Dr. Daniel Balikov

Dr. Ria Dirghayu Desai is a medical retina specialist who treats conditions that affect the retina and can lead to permanent vision loss without timely care. Her practice focus includes age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and she provides treatments such as intravitreal injections and retinal laser procedures. She also evaluates retinal holes, tears, and vascular occlusions, helping patients understand their diagnosis and the steps needed to protect vision. Dr. Desai earned her medical degree at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed ophthalmology residency and fellowship training at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. She emphasizes clear explanations, careful monitoring, and treatment plans that match each patient’s condition and goals.

Dr. Safa Rahmani is a retina specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She cares for infants, children, and teens with complex retinal conditions, including pediatric retinal disease, retinal detachments, inherited retinal degenerations, and retinopathy of prematurity. She focuses on clear explanations and family-centered decisions, using careful examination and retinal imaging to understand what is happening and what to expect. Dr. Rahmani earned her MD from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, completed an ophthalmology residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and pursued fellowship training in vitreoretinal diseases at Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary. She also contributes to clinical research, with publications in journals such as Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, and the Journal of AAPOS.

Dr. Saira Khanna is a board-certified medical and surgical retina specialist with Retina Consultants, Ltd. She completed her undergraduate studies in neurobiology (with minors in Spanish and Economics) at Harvard University and earned her medical degree from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Dr. Khanna trained in ophthalmology at the University of Chicago and advanced her subspecialty expertise through a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at The Retina Institute in St. Louis. Dr. Khanna cares for adults with a wide range of retinal diseases and is committed to evidence-based, patient-centered care. Her areas of expertise include diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, retinal vascular diseases, macular holes, epiretinal membranes, and uveitis. She offers modern in-office treatments and collaborates closely with referring providers to coordinate timely diagnostics and procedures that help preserve vision.