Duke Eye Center

In June 2023, Duke became one of only three treatment sites in the U.S. certified to utilize the novel high dose-rate (HDR) yttrium-90 (Y-90) brachytherapy procedure, an approach that effectively treats small lesions from a variety of conditions, including ocular surface tumors and posterior (intraocular) tumors.

Read more about this innovative treatment and our recently established Division of Ocular Oncology led by Miguel Materin, MD in our 2024 VISION Magazine! We are proud of our team’s dedication to providing specialized care for children and adults battling benign and malignant tumors of the eye.

https://issuu.com/dukeeyecenter-visionmagazine/docs/duke_vision_2024.21.issuu/s/46611431

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Pediatric optometrist Qiaohui Wei White, OD was recently featured on WRAL TV to share valuable insights regarding the growing problem of nearsightedness in children and what parents can do to help reduce their child’s risk.

Learn more ⬇️

https://www.wral.com/story/growing-number-of-children-becoming-nearsighted-outdoor-play-can-help/21449405/
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Our Duke Global Ophthalmology Team has been on the move this spring 🌎🌎

The first trip of the season was to Sierra Leone where DukeGO Director Dr. Lloyd Williams and cornea fellow Dr. Bonnie Sklar teamed up with long time partner and Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha to perform 20 cornea transplants.

Next, the team traveled to Roatan, Honduras where Dr. Lloyd Williams, Dr. Tina Singh, and cornea fellow, Dr. Nick Garson combined to perform 67 cataract surgeries and 150 eye exams over 5 days. They were also supported by several members of our clinical staff and OR staff: Alison Butler, Erin Russell, Valerie Honeycutt, Taylor Hardin, Amanda Mestler, and Janet Teng.

We’re so proud of the work our amazing DukeGO team is doing! To stay up to date all of their travels, follow their instagram account

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During “Healthy Vision Month,” it’s important to remember that not everyone can afford glasses. According to the Vision Council, more than 165 million U.S. adults wear prescription eyeglasses, and the majority of consumers pay between $100 and $150 just for frames.

That’s why we are proud to partner with ReSpectacle, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that redistributes quality, used eyeglasses to those who may be struggling to obtain them through conventional means.

Last week, during an event organized by Duke University School of Medicine student, Hemal Patel, we were able to sort, clean, and catalog over 100 pairs of gently used eyeglasses to be sent to ReSpectacle for patients to order for just the cost of shipping.

We’re excited to continue to partner with ReSpectacle to collect lightly used prescription eyeglasses - lookout for our wooden collection boxes in the lobbies of multiple Duke Eye Center locations!

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https://dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/news/duke-eye-center-partners-respectacle-donate-over-100-pairs-eyeglasses

Sudden, Painless Vision Changes Require Emergency Care Sudden, painless changes in vision could mean you’re experiencing a rare type of stroke caused by a blood clot in the retinal artery. It’s important that everyone is aware of these symptoms because getting emergency care quickly is crucial to preserving your vision and preventing blindness.

Duke Eye Center of Winston Salem has resumed normal operating hours today, Friday May 17, 2024.

Duke Eye Center of Winston-Salem Duke Eye Center of Winston-Salem’s expert ophthalmologists offer eye care services to Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas.

Vice Dean of Education and James Pitzer Gills, III, M.D. and Joy Gills Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Ophthalmology Department Edward Buckley, MD presented several awards at the Duke University School of Medicine Spring Faculty Celebration. Jullia Rosdahl, MD, PhD was recognized for her promotion to Associate Professor of Ophthalmology with tenure during the meeting and Arpita Maniar, MD was also in attendance.

Congratulations to Daniel Saban, PhD who received the 2024 Cogan Award this week at the ARVO annual scientific meeting, the world’s largest association of eye and vision researchers. This prestigious award recognizes a young researcher that has made significant contributions to research in ophthalmology or visual science. His innovative research in immunity and inflammation of the eye, specifically the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to ophthalmic disease and vision loss shows promise for the development of new treatments for eye diseases. We look forward to the impact his work will have on the future of eye care.

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Duke Vision Scientist Receives Top Honor from ARVO Daniel R. Saban, PhD is the recipient of the 2024 Cogan Award, presented by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). This prestigious award recognizes young researchers that have made significant contributions to research in ophthalmology or visual science, and that show subs...

Thank you Miracles In Sight for the generous gift of $400,000 over three years, in support of our Duke Cornea Fellowship Programs!

Miracles In Sight has helped to fund these programs over the past decade, and this new commitment will allow us to add a fourth fellow who will be dually trained in cornea and global ophthalmology. Aiming to make a positive and lasting impact on eye health worldwide, Duke Global Ophthalmology is shaping the future of sight saving eyecare across the globe.

We have a deep appreciation for our longstanding partnership with Miracles In Sight, rooted in shared goals of increasing exposure and awareness of eye banking and combatting blindness and other ophthalmic ailments around the world.

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Miracles In Sight Expands Support to Establish the Duke Global Ophthalmology Fellowship Miracles In Sight, which has helped fund the Duke Cornea Fellowship for a decade, recently expanded their support of the program with a generous gift that will allow us to add a fourth fellow who will be dually trained in cornea and global ophthalmology. Aiming to make a positive and lasting impact....

Congratulations to the first ever Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program Graduates - 5 of which received a certificate in low vision!

Learn more about our collaboration with Duke OTD ➡ https://issuu.com/dukeeyecenter-visionmagazine/docs/duke_vision_2024.21.issuu/s/46611430

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The New Face of Vision Rehabilitation - Issuu Equipping occupational therapists to empower low vision patients

We can’t wait to kick off ARVO 2024 tomorrow with over 75 presentations by Duke faculty and trainees!

View a full list of Duke presentations here: https://dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/news/duke-arvo-2024

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Congratulations to the iMIND Research Team, led by Sharon Fekrat MD, FACS, FASRS and Dilraj Grewal, MD, FASRS for receiving the 2024 Michelle P. Winn Inclusive Excellence Award presented by the Duke University School of Medicine Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion. This award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to diversity and inclusion within the school of medicine community and recognizes a commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in creating a more diverse and inclusive environment.

iMIND is made up of a diverse and inclusive multidisciplinary team and their research involves using eye multimodal imaging in the detection and diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease, including studying gender and racial differences. They have worked to educate and engage the local community about clinical research in order to promote diversity in clinical trial cohorts. Their team has also produced several national surveys that examine gender, racial, and other potential biases experienced by premedical and medical students, as well as physician residents across the United States and have assessed diversity trends in ophthalmology residents over the last decade as well as analyzing endowed chair allocation across academic institutions to improve equity.

We are excited to show you what’s happening at the Duke Eye Center in our VISION 2024 Magazine! This year, we’ve got some truly amazing stories to share about the incredible work our team is doing. We hope you find these stories as inspiring as we do. It’s the passion and dedication of our team that makes all this possible.

https://issuu.com/dukeeyecenter-visionmagazine/docs/duke_vision_2024.21.issuu

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Vitreoretinal fellow Tammy Hsu, MD was honored with the Real World Ophthalmology Visionary Award during their “Tell Me Your Secrets” meeting Saturday April 27, 2024. This award recognizes forward-thinking and innovative approaches to challenges or opportunities in advancing eye care.

“Hsu exemplifies the qualities of a forward-thinking and innovative leader in the field of ophthalmology, consistently demonstrating a commitment to advancing eye care through groundbreaking projects, collaborative initiatives, and exemplary leadership”, said mentor Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS, associate professor of ophthalmology and Duke vitreoretinal fellowship director.

Join us in celebrating three faculty promotions in our department this month:

Goldis Malek, PhD has been promoted to Professor of Ophthalmology with tenure.

Oleg Alekseev, MD, PhD has been promoted to Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology.

Amol Sura, MS has been promoted to Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology.

Congratulations on these well deserved achievements that recognize years of effort and dedication!

Congratulations to our three Duke Eye Center faculty members for their appointments to the American Academy of Ophthalmology Council, a distinguished honor bestowed upon them by their peers.

At the Spring Council Meeting held on April 19-20 in Washington, DC, Laura Enyedi, MD, has been elected to serve as Deputy Section Leader, representing Women in Ophthalmology. Pratap Challa, MD, has been elected to serve on the Section Nominating Committee, representing the American Board of Ophthalmology. Meanwhile, Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS, is completing her term on the Section Nominating Committee and representing the Retina Society.

The AAO Council acts as an advisory body to the Board of Trustees, playing crucial roles in shaping the future of ophthalmology. We are proud of their achievements and the impact they will continue to make in their respective positions.

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Happy American Academy of Ophthalmology Advocacy Day! We are proud of our faculty and trainees who have gathered in Washington D.C. to advocate for policies that protect our patients and the physicians that care for them💙


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Congratulations Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS on receiving the prestigious Mentorship Award presented by the Vit Buckle Society! This award celebrates her sustained career commitment to mentoring vitreoretinal fellows and advancing research and patient care in the field of ophthalmology.

Vit Buckle Society President Geeta Lalwani, MD, along with Duke alumni Avni Finn, MD and Akshay Thomas, MD, presented Dr. Vajzovic with the award today during the 12th Annual Vit Buckle Society Meeting.

An estimated 31.6 million people live in the path of totality of the solar eclipse expected to pass over North America on April 8. As excitement builds, it’s important to know how to safely view the event (whether you’re in the path of totality or viewing a partial eclipse) and understand how even everyday exposure to the sun can damage vision. Vitreoretinal surgeon Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS shares her insights ⬇️

https://www.dukehealth.org/blog/view-eclipse-safely-these-expert-tips

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View the Eclipse Safely with These Expert Tips As excitement about the Aug. 21 solar eclipse builds, it’s important to know how to safely view the event and understand how even everyday exposure to the sun can damage vision.

Congratulations! Terry Kim, MD has been announced as Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Medical Safety at Alcon. He will continue to provide surgical cataract care at our Arringdon location.

We’re excited to announce that Michael Quist, MD has joined the Duke Eye Center Glaucoma Division!

Dr. Quist completed his glaucoma fellowship and residency training in ophthalmology at Duke Eye Center and we are thrilled to welcome him back as a faculty member.

Dr. Quist will see patients at our Raleigh and Cary locations.

Make an appointment or refer a patient to Dr Quist by calling 919-681-3937.

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Duke Ophthalmic Photographer Christiaan Lopez-Miro's award-winning image was featured on the cover of American Academy of Ophthalmology’s April Journal!

Christiaan's image won second place in the Fluorescein Angiography category at AAO 2024's Ophthalmic Photographer's Society Scientific Exhibition.

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Happy Doctors’ Day! Today and everyday we are grateful for the exceptional kindness, and compassion of our amazing doctors who dedicate their lives to saving and restoring vision💙

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Thank you to everyone who joined us at the 10th Annual Duke Fellows Advanced Vitreous Surgery (fAVS) Course led by course director Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS and course co-chairs Dilraj Grewal, MD, FASRS, Xi Chen, MD, PhD, and Durga S. Borkar, MD, MMCi. As one of the pioneering vitreoretinal surgery courses tailored for fellows, Duke fAVS has evolved into the leading educational platform for retina fellows worldwide. This year, we were honored to host 92 retina fellows, 14 resident awardees, 28 esteemed faculty speakers and 81 industry representatives!

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We are proud to announce that third year resident, Richard Morgan, MD, PhD, has been accepted into the prestigious American Society of Retina Specialists Underrepresented in Retina Mentorship Program!

This groundbreaking initiative is designed to cultivate diversity within the field by pairing ophthalmology residents from underrepresented backgrounds with Retina Society mentors. Dr. Morgan will be mentored by our own Sharon Fekrat, MD, FASRS and their research will involve investigating the impact of neuromodulator therapies on Age-related Macular Degeneration using OCT.

Read more ➡️ https://dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/news/duke-eye-resident-accepted-asrs-underrepresented-retina-mentorship-program

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Duke Eye Resident Accepted to ASRS Underrepresented in Retina Mentorship Program Duke Eye Center is thrilled to announce that Duke PGY-3 resident, Richard Morgan, MD, PhD, has been accepted into the prestigious American Society of Retina Specialists’ (ASRS) Underrepresented in Retina Mentorship Program. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to cultivate diversity within t...

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, we celebrate the remarkable achievements, strength, and resilience of women here at Duke Eye Center and worldwide. From trailblazing leaders to everyday heroes shaping our communities, women continue to inspire and drive positive change.

Join us on March 18, 2024 for the Duke Eye on Education Series: Updates in Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/u435793

Several members of our glaucoma faculty and trainees are participating in the American Glaucoma Society (AGS) annual meeting, including AGS President Leon Herndon, MD.

We’re proud to announce that Sharon Freedman, MD will be honored with the Outstanding Educator Award during the meeting for her extraordinary efforts to advance glaucoma education.

Katy Liu, MD, PhD and Joanne Wen, MD will also be honored with research fellowship awards to support their development as investigators in the field of glaucoma research.

Read more and see a full list of Duke involvement here ⬇️

https://dukeeyecenter.duke.edu/news/duke-ags-2024

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Duke at AGS 2024 The American Glaucoma Society (AGS) will hold their annual meeting February 29 - March 3, 2024 in Huntington Beach, California. The meeting will showcase the highest-caliber papers, posters, and symposia, including presentations by our own Duke Eye Center glaucoma experts.