Board-certified ophthalmologist

Dr. Nafiseh Hashemi

Dr. Nafiseh Hashemi is a board-certified ophthalmologist with over 25 years of clinical experience, specializing in neuro-ophthalmology at Hashemi Eye Care in Encino.

Dr. Hashemi has pursued extensive specialized training, including a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship under the mentorship of world-renowned neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Andrew Lee at Houston Methodist Hospital. She also completed a surgical internship at the University of Tennessee and an ophthalmology residency at the University of Texas Health in Houston. Throughout her career, Dr. Hashemi has remained dedicated to research, publishing her work, and presenting at national and international conferences.

Before emigrating to the United States with her family, Dr. Hashemi received her medical doctorate from Iran's premier medical school, the Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, where she also completed internships in general surgery and internal medicine, followed by residency training in ophthalmology. Driven by a compassionate and adventurous spirit, she dedicated five years to preventing blindness and visual impairment in underserved regions of Iran, where she also trained medical students and ophthalmology residents.

Portrait of Dr. Nafiseh Hashemi

Training and background

Depth of experience behind the care

Dr. Hashemi has pursued extensive specialized training, including a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship under the mentorship of world-renowned neuro-ophthalmologist Dr. Andrew Lee at Houston Methodist Hospital. She also completed a surgical internship at the University of Tennessee and an ophthalmology residency at the University of Texas Health in Houston. Throughout her career, Dr. Hashemi has remained dedicated to research, publishing her work, and presenting at national and international conferences.

Before emigrating to the United States with her family, Dr. Hashemi received her medical doctorate from Iran's premier medical school, the Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, where she also completed internships in general surgery and internal medicine, followed by residency training in ophthalmology. Driven by a compassionate and adventurous spirit, she dedicated five years to preventing blindness and visual impairment in underserved regions of Iran, where she also trained medical students and ophthalmology residents.

Care approach

Complex eye care with clear direction

Dr. Hashemi provides the most advanced care for extensive neurologic and ophthalmic conditions including optic neuropathies, optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis, intracranial tumors, optic nerve tumors, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, myasthenia gravis, thyroid eye disease, brain and optic nerve stroke causing vision loss, and unexplained vision loss. To learn more about the full range of neuro-ophthalmic conditions we treat, review our neuro-ophthalmology care overview.

As an accomplished surgeon and researcher, Dr. Hashemi works with patients to determine the best course of care for optimal outcomes, even in the most complex cases. In treating neuro-ophthalmology patients, Dr. Hashemi takes a team approach, working closely with primary care physicians, neurologists, and neurosurgeons. The patient is always at the center, receiving detailed information and playing an active role in decisions about their care.

What is Neuro-Ophthalmology? Clinician referral guide

Find out more about Dr. Hashemi at these medical directories

Research

Dr. Hashemi is deeply engaged in research and regularly publishes her findings in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Hashemi's Publications Portfolio

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

  • Hand Foot Mouth Disease Causing Fourth Nerve Palsy and Acute Maculopathy in Adult Male Patient: A Case Report and Review of Literature. Khachikyan N, Manasyan A, Gaytan S, Hashemi N. Journal of Clinical Research and Clinical Case Reports.fourth nerve palsymaculopathycase report
  • Rosai-Dorfman Disease Presenting with Diplopia. Manasyan A, Khachikyan N, Gaytan S, Lee T, Brynes RK, Hashemi N. J Neuroophthalmol. 2023 Jan 18.2023Rosai-Dorfmandiplopiacase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Carotid-Cavernous Fistula: Hemodynamic Dysfunction after Shingles? A Case Report and Review of Literature. Manasyan A, Khachikyan N, Gaytan S, Hashemi N. J Ophthalmol Clin Res 6(4): 162-164.2022carotid-cavernous fistulashinglescase reportDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Post-Pembrolizumab Optic Neuritis in a 57-Year Old Female with non-small cell lung carcinoma. Manasyan A, Khachikyan N, Gaytan S, Hashemi N. J Ophthalmol Res 2022; 5(2): 66-72.2022optic neuritisimmunotherapycase reportDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Wallerian Degeneration of optic Nerve due to Neonatal Intra-Cranial Hemorrhage. Naser M, Hashemi N. J Ophthalmol Res 2020; 3(2): 61-64.2020optic nerveWallerian degenerationpediatricDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Bloody Mystery after Vomiting. Naser M, Nasseri F, Hashemi N. J Ophthalmol Res 2020; 3(2): 39-40.2020ocular hemorrhagecase reportDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Astigmatoma. Naser M, Hooshi P, Mortazavi M, Westfal D, Schultheis W, Hashemi N. EC Ophthalmology 11.9 (2020): 19-21.2020astigmatismorbital masscase reportDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Superior Ophthalmic Vein Thrombosis Presenting with Headaches and Diplopia. Naser M, Mowla A, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(1): 2019.2019vein thrombosisdiplopiacase reportDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Visual Recovery after Decompression Surgery of Skull Base Meningioma. Naser M, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(3): 2019.2019meningiomaoptic nervedecompressionDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Sildenafil (Viagra) as a Possible Culprit for Vision Loss. Naser M, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(3): 2019.2019vision lossdrug toxicitycase reportDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Facial Onset Sensory and Motor Neuropathy Presented with Bilateral Neurotrophic Keratopathy. Naser M, Patel A, Massry G, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(4): 2019.2019neurotrophic keratopathycranial neuropathycase reportDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Nothing to spit at. Hashemi N, Billah S, Conderman CP, Alava I, Supsupin EP Jr, Chevez-Barrios P, Adesina OO. J Neuroophthalmol. 2017 Apr 11.2017neuro-ophthalmologycase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Malaria retinopathy and cerebellitis in a 9-year-old boy in the United States. Hashemi N, Callon LM, Kumar KS. J AAPOS. 2015 Feb; 19(1): 87-91.2015malaria retinopathypediatriccase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Transarterial Onyx embolization of an orbital solitary tumor. Hashemi N, Ling JD, Sami MS, Lee AG, Chevez-Barrios P. J Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2015; 1: 98-102.2015orbital tumorembolizationcase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Visual Hallucination (Charles Bonnet Syndrome) is associated with Neurosarcoidosis. Zhang J, Waisberen E, Hashemi N, Lee AG. Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol. 2013 Oct-Dec; 20(4): 369-71.2013Charles Bonnetneurosarcoidosiscase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Late-onset Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. Pfeiffer ML, Hashemi N, Foroozan R, Lee AG. Clin Experiment Ophthalmol. 2013 Sep-Oct; 41(7): 690-3. PMID: 23433437.2013optic neuropathyLHONcase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Radiographic evidence for denervation atrophy of extraocular muscles due to chronic intracavernous compressive third nerve palsy. Hashemi N, Pfeiffer ML, Foroozan R, Lee AG. Can J Ophthalmol. 2013 Feb; 48(1): 4-6. PMID: 2341931.2013third nerve palsyneuro-imagingcase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Spontaneous Resolution of Optic Perineuritis. Tung C, Hashemi N, Lee AG. J Neuro-Ophthalmol. 2013 Mar; 33(1): 93-95. PMID: 23247562.2013optic perineuritiscase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Neuroimaging in ophthalmology. Kim JD, Hashemi N, Gelman R, Lee AG. Saudi J Ophthalmol. 2012 Oct; 26(4): 401-7.2012neuro-imagingreviewPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Bilateral Progressive Vision Loss in Noninfectious HIV Retinopathy without Infectious Retinitis. Zhang J, Hashemi N, Lee AG. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2012 Jul; 7(3): 268-70. PMID: 23264871.2012HIV retinopathyvision losscase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)
  • Complications of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Yang L, Hashemi N, Lee AG. Can J Ophthalmol. 2012 Dec; 47(6): 53-5. PMID: 23217520.2012IIHreviewPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Visual hallucinations: a review for ophthalmologists. Hashemi N, Scranton RA, Hashemi M, Lee AG. Expert Review of Ophthalmology. 2012 Oct; 7(5): 471-479.2012visual hallucinationsreviewDOI (opens in new tab)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Acute Unilateral Optic Neuropathies in Adults. Ali S, Hashemi N, Pau D, Haykal H, Lee AG. Neuro-Ophthalmology. 2012 Oct; 36: 180-185.2012optic neuropathyneuro-imagingMRIDOI (opens in new tab)
  • A Pox Upon Your House. Hashemi N, Zhang J, Volpi J, Lee AG, Gordon LK. Surv Ophthalmol. 2012 Nov 8. PMID: 23141433.2012neuro-ophthalmologycase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Throat pain as a presenting symptom of giant cell arteritis. Ling JD, Hashemi N, Lee AG. J Neuroophthalmol. 2012 Dec; 32(4): 384. PMID: 23041789.2012giant cell arteritiscase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Visual hallucinations (Charles Bonnet syndrome) as the presenting sign of pituitary adenoma. Hashemi N, Zhang J, Gelman R, Lee AG. Can J Ophthalmol. 2012 Jun; 47(3): 5-6. PMID: 22687320.2012Charles Bonnetpituitary adenomacase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Leber hereditary optic neuropathy mimicking thyroid-related optic neuropathy. Hashemi N, Yalamanchili SS, Zhang J, Lee AG. J Neuroophthalmol. 2012 Mar; 32(1): 95-6. PMID: 22330857.2012LHONoptic neuropathycase reportPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Double vision and ptosis. Hashemi N, Lee AG. ATPO Viewpoints Magazine, Spring 2012; 17-18.2012diplopiaptosisclinical review
  • Bitemporal hemianopia. Gelman R, Hashemi N, Lee AG. ATPO Viewpoints Magazine, Spring 2012; 15-16.2012visual fieldschiasmclinical review
  • Nonarteritic optic neuropathy in a young patient. Zhang J, Hashemi N, Lee AG. ATPO Viewpoints Magazine, Spring 2012; 19-20.2012optic neuropathyNAIONclinical review
  • Sub-tenon atracurium injection in rabbit eyes; a histopathologic study. Hashemi N, Shomali S, Heyrani-Moghaddam H, Amini S, Izadi S. J Ophthalmic Vis Res. 2009 Jan; 4(1): 35-9. PMID: 23056672.2009anesthesiaexperimentalhistopathologyPubMed (opens in new tab)
  • Comparison of the effect of amniotic membrane suspension and autologous serum on alkaline corneal epithelial wound healing in the rabbit model. Shahriari HA, Tokhmehchi F, Reza M, Hashemi N. Cornea. 2008 Dec; 27(10): 1148-50. PMID: 19034130.2008corneawound healingexperimentalPubMed (opens in new tab)DOI (opens in new tab)
  • Injection of Mitomycin-C in the nasolacrimal duct for the treatment of partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction. Hashemi N, Zanjani H, Heshmatipour B. Bina Journal of Ophthalmology. 2005 Mar; 10(2): 221-225.2005lacrimal ductmitomycin-Cclinical

Book Chapter

  • Hashemi N, Lee A. Chapter on Neuro-Ophthalmic complications of cataract surgery, in Han DP, ed. Cataract Surgery and Retinal Disease: Optimizing Visual Outcome. Bryn Mawr Communications LLC, 2013.

Research Experience

  • Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Texas Health.
  • Nerve fiber layer thinning in migraine patients and its correlation with the severity of the disease. 2015-2016.
  • Reduced corneal nerve fiber density in Migraine (confocal microscopy study), 2014.
  • Residency thesis: Injection of Mitomycin-C in the nasolacrimal duct for the treatment of partial nasolacrimal duct obstruction (Bina, 2005).
  • Faculty research: Comparison of the effect of amniotic membrane suspension and autologous serum on alkaline corneal epithelial wound healing in the rabbit model (Cornea, 2008).
  • Sub-tenon atracurium injection in rabbit eyes; a histopathologic study (JOVR, 2009).

Poster Presentations

  • Naser M, Hashemi N, Mowla A. Spontaneous Superior Ophthalmic Vein Thrombosis. Poster 94, NANOS Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, March 16, 2019.
  • Barrett D, Hashemi N, Adesina OO. Retinal Nerve Fiber Thickness in Migraine and Correlation to Duration and Severity of Disease. Poster 617, ARVO, San Diego, 2018.
  • Hashemi N, Billah S, Alava I, Conderman CP, Supsupin EP, Adesina OO. Nothing to spit at. Poster 1, NANOS Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ, February 29, 2016.
  • Hashemi N, Lee AG, Coburn A, Chevez-Barrios P, Selouan R. Amaurosis fugax due to carotid body tumor. Poster 165, NANOS Annual Meeting, San Juan, Puerto Rico, March 4, 2014.
  • Hashemi N, Mirshojaei SH. Chemical Corneal Wound Healing with Heparin in Rabbit. 18th International Congress of Ophthalmology, Tehran, Iran, December 2008.
  • Hashemi N, Tokhmechi M. Healing of Corneal Wound with Amniotic Membrane Solution in Rabbit. 17th International Congress of Ophthalmology, Tehran, Iran, December 2007.
  • Hashemi N. Outcomes and Indications of Penetrating Keratoplasty at Al-Zahra Eye Hospital of Zahedan, 2003-2005. 16th International Congress of Ophthalmology, Tehran, Iran, December 2006.
  • Hashemi N, Shomali S. The Evaluation of Pathologic Effect of Atracurium in Subtenon Injection for Ophthalmic Regional Anesthesia in Rabbit. 16th International Congress of Ophthalmology, Tehran, Iran, December 2006.

Oral Presentations

  • Suprasellar mass. National Skull Foundation Neurosymposium, Four Seasons Hotel, Westlake, CA.