Who Are the Doctors at Rhode Island Eye Institute?

Updated

Rhode Island Eye Institute (rieyeinstitute.com) lists a team of fellowship-trained ophthalmologists (MD) and experienced optometrists (OD) across its four Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts locations. The site names 15 doctors in its directory, with credentials shown next to each name, so you can identify whether a given provider is a physician (MD) or an optometrist (OD) before requesting an appointment. The practice describes the team as delivering care "for every stage of life," from routine eye exams to advanced surgery.

The listed doctors and their credentials

The site's "Our Doctors" section lists the following providers:

Doctor Credential
Palmer Feibelman MD
Paul Zerbinopoulos OD
Lori Boivin OD
Christopher Newton MD
Elliot Perlman MD
R. Jeffrey Hofmann MD
Sarah Anis MD
Pranjal Thakuria MD
Durga Larkin MD
Gaurav Gupta MD
Tess Deresienski OD
Earle Scharff OD
Saad Ahmed OD
Jane Cook MD
Thomas Lang MD
April Mishley OD

That is 10 MDs and 6 ODs in the directory as published. The site also links to a "View All Experts" page, which is the place to confirm the current roster if it changes.

What the credentials mean for choosing a provider

The MD/OD distinction is the main signal the directory gives you:

  • MD (ophthalmologist): a physician who can diagnose and treat eye disease and perform surgery. The practice states its ophthalmologists are fellowship-trained, meaning they completed subspecialty training beyond residency. This matters if your need involves surgery or a complex condition.
  • OD (optometrist): a doctor of optometry who provides primary eye care such as eye exams, contact lens fitting, and vision correction. The practice describes its optometrists as experienced.

The site does not publish each doctor's subspecialty next to their name in the directory listing, so the credential alone won't tell you who handles cataracts versus retina versus glaucoma. To match a doctor to a specific service, use the service pages (Cataracts, Glaucoma, Retina Care, Dry Eye, Pediatric Eye Care, and others) or ask when you call.

How to use the directory to pick a doctor

  1. Open the "Our Doctors" section on rieyeinstitute.com and scan the list for MD or OD depending on whether you need surgical/specialty care or routine vision care.
  2. Cross-check the service you need against the practice's service list — for example, cataract surgery and premium IOLs, glaucoma surgery, retina care and macular degeneration, corneal transplant, oculoplastics, dry eye treatment, or pediatric eye care.
  3. Confirm the doctor practices at a location convenient to you. The site lists four: Providence (150 E Manning St, Providence, RI 02906), East Providence/Riverside (1525 Wampanoag Trl Unit 105, Riverside, RI 02915), Fall River, MA, and South Kingstown.
  4. Request an appointment through the site's "Request an Appointment" option or by calling the location directly — for example, (401) 249-0991 for Providence or (401) 552-4703 for Riverside.

Practical notes before you book

  • Office hours: the Providence and Riverside locations list Monday–Friday, 8 am–5 pm, and are closed Saturday and Sunday. Hours for Fall River and South Kingstown are not shown in the available page content, so confirm by phone.
  • Patient ratings: the site displays Google-style ratings for some locations — Providence 4.6 (1,139 reviews), Riverside 4.8 (332), South Kingstown 4.5 (570). These are location-level, not doctor-level, so they don't tell you about an individual provider.
  • Billing: the site links to a patient portal and an online bill-pay page. No pricing for exams or procedures is published in the available content, so cost questions should go to the office.

If your goal is simply to know who you might see, the table above is the answer; if your goal is to choose the right doctor for a specific problem, start with the service pages and confirm the assigned provider when you request the appointment.