Zenia P Aguilera, MD

Zenia P. Aguilera, MD, FAAO, FAAP
Pediatric Ophthalmologist   Dr. Zenia P. Aguilera is a pediatric ophthalmologist within the Division of Ophthalmology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. She is also a voluntary pediatric ophthalmology clinical assistant professor at Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Dr. Aguilera earned her medical degree with a “Golden Seal Award” for academic achievement from the Higher Institute of Medical Service in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. She later completed a residency in ophthalmology with honors at the same institution. Dr. Aguilera practiced as a pediatric ophthalmologist for five years at Juan M. Marquez Pediatric Hospital in Havana, where she managed complex clinical and surgical pediatric patients. 

Dr. Aguilera subsequently moved to the United States and completed a residency in pediatrics, followed by a residency in pediatric ophthalmology at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Thereafter, she pursued a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Pennsylvania.  

 Dr. Aguilera joined Nicklaus Children’s Health System in 2013 as its first employed pediatric ophthalmologist. She went into private practice in 2020 and returned to Nicklaus Children’s in 2023 to continue supporting her community.  

 Dr. Aguilera is board certified in general pediatrics and ophthalmology. Her clinical interests include cataract surgery, strabismus surgery and amblyopia treatment. Dr. Aguilera is one of the only pediatric ophthalmologists in South Florida performing congenital and infantile cataracts with intraocular lens placement in children. She is also an expert in strabismus surgery, nasolacrimal and eyelid procedures. She has a passion for ocular manifestations of systemic conditions, including genetics, neurologic, oncology, endocrinology and rheumatology disorders.  

Dr. Aguilera is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and she has presented at both national and international conferences.  

 Dr. Aguilera is employed by  Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists (NCPS), the multispecialty medical group practice of Nicklaus Children’s Health System.

 The Division of Ophthalmology at Nicklaus Children's Hospital offers a full range of ophthalmic clinical and surgical services for children and young adults to the age of 21 years including, but not limited to, strabismus (eye misalignment), amblyopic (lazy eye), nasolacrimal duct obstruction and refractive error corrections (eyeglasses).