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.
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.
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.
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.
- Visit her PubMed National Library of Medicine page (opens in new tab)
- Visit her Google Scholar page (opens in new tab)
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.
- Rosai-Dorfman Disease Presenting with Diplopia. Manasyan A, Khachikyan N, Gaytan S, Lee T, Brynes RK, Hashemi N. J Neuroophthalmol. 2023 Jan 18.
- 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.
- 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.
- Wallerian Degeneration of optic Nerve due to Neonatal Intra-Cranial Hemorrhage. Naser M, Hashemi N. J Ophthalmol Res 2020; 3(2): 61-64.
- Bloody Mystery after Vomiting. Naser M, Nasseri F, Hashemi N. J Ophthalmol Res 2020; 3(2): 39-40.
- Astigmatoma. Naser M, Hooshi P, Mortazavi M, Westfal D, Schultheis W, Hashemi N. EC Ophthalmology 11.9 (2020): 19-21.
- Superior Ophthalmic Vein Thrombosis Presenting with Headaches and Diplopia. Naser M, Mowla A, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(1): 2019.
- Visual Recovery after Decompression Surgery of Skull Base Meningioma. Naser M, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(3): 2019.
- Sildenafil (Viagra) as a Possible Culprit for Vision Loss. Naser M, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(3): 2019.
- Facial Onset Sensory and Motor Neuropathy Presented with Bilateral Neurotrophic Keratopathy. Naser M, Patel A, Massry G, Hashemi N. WJOVR. 2(4): 2019.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Neuroimaging in ophthalmology. Kim JD, Hashemi N, Gelman R, Lee AG. Saudi J Ophthalmol. 2012 Oct; 26(4): 401-7.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Spontaneous Resolution of Optic Perineuritis. Tung C, Hashemi N, Lee AG. J Neuro-Ophthalmol. 2013 Mar; 33(1): 93-95. PMID: 23247562.
- Complications of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Yang L, Hashemi N, Lee AG. Can J Ophthalmol. 2012 Dec; 47(6): 53-5. PMID: 23217520.
- Visual hallucinations: a review for ophthalmologists. Hashemi N, Scranton RA, Hashemi M, Lee AG. Expert Review of Ophthalmology. 2012 Oct; 7(5): 471-479.
- 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.
- A Pox Upon Your House. Hashemi N, Zhang J, Volpi J, Lee AG, Gordon LK. Surv Ophthalmol. 2012 Nov 8. PMID: 23141433.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Double vision and ptosis. Hashemi N, Lee AG. ATPO Viewpoints Magazine, Spring 2012; 17-18.
- Bitemporal hemianopia. Gelman R, Hashemi N, Lee AG. ATPO Viewpoints Magazine, Spring 2012; 15-16.
- Nonarteritic optic neuropathy in a young patient. Zhang J, Hashemi N, Lee AG. ATPO Viewpoints Magazine, Spring 2012; 19-20.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.