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Memorial Sloan Kettering optometrist Julia Canestraro

Julia Canestraro, OD, FAAO

Optometrist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Primary Care and Ocular Disease
  • Contact Lens and Glasses Fittings
  • Diagnosis and Non-Surgical Management of Ocular Tumors
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Dr. Canestraro's Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Assistant Attending Optometrist
Get To Know Me

I am passionate about eye care. As an optometrist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), my goal is to provide optimal vision and eye comfort to people undergoing treatment for cancer.

In addition to fitting patients with glasses and contact lenses, I provide ocular surface rehabilitation through various medical and non-invasive methods. I have experience in the diagnosis and non-surgical management of ocular disease, including ocular tumors. I also specialize in eye issues caused by cancer and its treatment.

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Our patients should be able to concentrate on their therapy and rehabilitation; it is my job to meet all their eye care needs so they can do just that. I make it a priority to ensure that my patients feel heard and spend the time necessary to understand their unique vision problems. I believe in taking an individualized approach to care as we discuss a treatment plan, together.

I graduated from the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry as part of the Beta Sigma Kappa Honors Society. I also received both the GP Lens Institute Clinical Excellence Award and the Dr. Louis Herrmann Memorial Award for Outstanding Compassion in Patient Care. From there, I continued my education with a residency in ocular disease at the SUNY College of Optometry.

I began my professional career as an assistant clinical professor at SUNY Optometry and went on to become the Assistant Director of Optometry at Woodhull Medical Center, where I served as the student externship supervisor and resident coordinator. After many fulfilling years as a clinician and clinical educator, my path has led to MSK, where I have the opportunity to put my skills to use at one of the preeminent hospitals in the nation. In 2022, I was awarded the SUNY Optometry Alumni Mentor of the Year.

In my spare time, I enjoy trying new restaurants and in the warmer months, hiking with my family and our dog.

My Role at MSK

An optometrist is a doctor with special training in eye diseases and vision problems. They also do routine eye exams.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Primary Care and Ocular Disease
  • Contact Lens and Glasses Fittings
  • Diagnosis and Non-Surgical Management of Ocular Tumors
  • Management of Ophthalmic Manifestations of Cancer
  • Ocular Surface Rehabilitation
Education & Honors

Education

  • OD, SUNY College of Optometry

Residencies

  • Ocular Disease - SUNY College of Optometry

Fellowships

  • Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry

Board Certifications

  • Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

Make an Appointment

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Current Patients
Request an appointment by logging on to MyMSK or calling your doctor’s office. If you aren’t registered for MyMSK, call 646-227-2593 for your Enrollment ID.

Contact and Location

Dr. Canestraro sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022
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Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Ophthalmic Oncology Service doctors

Clinical Trials

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Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

I have written a number of chapters in a clinical optometry textbook and have published numerous peer-reviewed papers (a few of these are highlighted below). Additionally, I have lectured for the American Academy of Optometry, as well as local Optometric Society meetings.

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J Canestraro, Malin Hultcrantz, Shanu Modi, Paul A Hamlin, Alexander N Shoushtari, Jason A Konner, William P Tew, Neil M Iyengar, Murk Heinemann, David H Abramson, Jasmine H Francis. Refractive Shifts and Changes in Corneal Curvature Associated with Antibody-Drug Conjugates. Cornea. 2022,Jun;41(6):792-801. 

Canestraro J, Do A, Potash SD, Panarelli J, Berkenstock M, Abramson DH, Francis JH. Immune checkpoint inhibitor associated ocular hypertension (from presumed trabeculitis). American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports. 2021,May;23:101125. 

Canestraro J, Jaben KA, Wolchok JD, Abramson DA, Francis, JH. Progressive Choroidal Thinning (Leptochoroid) and Fundus Depigmentation Associated with Checkpoint Inhibitors. Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports. 2020,Sep;19:1-4. 

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Canestraro’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Julia Canestraro discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Clarivate
    Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
  • Immunogen
    Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
  • New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Professional Eye Care Associates of America
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Woo University
    Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)

If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.

The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


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