Dr. Nour Nofal

Dr. Max Gelkopf is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon that sees patients of all ages, presenting with a broad range of ocular conditions. His clinical expertise ranges from amblyopia and strabismus to cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration. He is excited to join Barrie Lasik Centre, as he has strong ties to the area having grown up spending every summer in Innisfil with frequent trips into Barrie.

He earned his Honours BSc with distinction in 2018 at the University of Guelph majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Nutrition and Nutraceutical Sciences. He then earned his Doctor of Medicine at McMaster University in 2021, where he was selected as the 2020 Canadian Medical Hall of Fame Medical Student Award winner.

He subsequently completed his ophthalmology residency at the Ivey Eye Institute (Western University) in 2026 where he served as Chief Resident. While busy with residency and welcoming his first child, he simultaneously pursued a Master of Public Health at Harvard University. He earned this degree in 2025, and focused his thesis research on the post-operative management of cataract surgery. He has also pursued multiple projects related to quality and systems improvement, with a particular focus on medical education. He has authored 12 peer-reviewed publications and presented findings at national and international conferences.

In his spare time Dr. Gelkopf is an avid baker, having perfected his scone and sourdough recipes prior to mastering cataract surgery. Once upon a time he ran a baking blog with his father that you may still be able to locate online if you look hard enough. On a relaxing weekend you can find him spending time with his wife, daughter and doodle, enjoying a fresh batch of cookies or making pizza from scratch.