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About Pocono Eye Associates

Pocono Eye Associates, Inc. has been in practice for over 40 years, providing outstanding eye care from our team of skilled ophthalmologists and optometrists. We began as a small ophthalmology practice in the Cresco area and have since grown into a thriving eye care facility that attracts people from East Stroudsburg, Tobyhanna, Brodheadsville, and all over the Pocono region. Our doctors’ expertise and top-notch training, our patient-first approach and our longstanding service to the Northeastern Pennsylvania area have earned Pocono Eye Associates the esteem of patients and colleagues alike. We invite you to contact our office to learn more or to schedule a consultation with our remarkable eye care team.

mature couple smiling

Our Practice

Pocono Eye Associates currently has three offices – conveniently located in East Stroudsburg, Tobyhanna, and Brodheadsville – that are easily accessible from all over the Pocono region and the Lehigh Valley. Each office is a state-of-the-art facility. We provide refractive surgery, cosmetic procedures, and general ophthalmology, with treatment options ranging from comprehensive eye exams to laser eye surgery. Each facility has an in-office optical shop and contact lens dispensary where patients can choose their frames and receive prescription glasses and contact lenses without having to make extra trips to outside specialists.

History of Pocono Eye

Pocono Eye Associates was founded in the Cresco area in 1972 by ophthalmologist Carl B. Weiss, M.D., who originally called the practice “Carl B. Weiss, P.C.” The practice relocated to East Stroudsburg in the following year. In 1975, ophthalmologist Joseph B. Conahan, M.D. joined the practice, and Pocono Eye Associates, Inc. was established.

In 1986, Pocono Eye Associates relocated again within Stroudsburg, and within the next decade, the following ophthalmologists joined the practice: Mark P. Gotchel, M.D. (1986), Harry P. Saras, M.D. (1991), and Douglas A. Young, M.D. (1995).

The practice opened its first satellite office in January 1998 in Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania, and in fall of 1998 it relocated its main office for the third time to Plaza Court in East Stroudsburg, the current location of our East Stroudsburg office. Ophthalmologist Gerald J. Negvesky joined Pocono Eye Associates in 2000. A second satellite office was opened in 2003 in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania when Pocono Eye Associates acquired the optometric office of Robert B. Fleming, O.D. who joined the practice along with Harold B. Wagner, O.D. Optometrist Derek J. Pyle O.D. joined the practice in 2004.

During 2009, Ophthalmologist Garth J. Willis, M.D. and Optometrist Shaelan McCormick, OD joined the practice.

In 2016 we welcomed Dr. Ethan E. Payne, M.D., completing the Pocono Eye Associates team.

Our Mission Statement

“The Patient First” has been our philosophy for over forty-two years. We are available 24/7 for our patients and are committed to providing excellence through state-of-the-art medical and surgical eye care for the people of the Pocono region.

Contact Us

Pocono Eye Associates is pleased to provide patients with outstanding, comprehensive eye care at our state-of-the-art facilities. To learn more about Pocono Eye Associates, our team of doctors, and our unique approach to eye treatment, contact our office today.

Our Doctors

Pocono Eye Associates provides patients with outstanding services performed by our team of ophthalmologists and optometrists. The following esteemed doctors comprise our team:





Dr. Mark P. Gotchel, M.D. at Pocono Eye Associates in East Stroudsburg, PA

Mark P. Gotchel, M.D.

Mark P. Gotchel, M.D. graduated with honors from Princeton University in 1978. He then obtained his M.D. degree in 1982 at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Wake Forest’s Medical Honor Society. In 1986, Dr. Gotchel completed his ophthalmology training at Geisinger Medical Center and then joined Pocono Eye Associates, Inc. He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Douglas A. Young, M.D. at Pocono Eye Associates

Douglas A. Young, M.D.

Douglas A. Young, M.D. graduated with honors from Lafayette College in 1986 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He then pursued his M.D. degree from Georgetown University and graduated in 1990. Next, he completed his ophthalmology residency at Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania in 1994 and completed a fellowship in Cornea/External Disease and Refractive Surgery at the University of South Florida in 1995. Dr. Young studied various refractive surgery techniques and helped develop corneal transplant procedures.

Dr. Young is currently a medical advisor for the Northeast Pennsylvania Lions Eye Bank. Dr. Young is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Currently, Dr. Young practices comprehensive ophthalmology. He specializes in cataract surgery, glaucoma treatment, corneal transplants, and refractive surgery, including LASIK laser eye surgery.

Gerald J. Negvesky, M.D.

Gerald J. Negvesky, M.D.

Gerald J. Negvesky, M.D., F.A.C.S. graduated with honors from the University of Scranton in 1992. In 1996, he obtained his M.D. degree from Georgetown University, where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, Georgetown’s Medical Honor Society. Dr. Negvesky completed his ophthalmology residency at Washington, D.C.’s Washington National Eye Center at the Washington Hospital Center, where he was Chief Ophthalmology Resident. Dr. Negvesky joined Pocono Eye Associates in 2000. He specializes in intraocular lens implantation of the advanced technology Multifocal and Toric lenses.

Dr. Negvesky has conducted research in refractive techniques and is a published author in several medical journals. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Garth J. Willis, M.D. at Pocono Eye Associates

Garth J. Willis, M.D.

Garth J. Willis, M.D. graduated with Honors from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1995. He then obtained a Masters in Health Science and a Physician Assistant degree from Lock Haven University in 1998. In 2001, he completed a three-year tour as a Family Medicine Physician Assistant in the U.S. Air Force. Following this, he pursued an MD at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 2005 with special distinction and as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honors Society. He then completed his ophthalmology training at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia and joined Pocono Eye Associates in 2009.

In addition to glaucoma treatment (to include laser treatment and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery or "MIGS"), Dr. Willis specializes in routine and complex ("high risk") cataract surgeries as well as the implantation of premium multifocal and toric (astigmatism-correcting) intraocular lenses. He is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and is a member of both the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Ethan E. Payne, M.D.

Ethan E. Payne, M.D.

Ethan E. Payne, M.D. earned his bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University in 2006 and his medical degree from the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia in 2012. After completing a Transitional Year Internship at the Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Dr. Payne went to Milwaukee to complete his ophthalmology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin Eye Institute in 2016. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.

Dr. Payne is a Board Certified Comprehensive Ophthalmologist with a special interest in cataract surgery, intraocular lenses and glaucoma management. He was raised in nearby New Columbia Pennsylvania and is proud to provide the highest quality patient care in the communities that he considers home.

Dr. Derek J. Pyle, O.D. at Pocono Eye Associates

Derek J. Pyle, O.D.

Derek J. Pyle, O.D. graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1994 as the valedictorian of the College of Science. He then worked in molecular biology research for five years before entering optometry school at Pennsylvania College of Optometry. In 2004, Dr. Pyle graduated, again as valedictorian, and then joined Pocono Eye Associates.

Dr. Shaelan McCormick, O.D. at Pocono Eye Associates in East Stroudsburg, PA

Shaelan McCormick, O.D.

Shaelan McCormick, OD graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 2004 with a B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She then pursued her O.D. at Pennsylvania College of Optometry. She completed various externships including primary care, ocular disease and contact lenses and graduated with highest honors in 2009. Dr. McCormick joined Pocono Eye Associates in 2009.

Dr. Michael N. Cohen, M.D. at Pocono Eye Associates in East Stroudsburg, PA

Michael N. Cohen, M.D.

As an independent physician from Wills Eye Physicians/Mid-Atlantic Retina, Dr. Michael Cohen is available to treat patients with retina diseases at Pocono Eye Associates.

Dr. ​Michael N. Cohen​ grew up in Ridgefield, Connecticut​ and ​graduated with distinction from Cornell University​. He completed medical school at the New York University School of Medicine, where he won the Solomon and Dora Shapiro Award for excellence based on both scholarship and character. He was also selected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and was elected president of the chapter. He completed a transitional year internship at Einstein Medical Center and an ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. At Wills, he was elected Co-Chief Resident and won the James S. Shipman Award for best scientific presentation at the annual Wills Eye Conference. He then pursued a fellowship in Medical and Surgical Disease of the Retina and Vitreous in Boston, at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston and Tufts University Medical Center. Following fellowship, Dr. Cohen has been practicing in New Jersey and was on staff at Hackensack University Medical Center and Clara Mass Medical Center.

Dr. Cohen is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. He is a member of, and works closely with, the American Society of Retinal Specialists and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has presented dozens of abstracts and presentations at national meetings including the Retina Society, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

He​ has​ ​​also ​published dozens of manuscripts and book chapters, focusing specifically on ​retinal detachment repair, ​macular hole repair, improving vitreoretinal ​surgical techniques, anti-VEGF therapy​, management of ​cataract sur​gery​ complications​, and novel therapies​ and drug delivery systems.​ ​He is an active participant in clinical research and has been a sub-investigator in over 40 clinical trials.

Dr. Yoshihiro Yonekawa, M.D. at Pocono Eye Associates in East Stroudsburg, PA

Yoshihiro Yonekawa, M.D.

As an independent physician from Wills Eye Physicians/Mid-Atlantic Retina, Dr. Yoshihiro Yonekawa is available to treat patients with retina diseases at Pocono Eye Associates.
Dr. Yonekawa  is an adult and pediatric retina specialist. He received his MD with honors from Weill Cornell Medical College, where he was recognized with the Edward Norton Award in Ophthalmology and grants from Fight for Sight and the National Eye Institute. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Harvard Medical School, and received many awards for his clinical and research expertise, including some from the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Dr. Yonekawa subsequently underwent specialized fellowship training in adult and pediatric retina surgery at Associated Retinal Consultants, William Beaumont Hospital. He received prestigious national awards during fellowship, including those from the Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, Ronald G. Michels Foundation, and the Retina Society.

Dr. Yonekawa is board certified in ophthalmology and is Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. He serves on the Education Committee of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and the Executive Committee for the Vit Buckle Society where he is also the Vice President for Academic Programing. He is an active member of AAO, Club Vit, Vail Vitrectomy, the Association of Pediatric Retina Specialists, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He has received numerous recognitions for his expertise, including the AAO Achievement Award, ASRS Honor Award, The Ophthalmologist Power List of Rising Stars, and awards for instructional surgical technique videos.

Dr. Yonekawa has contributed over 250 original papers, editorials, and textbook chapters to help advance the field. He serves as assistant editor for RETINA, deputy editor for Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases (JVRD), and section editor for Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers and Imaging Retina (OSLI Retina), Review of Ophthalmology, and American Journal of Ophthalmic Clinical Trials. He is on the editorial board for the Journal of Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (JAAPOS), is co-editor of Retina Roundup and the Vit Buckle Academy, as well as section editor for several textbooks.

For adults, Dr. Yonekawa cares for patients with macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, vitreomacular traction, primary and complex retinal detachment, ocular trauma, cataract surgery-related conditions, amongst other diagnoses. For pediatric patients, he cares for children with retinopathy of prematurity, familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, dyskeratosis congenita, Norrie disease, persistent fetal vasculature, Coats' disease, congenital retinoschisis, sickle cell retinopathy, ocular trauma, and various forms of retinal detachment.

Dr. Joshua D. Visalli, O.D. at Pocono Eye Associates

Joshua D. Visalli, O.D.

Joshua D. Visalli, O.D. graduated from Utica College with a Bachelor of Science in biology with a chemistry minor in 2014 and then continued his education at Pennsylvania College of Optometry where he earned his Doctor of Optometry in 2018. Before joining Pocono Eye Associates, Dr. Visalli practiced at Children’s Eye Institute of Savannah from July 2018 through June 2020, and MyEyeDr in Stowe, VT from August 2020 through June 2021.

Dr. Visalli is a Licensed Doctor of Optometry with continued aspirations to always provide efficient patient experiences. He provides comprehensive optometric care to all age groups, is proficient in subjective refractions and retinoscopy, monitors for various severities of pathology associated with NPDR and ARMD, as well as contact lens fittings, RGP, and hybrid lens fittings, and adjustments for treatment of keratoconus and other corneal ectasias.

Frank G. Baloh, M.D.

Frank G. Baloh, M.D.

Frank G. Baloh, M.D. graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1986. He then obtained his M.D. degree from the University’s Hershey Medical Center in 1990 and completed his internship at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Baloh next went on to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, where he received his training in ophthalmology. He then completed his fellowship training in Ophthalmic and Facial Plastic Surgery in Tucson, Arizona in 1995.

Dr. Baloh is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and he is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Dr. Robert B. Fleming, O.D. at Pocono Eye Associates

Robert B. Fleming, O.D.

Robert B. Fleming, O.D. graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 1973. He then attended the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, where he was a member of Beta Sigma Kappa, the Optometric Honor Fraternity. He obtained his optometry degree in 1977. Before joining Pocono Eye Associates in 2002, Dr. Fleming was in private optometric practice, including 19 years in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania. Dr. Fleming currently provides family optometric care and contact lens care.

Dr. Israel Moore, O.D at Pocono Eye Associates in East Stroudsburg, PA

Israel Moore, O.D

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