Rainna Bahadur, M.D. Board Certified Ophthalmologist
Rainna Bahadur, M.D., is a board certified ophthalmologist and a partner in Eye Associates of the South. She specializes in cornea & external disease and refractive surgery, including LASIK and LASEK laser vision correction.
Dr. Bahadur also has completed a fellowship in Cornea, External Disease & Refractive Surgery. She was fellowship trained at the prestigious Dean McGee Eye Institute of the University of Oklahoma.
She earned her medical degree and completed an ophthalmology residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, where she was named Chief Resident. Born and raised in Greenwood, Miss., Dr. Bahadur also was a magna cum laude graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss.
As a corneal specialist, Dr. Bahadur has broad experience in the diagnoses, treatment and surgery of corneal disease (such as anterior segment reconstruction, corneal transplants, dry eye disease, and amniotic membrane use). In addition, she has a great deal of experience and expertise in the field of refractive surgery for the correction of near and farsightedness and astigmatism
She performs various refractive surgeries (such as LASIK, LASEK, PRK and astigmatic keratectomy) based on patients’ individual needs. She has received numerous certifications pertaining to refractive surgery, including the VISX Excimer Laser System and the LADARVision Excimer Laser Certification.
In 2000, Dr. Bahadur became the first medical student at UMMC to perform LASIK laser vision correction surgery. She was taught by the late nationally known LASIK surgeon Connie S. McCaa, M.D., of Jackson, Miss.
Dr. Bahadur also was the first UMMC medical student to perform the Intacs corneal implant procedure, which inserts plastic polymer crescents into the cornea to reshape the front surface of the eye for long-term vision correction. That also was under Dr. McCaa’s tutelage.
Of great interest to Dr. Bahadur and her staff is the diagnosis and treatment of dry eye disease (dysfunctional tear syndrome). Eye Associates of the South was named the “Dry Eye Treatment Center for the Mississippi Gulf Coast” by Allergan and has helped countless patients with ocular problems arising from dry eye syndrome.
Dr. Bahadur also is a cataracts specialist and performs the latest techniques in cataract surgery (such as clear corneal incisions and multifocal intraocular lens implants).
She also provides patients with minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, including cosmetic Botox to reduce wrinkles and Latisse for fuller, darker eyelashes.
Dr. Bahadur has been an invited guest speaker for her colleagues at various meetings and has been a national guest vision expert for Ivanhoe Broadcast (a source for breaking medical news at www.Ivanhoe.com). She is a member of various medical societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, the International Ocular Surface Society, and the International Society of Refractive Surgery.
Annually from 2015 through 2020, she has been named to America’s Top Doctors list by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Annually from 2016 through 2020, she also received the Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor Award. In 2020, she received its “5 Years Top Doctor Award,” noting she was “nominated by peers, selected by experts and among the very best in their specialties.” Multiple years, she also has received Castle Connolly’s “Exceptional Women in Medicine” honors.
Dr. Bahadur has been awarded for being among “Mississippi’s Favorite Physicians” by winning the Patients’ Choice Award (since 2012), the Compassionate Doctor Award (since 2012) and the On-Time Physician Awards (since 2014). All are from national awards groups with merit based fully or in part on local patients’ evaluations. Since 2016, Dr. Bahadur also has received “Five-Year Honoree” recognition from all three – the Patients’ Choice, the Compassionate Doctor and the On-Time Physician Awards, since she won each award for five consecutive years. She has continued to win the three awards in subsequent years.
The American Registry ranked Dr. Bahadur in the “Top 1 Percent of America’s Most Honored Professionals” annually in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. The award is based on significant media coverage, honors by recognized trade groups, and acclaimed recognition by peers or clients.
In 2018, 2019 and 2020, she was selected by the most widely known of awards, Marquis Who’s Who, to receive the Albert Nelson Marquis “Lifetime Achievement Award.” Also in 2018, 2019 and 2020, she was named to “Who’s Who In The World” by this most prestigious Who’s Who organization.
Dr. Bahadur is very active in various community and charitable organizations, including the Lion’s Club of Biloxi, Eye Care of America (providing free eye care for those in need), Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport life member, and Rue Vieux (a women’s group with a mission to revitalize areas of downtown Biloxi). She is a former board member of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) of Harrison County and President of the Board for the Cedar Lake Surgery Center in Biloxi.
In 2020, Dr. Bahadur received two of her most cherished honors: the “Parent of the Year Award” from Bayou Middle School (BVMS) and one of two “Parent of the Year Awards” given by Gulfport School District. She also was named BVMS’ 6th Grade “Parent of the Year” in 2018.
Dr. Bahadur was honored with the 2015 Community Partnership Award by the Biloxi Police Department for her dedication to eye care for first responders. She also has been a Caring Woman nominee multiple times in Biloxi.
Dr. Bahadur resides in Gulfport with her husband and two children.
Awards:
- Community Partner of the Year from Gulfport School District 2022-2023
- Partner in Education of the Year from Bayou View Middle School 2019-2020
- Parent of the Year from Bayou View Middle School 2020
- Community Partner of the Year from Bayou View Middle School 2020-2021
- Parent of the Year from Gulfport School District 2020
