Eye Cancer Expert

Paul T. Finger, M.D., F.A.C.S., the eye cancer expert, has extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers in and around the eye. These cancers are all rare and typically diagnosed without biopsy. That is why Dr. Finger’s years of experience with research, teaching and clinical care are so important. In order to make his expert diagnosis, Dr. Finger uses the latest diagnostic imaging and ultrasound techniques. When he finds these techniques inadequate, he researched and developed new methods now employed around the world. These include new applications of high-frequency anterior segment ultrasound (“ultrasonic biomicroscopy,” or UBM), OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography), digital imaging. He believes in small incision surgery and therefore invented the “Finger Iridectomy Technique” biopsy for iris and ciliary body tumors and the FACT micro incision orbitotomy technique for orbital tumors. However, he is widely known for inventing palladium-103 plaque radiation therapy which typically offers improved outcomes compared to other types of plaques. He is also known for discovering the most widely used treatment for ocular radiation side effects (radiation retinopathy and radiation optic neuropathy).

Dr.  Finger wants all his patients to understand their diagnosis regarding eye cancer, alternatives of treatment and to see their current status. This is why Dr. Finger placed 4K 55″ inch HD displays in each examination room so that he can teach you everything you need to know about your ophthalmic medical problem.

The most primary intraocular cancer in adults is melanoma. It is often called choroidal melanoma. Dr. Finger offers the most sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic options for these cancers, including brachytherapy (radioactive material in seeds, plaques or catheters placed directly into or next to the tumor).  Dr. Finger discovered that palladium-103 typically offers better eye and vision sparing than either iodine-125 plaque, ruthenium-106 plaque or proton therapy. To see the results of his patients as averaged from his waiting room, visit our results page (DRO-link).

Excellence Through Innovation

Dr. Finger believes in excellence through innovation. Never satisfied with less effective treatments, he invented “Finger’ Slotted Eye Plaques” to save eyes and lives of patients whose choroidal melanoma is near, touching or wrapped around the optic nerve. He also invented techniques for ultra small incision aspiration-cutter assisted biopsy intraocular and orbital  to increase their safety and effectiveness. Numerous other techniques are described on this website.

Dr. Finger has published hundreds of original articles (including those related to the COMS), 38 book chapters and has performed thousands of scientific reviews. Dr. Finger wrote “THE” chapter on intraocular melanoma in the last two editions of the medical oncology textbook “DeVita,” and has authored the chapter covering all eye cancers for the 2015 UICC Manual of Clinical Oncology 9th edition. He has headed national and international committees to improve and develop guidelines for ophthalmic radiation therapy. As Chair of the Ophthalmic Oncology Task Force of the American Joint Committee on Cancer, he worked with over 58 eye cancer specialists from over 13 countries to make universal staging and a common scientific language a reality.

Most recently, Dr. Finger introduced the concept of Eye Cancer Working Days to help the entire community of eye cancer specialists  to work together to accomplish multicenter international projects.

Dr. Finger is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is the founder of the Ocular Tumor Service at several renowned institutions, including the New York University School of Medicine, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai, Tisch Hospital, and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. He is fellowship trained in ocular tumor, orbital disease, and ophthalmic radiation therapy. He is considered a world leader and specialist in radiation treatment of the eye.

Hospital Affiliations

hospital affiliations of Dr. Finger
hospital affiliations of dr. finger

Professional Society Memberships

Expert in Ophthalmic Radiation Therapy

  1. In 1989, Dr. Finger became a principle investigator for the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) which found that plaque therapy was equivalent to removal of the eye to prevent metastasis.
  2. In 1991, Dr. Finger discovered palladium-103 plaque therapy for intraocular tumors. His subsequent clinical work on 400 patients showed excellent local tumor destruction and visual acuity retention as well as low rates of metastasis.
  3. In 1997, Dr. Finger reviewed and published the worlds’ experience in radiation treatment for choroidal melanoma in his work: “Radiation for Choroidal Melanoma.”
  4. In 2009, Dr. Finger reviewed and published the worlds’ experience with radiation therapy for orbital tumors in his work: “Radiation therapy for orbital tumors: concepts, current use and ophthalmic radiation side effects.”
  5. In 2012, Dr. Finger was selected to be the first ophthalmologist to be included and lead the clinical section of Task Group-129 for the AAPM that defined best practices for plaque radiation therapy for intraocular tumors. Download the PDF Here
  6. In 2014, Dr. Finger (the only ophthalmic oncologist ever selected by the American Brachytherapy Society) created a committee to create consensus guidelines for plaque radiation therapy: “The American Brachytherapy Society consensus guidelines for plaque brachytherapy of uveal melanoma and retinoblastoma.”

Patent Holder, Innovator & Teacher

View all of Dr. Finger’s patents here.

In his efforts to conserve eyes and vision; Dr. Finger has invented the use of palladium-103 plaque radiation for choroidal melanoma, pioneered unique uses for 3D and high-frequency ultrasound imaging for intraocular tumors, and has created a world-renowned website           (http://eyecancer.com).

Dr. Finger has developed new methods for the diagnosis and treatment of many ocular tumors, holds several patents and has written hundreds of scientific publications. Dr. Finger lectures frequently at local, national and international meetings.

Dr. Finger is board certified by “The American Board of Ophthalmology” and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and cares for patients from all over the world.

Dr. Finger has a particular interest in choroidal melanoma, ciliary body melanoma and iris melanoma. He has written extensively about new ways to detect and treat retinoblastoma, conjunctival melanoma, squamous carcinoma, metastatic cancer to the eye and orbital tumors.

Proponent for International Cooperation

In 2005, Dr. Finger was selected Chairman of the American Joint Committee on Cancer – International Union Against Cancer (AJCC-IUCC): Section on Ophthalmic Oncology. Since that time, Dr. Finger formed committees of international cancer specialists to develop useful classifications for ocular cancers and to find biomarkers for the risk of metastasis.

In June of 2015, Dr. Finger hosted 160 eye cancer specialists for the first eye cancer working day at The Curie Institute. They represented every continent and were tasked on working together to accomplish projects that could only be done by the group. They included: tumor registries with data mining, doctors reported outcomes, patient reported outcomes, an open access eye cancer surgical atlas, staging radiation side effects and training of eye cancer specialists for unserved countries.

Founder of a Charitable Organization

In 1998, Dr. Finger established a non-profit charitable organization, The Eye Cancer Foundation, to conduct and support research to help patients with ocular tumors and macular degeneration. With his guidance, The Eye Cancer Foundation has supported multicenter clinical research, informational websites (communities), and fellowship education. The Eye Cancer Foundation continues to help people help themselves.

Dr. Finger has assembled a team of experts to care for patients with eye tumors. By picking the best doctors from several institutions, his team includes the top radiation, medical and pediatric oncologists in New York City.

Advice about protecting your eyes from the sun: Dr. Finger says “Think of Sunglasses as Sunblock for your Eyes.”™

Reviews of Important Clinical Subjects & Problems in Ophthalmic Oncology

Dr. Finger believes a subspecialist must review, analyze and present important subjects for others in his field. So far, he has written or participated in the following reviews of the literature:

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Finger has been in Castle Connolly’s America’s Top Doctor for more than 10 years. Top doctors are nominated by peers and selected by experts. They are featured annually in both Newsweek and New York Magazine. Dr. Finger has also been recognized as a Top Doctor in the New York Metro Area for nearly 15 consecutive years, and one of America’s Top Cancer Doctors for more than a decade. Castle Connolly selects only those doctors who are among the very best in their specialties and in their communities. Doctors do not and cannot pay to be included in any Castle Connolly Guide or online directory.

Dr. Finger also received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the Tulane School of Medicine in 2014 in recognition of his career accomplishments and excellence in the medical profession.

Patient Stories

"Very well treated by Dr. Finger. He explained everything I needed to know about my issue with detail and attention, putting me at ease and giving me confidence to handle this problem for the rest of my life.”
– N.N.

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