Christopher W. D. Heichel, M.D.

Christopher W. D. Heichel, M.D., joined the faculty at the Shiley Eye Center as an Assistant Professor in July 2004. Dr. Heichel specializes in Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology from Revelle College at the University of California at San Diego, where he was awarded a Howard Hughes Research Fellowship.

After graduating with honors as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society from the Chicago Medical School, Dr. Heichel completed his internship at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, where he received an “Outstanding Intern Award.” He completed his ophthalmology residency, served as Chief Resident, and completed a fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery all at the Shiley Eye Center.

Dr. Heichel is currently a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association. His clinical interests include corneal transplantation, laser vision correction, challenging cataract surgery, and anterior segment reconstruction. In addition, he has several research interests including new applications of custom wavefront technology in refractive surgery, the use of intrastromal corneal rings to treat corneal ectasias, cataract, and innovative approaches to corneal transplantation.

Dr. Heichel sees anterior segment and refractive surgery patients at the Shiley Eye Center. For appointments,
please call (858) 534-6290.

Shira L. Robbins, M.D.

Shira L. Robbins, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Ophthalmology in the Department of Ophthalmology, UCSD. She completed her medical training at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and her residency in ophthalmology at Hahnemann University Hospital. As an undergraduate, she designed an infant malnutrition study in Nigeria, West Africa. She then turned her efforts to molecular biology research, working at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia. Dr. Robbins completed a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus (eye misalignment) at UCSD, Shiley Eye Center's Anne & Abraham Ratner Children's Eye Center and Naval Medical Center in San Diego. She is now pursuing her greatest goal of “ having the honor and privilege of participating in the healthcare of children.”

Since Dr. Robbins came to San Diego, she has taught medical students, residents, and fellows; written book chapters on vision testing in children and the pediatric conjunctiva; and presented research papers at both national and international conferences in her field. She was one of only eight American Pediatric Ophthalmologists who presented research at the European Strabismological Association in Bergen, Norway 2003, and was recently the youngest physician to run a workshop at the 2004 meeting for the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus in Washington, D.C., on “New Technologies in Diagnostic Ophthalmology.”

Her research includes vision screening of the underprivileged San Diego pediatric community, cognitive changes of vision correction, novel surgical approaches to strabismus, and new treatments for retinopathy of prematurity.

At the Ratner Children's Eye Center, Dr. Robbins sees patients with vision and ocular complaints, amblyopia, trabismus, retinopathy of prematurity, learning disabilities, nasolacrimal tear duct disorders, genetic ocular disorders, systemic diseases affecting the eyes, pediatric cataracts including intraocular lens placement/management, and pediatric glaucoma. Her adult practice includes patients with double vision, strabismus, and visual strain complaints. For appointments, please call (858) 534-2020.