – September 1983 and
  • Ophthalmology Times – December 1983
  • Nucleus in ECCE, Welch Cataract Congress – September 1984
  • Stabilizing the Nucleus with Viscoat, Ocular surgery News – 1988
  • Viscoat Technique Helps Prevent Posterior Capsule Rupture During Phacoemulsification, Phaco and Foldables – May/June 1988
  • Management of Pterygium with Surgery and Radiation Therapy, American Journal of Ophthalmology – August 16, 1989
  • Rethinking the “standards” for phaco yields low-power, low-flow, high-vacuum settings, Phaco and Foldables – January/February 1990
  • Phacodynamics Peristalic vs. Diaphragm Fluidics: Advantages and Disadvantages of Each, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts – April 1991
  • Secondary Implantation of a Posterior Chamber IOL in Aniridia (a video presentation), ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts – April 1991
  • Phacoemulsification with Trabeculectomy in Patients with Well Controlled Glaucoma, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, San Diego, California – April 1992
  • Does Radial Keratotomy on Thick Corneas and Thin Corneas Follow the System Nomogram?, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts – April 1994
  • The OMS Diplomax for Phacoemulsification, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Seattle, Washington – June 1996
  • Polishing the Posterior Capsule Under Viscoelastic, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Seattle Washington – June 1996
  • Multimode MAXPACK Phaco, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Boston, Massachusetts – April 1997
  • Ultrasound Times with the AMO Diplomax and Cracking, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, San Diego, California – April 1998
  • Initial Results with the Carriazo-Barraquer Keratome and Hyperopia, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, Seattle, Washington – Apri, 1999
  • Efficient and reliable phaco in tough cases: Using the Gravlee (Mastel Surgical) phaco tip with Diplomax and Occlusion Mode phaco for mature cataracts, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Seattle, Washington – April 1999
  • Clinical Experience with Moria’s Carriazo-Barraquer Microkeratome, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, Boston, Massachuset – May 2000
  • The Reintroduction of PRK in a Busy LASIK Practice, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, San Diego, California – May 2001
  • Evaluation of the Amadeus 140 Head Microkeratome, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – June 2002
  • Comparison of Epi-LASEK and PRK With the Autonomous LADARVision Laser, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – June 2002
  • Surface Ablation after RK – A Three Month Study, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, San Francisco, California – May 2003
  • Surface Ablation after RK – A One Year Study, ASCRS/ASOA Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, San Diego, California – April 2004
  • Expanding Your Referral Base – OOSS ASC National Symposium, Chicago, Illinois – October 2005
  • Challenges and Opportunities: Expanding the ASC Referral Base – Syndication – OOSS Day, San Diego, California – March 2006
  • “One-Handed Linear Phaco Using Viscoat”, a Coopervison sponsored lecture at the American Academy of Ophthalmology – October 1988
  • “Slow Motion Phaco”, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Los Angeles, California – March 4-7, 1990
  • “Incision Techniques”, Physicians Education Program for IOLAB, New York, New York – October 6 & 7, 1990 and Boston, Massachusetts – May 4-5, 1991
  • “Visco Sandwich – The Chip and Scoop Technique”, Physicians Education Program for IOLAB, New York, New York – October 6 & 7, 1990 and Boston, Massachusetts – May 4-5, 1991
  • “The Physics of Phaco”, Physicians Education Program for IOLAB, New York, New York – October 6 & 7, 1990 and Boston, Massachusetts – May 4-5, 1991
  • “Phacoemulsification”, University of Florida residents – August 1990
  • “Phacoemulsification and Trabeculectomy”, ASCRS/ASOA, San Diego, California – April 13, 1992
  • “Phacoemulsification and Trabeculectomy”, Intercounty Ophthalmology Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – April 27, 1992
  • “Radial Keratotomy”, California Society of Ophthalmologists – June 1993
  • “Do Thick or Thin Corneas Affect the Results of RK surgery?”, Boston Association – March 1994
  • “The Basics of RK and ALK”, Florida Society of Ophthalmology – September 1995
  • “Refractive Update”, Northeast Florida Optometric Society Continuing Education Series – February 1999
  • “Management of Epithelial Stripping during LASIK”, American College of Eye Surgeons, Quality Surgery XV, Bal Harbor, Florida – February 2001

Laser Courses

  • Argon Laser, Wilmer Institute – 1973
  • YAG Laser – Neodymium – YAG Laser Ophthalmic Surgery, The Ernest A. Katzen Memorial Eye Research Institute – November 1982

IOL Courses

  • Intra-ocular Lens Implantation Course – Henry Hirschman, M.D. of Long Beach, California – 1974
  • Intra-ocular Lens Implantation Course – Jerald Tennant, M.D. of Dallas, Texas – 1978
  • Small Incision Implant Course – Eye Care Foundation, Orlando, Florida – December 1986
  • Gills Technique, Intra-ocular Lens Implantation – James Gills, M.D. of New Port Richey, Florida – 1991
  • Advanced Phaco and Small Incision Update – American College of Eye surgeons Quality Surgery X, Orlando, Florida – February 1996

Corneal- Refractive Courses

  • Corneal Surgery, Richard Troutman, M.D. – 1978
  • Radial Keratotomy, Leo Bores, M.D. – 1980
  • Radial Keratotomy, Albert C. Newmann, M.D. – 1982 NOTE: Instructor at this course
  • Corneal Refractive Surgery, Blaydes Clinic – 1984
  • A System of Precise Carried Refractive Surgery, Charles Casebeer, M.D. – August 1991
  • American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium on Cataract, IOL, and Refractive Surgery, Orlando, Florida – 1987
  • Kerato-Refractive Society Annual Symposium, Dallas, Texas – November 1987
  • American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, Los Angeles, California – March 1988
  • Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty, Washington, D.C. – August 1993
  • Fellowship in ALK, Casebeer Institute, Scottsdale, Arizona – March 1994
  • Photorefractive Keratectomy, The George Washington University – December 1995
  • Refractive Surgery Update, American College of Eye Surgeons Quality Surgery X, Orlando, Florida – February 1996
  • LASIK Course and Wet Lab, University of South Florida Eye Institute, Tampa, Florida – March 1996
  • VISX Excimer Laser Didactic, Columbia Memorial Medical Center, Jacksonville Florida – April 1996
  • C-LASIK Mini-Fellowship, Laservue, Montreal, Quebec – June 1996
  • C-LASIK Didactic, Chiron Vision, Ottawa, Ontario – June 1996
  • Practical course on the Surgical Reversal of Presbyopia, Herzig Eye Institute, Toronto, Canada – August 1998
  • Nidek Laser Certification and Wet Lab, Cancun, Mexico – December 1998
  • Autonomous Excimer Laser Didactic and Wet Lab, Jacksonville Eye Center, Jacksonville, Florida – May 2000
  • Constructing LASIK Nomograms for the Correction of Spherical, Astigmatic, and Higher-Order Refractive Errors, American Academy of Ophthalmology – November 2001
  • In What Cases is PRK More Advisable Than LASIK?, American Academy of Ophthalmology – November 2001
  • Current Management of Pterygia, American Academy of Ophthalmology – November 2001

Other Courses

  • The Redi-Med Conference for Florida Dispensing Practitioners – October, 1987
  • What’s New in Glaucoma, American Academy of Ophthalmology, S. Posos, M.D. – November, 1987
  • Current Concepts in the Diagnosis and Management of Retinal Vascular, Macular and Pigment Epithelial Diseases, American Academy of Ophthalmology, H. Schatz, M.D. – November, 1987
  • Risk Management Seminar, American Institute of Medical Law, Jacksonville, Florida – June, 1987
  • EyeSat Program, St. Louis University School of Medicine – July, 1987
  • Florida – December, 1995 Selected Topics in Uveitis, Mayo Graduate School – October, 1987
  • Endophthalmitis, Mayo Foundation – July, 1987
  • Ocular Trauma, Mayo Graduate School – October 1987
  • Aids and Florida Law, Albert Einstein College of Medicine – December, 1993
  • Medical Management of Refractive Surgery Patients: Practice Patterns Survey, Education Design, San Diego, California – March, 1995
  • Domestic Violence, Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida – October, 1995
  • FPIC/FMA Risk Management Seminar, Jacksonville, Florida – October, 1995
  • Florida Worker’s Compensation Physicians’ Certification Course, American Institute of Medical Law, Orange Park, Florida 1996

Approximately 27,000

  • Approximately 15,000 (includes RK, ALK, LASIK, PRK, and LASEK)
  • Jacksonville Hospital Education Program, Jacksonville, Florida
  • University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 1973-1979, 1991, 1992

International Societies

State

Local

  • Past President Prevent Blindness Society, Northeast Florida Branch
  • Past President Prevent Blindness Society, Northeast Florida Branch
  • Physician’s Recognition Award – Continuing Medical Education American Medical Association Industry and Medicine Panel for the Advancement of Cataract Surgery Technology, Impact “88 – Certificate presented on March 27, 1988
  • Featured surgeon in the teaching video International Advances in Phacoemulsification – Winter Issue, 1997 (edited by Dr. Robert Osher).
  • VISX Star Surgeon Award – Presented March 1999

Our Doctors