View Annual Report 2012 - University of Illinois College of Medicine ...

Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary 

UIC Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences 

ONE VISION2012

IN THIS ISSUE 

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41 

News 

Innovations 

Patient Profile 

Giving 

Endowment Activity 

Faculty 

Publications 

Sponsored Research 

Clinical Investigations and Trials 

Residents and Fellows 

Alumni 

CREDITS 

Managing Editor 

Julie Daraska 

Editors 

Carol Chaplin & Margaret Doyle 

Designers 

Studio Deluxe & Lisa Birmingham 

Contributors 

Margaret Chervinko, Laurie Walker 

Candace Pearson & Margaret Doyle 

Photography 

Cathy Carroll, Joshua Clark, 

Roberta Dupuis-Devlin, 

Mark Janowicz & Walter Urie 

A MeSSAge frOM the DeAN 

"I am pleased to welcome Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, as Chair 

of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at 

Chicago Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences 

and Associate Dean for Strategic Planning at the UIC 

College of Medicine. Dr. Varma is a highly accomplished 

physician-scientist and translational investigator who studies 

the development of eye diseases in minority populations 

and examines novel biological, genetic and lifestyle factors 

related to the risk of developing eye diseases. He is an expert 

on changes in the optic nerve in glaucoma and on new 

imaging techniques in the early diagnosis of glaucomatous 

optic nerve damage. Under his leadership, the Department of 

Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences begins a new era of clinical 

and research excellence." 

Dimitri T. Azar, MD, MBA | Dean, College of Medicine 

Dean Dimitri Azar (left) and Dr. Rohit Varma

Rohit Varma, MD, MPH 

Clinical Fellowship in Glaucoma 

Doheny Eye Institute 

University of Southern California 

Residency in Ophthalmology 

Wilmer Ophthalmological Institute 

The Johns Hopkins University 

School of Medicine 

Research Fellowship in Glaucoma 

Wills Eye Hospital 

Internship 

Union Memorial Hospital 

Masters in Public Health 

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg 

School of Public Health 

Medical Degree 

Maulana Azad Medical College 

University of Delhi 

A MeSSAge frOM the DepArtMeNt ChAIr 

One Vision 2012 1 

"I am deeply honored by the trust that Dean Azar has placed in me to lead the Illinois Eye 

and Ear Infirmary, UIC Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences to a new era of 

educational, clinical and research excellence. It is a privilege to be a part of the Illinois Eye 

and Ear Infirmary, known for generations as an outstanding center of clinical expertise and 

innovative research. 

"Among our key priorities is strengthening the resources available for resident education 

— evidenced by the dedication of substantial space for the new Resident Education Center 

that will house a state-of-the-art surgical simulator. Together with our clinical faculty, we will 

build a structured surgical curriculum that spans the entire three years of residency, beginning 

with early exposure to ophthalmic surgery through the Eyesi TM 

surgical simulator, wet labs and 

lectures and discussions with our most senior and renowned surgeons. By the time our residents 

graduate, they will have experience as primary surgeons in all of our subspecialties. 

"This educational experience requires investment of considerable time and energy on the 

part of our faculty. With their invaluable commitment, the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary will 

continue to be ranked among the most competitive residency programs in the country. 

"In ophthalmology education, as in practice, the technologies that advance our ability to 

diagnose, treat and manage blinding eye diseases require substantial monetary investment. We 

are grateful to the College of Medicine for the program to fund measurable improvement in 

medical education. We are indebted to our alumni and donors for their continued support and 

interest as we guide the Infirmary to a new era." 

Rohit Varma, MD, MPH | Professor and Department Chair

2 NeWS 

LIght-SeNSItIve 

MOLeCULe 

Signaling retinal cells 

to respond to light 

UIC vision scientists and chemists 

recently created a light-sensitive molecule 

that can stimulate cells of the retina 

— a photochemical on-off switch that 

someday may lead to new treatments for 

degenerative eye diseases such as agerelated 

macular degeneration (AMD). 

Diseases such as AMD destroy 

photore ceptor cells that sense light and 

start the visual process. However, other 

retinal cell types, while not normally 

photosensitive, often remain healthy. 

“We asked ourselves, ‘Could we make 

healthy retinal cells responsive to light 

and bypass dead photoreceptor cells?’” 

says David Pepperberg, PhD, Searls- 

Schenk Professor of Ophthalmology and 

Director of the Photoreceptor Research 

Laboratory. 

Remarkably, the answer seems to be 

“yes.” The team’s focus: a neurotransmitter 

known as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric 

acid) that activates a receptor 

protein involved in visual signaling within 

the retina. The researchers synthesized 

new compounds built upon the anesthetic 

propofol, a small molecule that 

binds to and regulates GABA receptors. 

The new molecule is known as 

MPC088. As light of different wavelengths 

strikes it, MPC088 changes 

shape and functions essentially as a light 

switch for the GABA receptor. “It’s the 

outcome of many attempts,” says Dr. 

Pepperberg, Principal Investigator of 

David Pepperberg, PhD 

the study, which won funding from the 

National Eye Institute. 

The UIC chemists led by Karol 

Bruzik, PhD, Professor, College of 

Pharmacy, soon realized they had 

produced a molecule with broader 

implications. That sparked a collaboration 

with scientists at the University of 

California, Los Angeles (UCLA), led 

by Thomas S. Otis, PhD, Department 

of Neurobiology, who are exploring 

MPC088’s potential to reduce 

epileptic seizures. 

Turning the light switch off is also 

critical. Next for the UIC team is an 

attempt to program in “temporal tuning” 

and make the molecule revert back 

within a certain timeframe — essential 

for future clinical applications. 

The team also wants to incorporate a 

targeting component — a cellular GPS — 

to boost MPC088’s affinity for reaching 

the appropriate receptor site. “It’s a major 

challenge,” says Dr. Pepperberg, “but 

we’re excited to be pursuing what we 

The findings were published online 

in November in the journal Nature 

Communications. The paper’s co-first 

authors were Lan Yue, PhD, and 

Michal Pawlowski, PhD, UIC; and 

Shlomo S. Dellal, PhD, UCLA. 

In addition to the National Institutes 

of Health, the study has received key 

support from the Daniel F. and Ada L. 

Rice Foundation, the Arnold and Mabel 

Beckman Initiative for Macular Research, 

American Health Assistance Foundation, 

Hope for Vision, Research to Prevent 

Blindness, and the UIC Center for 

Clinical and Translational Science. 

believe is a promising approach.” Chemical structures, including light-sensitive MPC088 

(top). Reprinted with permission of Nature Communications. 

OH 

OH 

O 

Propofol MPC088 

O 

O 

H 

N 

H 

N 

N 

N 

N 

N 

OH 

O 

MPC100 

O 

H 

N 

N 

H 

N 

H 

MPD021 

H 

N 

O 

NH 2 

N 

N 

O 

24 

O 

N 

H 

N 

H 

O 

O 

N 

NH 2 

O

COrNeAL SteM CeLLS 

Transplants open a window 

on the future 

For 43-year-old Shawn Doyle, gradually 

losing the sight in his right eye was like 

looking out on the world “through a dirty 

window or wax paper.” 

His worsening vision — caused by 

a deficiency of corneal limbal stem 

cells — made it harder to do his work as 

a motorcycle and boat mechanic, enjoy 

outdoor sports or even drive. 

Then, Ali Djalilian, MD, told him 

about a limbal stem cell transplant. “I 

was intrigued and excited,” says Shawn. 

“Over the last 10 years, we’ve been 

learning more and more about the 

concept of limbal stem cell transplants 

and improving on the outcomes,” says 

Dr. Ali Djalilian, Associate Professor 

and Director, Corneal Epithelial Stem 

Cell Biology and Tissue Engineering 

Laboratory. 

Limbal stem cells are found at the 

edge of the cornea. Injuries and genetic 

or immunological diseases can destroy 

the surface and, with it, limbal stem cells. 

The result is visual impairment or even 

blindness. The problem can’t be solved 

with a standard cornea transplant, which 

contains no stem cells. 

Surgeons harvest the cells and 

surrounding environment from various 

sources: the patient’s other eye, if healthy; 

a living relative; and cadaver tissue, the 

source of Shawn’s new stem cells. 

Dr. Djalilian’s latest innovation is 

the use of a biological glue made from 

proteins in the blood clotting system 

to secure the transplant without any 

sutures. The glue has been used in 

other forms of surgery, but not limbal 

transplants. The result is increased 

comfort for the patient and less 

inflammation. 

The program’s approach to medical 

management after transplant also 

“distinguishes us from other centers,” 

says Dr. Djalilian. That includes careful 

use of immunosuppressants to control 

rejection. Often, specialists in glaucoma, 

oculoplastics and organ transplant join 

the team, as needed. 

Since his stem cell transplant in 

November, Shawn’s eyesight has 


Corneal stem cells, pictured here, are 

used to grow cells in the laboratory to 

study their protein expression and cellto-cell 

communications that contribute 

to their function. 

been improving daily. He can read a 

newspaper without the aid of glasses 

or contact lenses. “It’s been a great 

miracle,” he says. 

Working in the lab, Dr. Djalilian and 

his colleagues are hoping for another 

breakthrough: finding a way to replace 

limbal stem cells with a patient’s own 

cells from elsewhere in the body. Using 

a patient’s own cells would eliminate the 

problems of transplant rejection and 

immunosuppression. 

So far, the investigators have 

succeeded in getting other cells to 

change into limbal cells — but the switch 

is temporary. One theory is that the cells 

need the entire corneal environment 

to mimic limbal cells. “That’s the main 

focus of our research now,” says Dr. 

Djalilian, “recreating that environment, 

‘the limbal stem cell niche.’”

4 NeWS 

teAM 

ApprOACh 

Collaboration improves 

outcomes of pediatric 

eye trauma 

Severe eye injuries in children frequently 

affect multiple parts of the eye and 

require skill sets different from those 

more commonly applied in adults. So 

it makes sense that the best outcomes 

can be achieved when a team of 

subspecialists work together to pool 

their expertise. 

The Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary 

has developed an innovative team 

approach to treating children with 

traumatic eye injuries. 

Within two days of being treated for 

an open globe injury, a trauma patient 

in the Pediatric Ophthalmology clinic is 

examined by Iris Kassem, MD, PhD; 

Javaneh Abbasian, MD (pediatric 

glaucoma specialist); or Genie Bang, 

MD (pediatric cataract specialist), 

to identify potential complications, 

establish early treatment for amblyopia 

and coordinate subspecialty care. 

Felix Chau, MD, and Yannek 

Leiderman, MD, PhD, provide the 

team’s retinal expertise, specializing in 

such problems as bleeding inside the 

eye, retinal detachment, dislocation 

of the lens, and foreign objects such 

as metal or wood entering the eye 

from trauma. 

“Sometimes it is evident from the 

outset that the injury involves the back 

part of the eye,” notes Dr. Leiderman. 

“Other times, it is difficult to assess the 

Early intervention can help identify potential complications from eye injuries. 

extent of the damage because of the 

presence of blood within the eye or 

injury to the cornea or lens.” 

A multidisciplinary team approach 

is equally important in such cases, so 

any injury can be treated appropriately 

in the operating room, when all of the 

surgeons having the necessary expertise 

are available. 

Most children see a retinal specialist, 

whether or not the original trauma 

caused a retinal problem, because 

visualization of the retina is critical 

before the development of traumatic 

cataracts — a frequent occurrence in 

children with an eye injury. 

Aisha Traish, MD, who specializes 

in pediatric cornea, often collaborates 

in the patient’s care to optimize corneal 

healing. “Each child has the most 

comprehensive care from the start,” says 

Dr. Traish. “Our common goal is the 

best possible long-term visual function.” 

Ahmad A. Aref, MD, is brought in 

if glaucoma develops. Ellen Shorter, 

OD, or Timothy McMahon, OD, 

provide consultation on contact lenses 

after a child’s initial surgery. “Successful 

fitting of a contact lens is critical in 

children who have had ocular trauma 

and are now aphakic (have no lens in the 

eye), to provide the best possible vision 

and to prevent amblyopia,” notes 

Dr. Shorter. 

“By working closely with other 

members of the team, we can provide 

excellent care,” says Dr. Leiderman, 

“but we also have the opportunity 

to learn from one another, to discuss 

novel approaches, and to explore new 

concepts pioneered in other fields.”

ArtIfICIAL 

COrNeA 

Complicated cases benefit 

from program’s expertise 

An artificial cornea is proving to be 

the gift of sight for many people with 

complicated conditions for whom 

traditional corneal tissue transplants have 

either failed or have a poor prognosis. 

The Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary 

is home to the largest artificial cornea 

program of its kind in the Midwest, 

with more than 120 patients receiving 

implants to date. The program uses 

the Boston Keratoprothesis (k-pro), the 

most popular artificial cornea worldwide. 

“We promote an interdisciplinary 

approach, with our patients able to take 

advantage of our large department 

and expertise,” says Soledad Cortina, 

MD, Assistant Professor and Director 

of the Artificial Cornea Program. As 

a cornea surgeon, she heads a team 

that includes experts in glaucoma, 

Soledad Cortina, MD, left, with Samuel Lee, MD 

Artificial cornea 

retina, oculoplastics, contact lenses and 

pediatric ophthalmology, as needed. 

Initially, the artificial cornea — 

which received U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration approval in 1992 — was 

reserved for people with blindness in both 

eyes. Recently, less severe cases have 

realized excellent results. “I have patients 

who have been blind for decades and 

with this artificial cornea their vision and 

the quality of their lives has significantly 

improved,” says Dr. Cortina. 

Bobby Wallace, 47, is one of those 

beneficiaries. At age 23, he suffered a 

devastating loss of sight from a chemical 

burn to both eyes. With his left eye, 

he could read large type close to his 

face. His right eye — the more severely 

injured, with significant scarring — only 

perceived light. 


Over time, he had a limbal (corneal) 

stem cell transplant and cornea transplant 

in his left eye using tissue from a human 

donor. Both procedures, performed at 

another institution, failed. In 2011, Bobby 

came to the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, 

where reconstructive surgery restored the 

surface of his right eye. 

Then, Dr. Cortina implanted the 

artificial cornea in the place of Bobby’s 

damaged natural cornea. When the 

k-pro’s three parts are assembled, it has 

the shape of a collar button. Because 

its central portion is made of plastic, the 

k-pro eliminates the issue of rejection 

that occurs in human tissue transplants. 

When the patch came off Bobby’s 

right eye following surgery, he saw his 

wife, Sheila, for the first time. Later, 

on the way home, he was able to read 

billboards. “Being able to see has given 

me such a boost in my self-confidence,” 

says Bobby. 

Before the implant, Bobby couldn’t 

enjoy such ordinary pleasures as reading 

his Bible or watching a movie. He says, 

“It sounds simple, but it’s a big blessing 

to me.” 

“I have patients who have been blind for 

decades and with this artificial cornea 

their vision and the quality of their lives 

has significantly improved.” 

–Dr. SoleDaD Cortina

6 NeWS 

Aaron Jackson 

retUrN tO 

INDepeNDeNCe 

"My eyes are still improving, but I’ve 

come so far. I no longer need anyone 

to help me get to the store or take me 

to work." –aaron jaCkSon 

Aaron Jackson has been an employee 

of UIC since 2000 and currently serves 

as the Assistant Facilities Manager for 

the East Campus. So when he began 

experiencing vision problems a few 

years ago, he naturally sought out 

the expertise of doctors at the Illinois 

Eye and Ear Infirmary, who were able 

to diagnose and treat his worsening 

glaucoma. Surgery was performed to 

stabilize the glaucoma and remove 

cloudy cataracts, but Aaron had 

permanent vision loss as a result of 

irreparable damage to the optic nerve 

that occurred before his diagnosis. In 

November 2010, he began seeing Joan 

Stelmack, OD, MPH, FAAO, Director 

of UIC’s Low Vision Service, to learn 

how to function with diminished vision. 

The Department of Ophthalmology 

& Visual Sciences established the Low 

Vision Service to provide rehabilitation 

services for patients with permanent 

vision loss. Dr. Stelmack works with a 

low vision optometrist and a certified 

low vision therapist to provide patients 

with clinical examinations and visual 

skills assessments. Patients with low 

vision are introduced to technology 

and techniques that enhance their 

remaining sight and give them new 

visual skills to tackle the routine tasks of 

everyday life and put them on the path 

to independence. 

“I saw Dr. Stelmack for corrective 

therapy,” explains Aaron. “She 

taught me how to recalibrate my eye 

movement, coordination and balance.” 

“Vision rehabilitation was needed to 

increase independence in activities of 

daily living and to explore vocational 

and recreational adaptations,” notes 

Dr. Stelmack. 

According to Dr. Stelmack, the 

treatment goals for Aaron included 

being able to use a computer for work 

and recreation, the capability to read 

small print such as time cards and mail 

and the ability to navigate safely in 

Aaron Jackson with Dr. Joan Stelmack 

poor lighting conditions. Aaron was 

prescribed low vision devices to enhance 

his remaining vision, including reading 

glasses, glasses for distance and a 

magnifying glass to see small print. 

Most patients who undergo vision 

rehabilitation therapy achieve improved 

visual function. Unfortunately, patients 

are not always aware of all the options 

that may improve their visual function 

after serious eye surgery. 

Today, Aaron only sees Dr. Stelmack 

when functional problems arise. But 

those issues occur less frequently now. 

“My eyes are still improving, but I’ve 

come so far,” says Aaron. “I no longer 

need anyone to help me get to the store 

or take me to work.” 

Along with his independence, Aaron 

has returned to his favorite pastime: 

photography.

AMD treAtMeNt 

Novel drug delivery 

combo addresses macular 

degeneration 

Age-related macular degeneration 

(AMD) affects more than 1.75 million 

people in the U.S. With a rapidly aging 

population, experts expect this number 

to reach 3 million by 2020. 

There is no cure. However, new 

treatments have emerged to offer 

improved prognosis, based on the 

discovery that a group of proteins in the 

body called vascular endothelial growth 

factors (VEGF) play a role in formation 

of abnormal blood vessels that damage 

the retina. 

Anti-VEGF inhibitors have been 

shown to prevent vision loss and 

improve clearness of vision in patients 

with neovascular or “wet” AMD, the 

more severe form. However, frequent 

injections are required, anywhere 

from once to several times a month, 

depending on the patient. 

Jennifer I. Lim, MD, Professor and 

Director of the Retina Service, thinks she 

may have an answer in a new combination 

of drugs and a novel slow-release, longlasting 

drug delivery system. 

The drug delivery system, 

Verisome® from Icon BioSciences, Inc., 

is a biodegradable liquid that may be 

combined with other drugs and then 

injected into the eye using a standard 

needle. Dr. Lim recently completed a 

small pilot study that combined Lucentis® 

(ranibizumab), a leading anti-VEGF 

drug, with Verisome using triamcinolone 

acetonide (TA), an anti-inflammatory 

drug that helps prevent blood vessel 

growth. The TA along with the Verisome 

was delivered as a single injection into the 

eye. The combined product coalesces 

into a single sphere — essentially a 

“steroid ball,” explains Dr. Lim, 

In the pilot study completed in 

December, 10 participants received 

an injection of Lucentis as a baseline 

treatment, then, a week later, an injection 

of the liquid steroid ball. 

The biodegradable vehicle provides 

controlled, extended drug release for 

up to one year. “The combination of this 

drug ball with an initial Lucentis injection 

enables us to decrease the number of 

Lucentis injections needed,” says Dr. 

Lim. “We are the only place in the world 

to use this delivery system with this 

combination therapy.” 

The number of additional Lucentis 

injections needed was cut in half by the 

treatment used in the pilot study. There 

were few side effects and no serious 

adverse ocular events. 

Retina Service physician-scientists 

are actively exploring other innovative 

AMD solutions, including Eylea® 

(aflibercept), the newest anti-VEGF 

drug approved by the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration. UIC also is a 

participant in the nationwide Age- 


a combination of drugs delivered in a novel 

“steroid ball” decreased the number of 

additional lucentis® injections for patients 

in a unique pilot study. 

Liquid-release drug delivery system in eye 

Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2), 

which is looking at the effectiveness of 

a combination vitamin A and Omega-3 

fish oils, along with other formulas, for 

slowing the progression of AMD. 

“We are the only place in the world 

to use this delivery system with this 

combination therapy.” –Dr. jennifer lim

8 INNOvAtIONS 

CLINICAL STUDIES OPEN WAy FOR 

New treatment for retinal disease 

Drug discovery efforts within the Retina Chemical Genomics 

Lab, directed by Michael Grassi, MD, Assistant Professor, 

recently accelerated. In work published earlier this year in 

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (doi: 10.1167/ 

iovs.11-8928), Qing Chang, MD, PhD, Research Assistant 

Professor, and Dr. Grassi developed a cell-based model 

for retinal degenerative key pathways that are responsible 

for cell death in photoreceptors, the light-sensing cells of 

the retina. This model has subsequently been leveraged by 

Dr. Chang and Dr. Grassi to screen a U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration-approved compound library of more than 

1,000 compounds to identify new treatments for retinal 

disease. Work is underway to better define the mechanism of 

action for a novel compound identified in this screen, which 

could potentially represent a new treatment for retinal disease. 

“For those individuals suffering from retinal disease, these 

studies reveal the exciting advantages of high-throughput 

screening platforms, which are accelerating our ability to 

introduce new treatments in the clinic,” states Dr. Grassi. 

Michael Grassi, MD 

testing efficacy of donated corneas 

The Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary is among the sites 

participating in the Cornea Preservation Time Study (CPTS), 

a $12.3 million study to determine whether the supply of 

donated corneas can meet anticipated growth in demand over 

the next 20 to 30 years. 

Elmer Tu, MD, Associate Professor and Director of the 

Cornea Service, serves as site director of the study, which will 

determine whether corneas transplanted up to two weeks after 

donor death work as well as corneas transplanted up to one 

week after donor death. 

The growth of the U.S. population which accounts for the 

majority of corneal transplants — patients 50 and older — is 

projected to increase from about 99 million in 2010 to about 133 

million by 2030, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Many 

cornea transplant specialists are concerned about an adequate 

supply of donated corneas. One approach to solving the 

projected increase is to prove that donated corneas up to two 

weeks old achieve the same outcomes for patients as those that 

are transplanted a week after donor death. 

According to Dr. Tu, most cornea surgeons use corneas up 

to one week after the death of the donor, even though the U.S. 

Food and Drug Administration permits corneas to be stored 

in preservation medium at refrigerator temperature up to two 

weeks after donor death. Corneas older than two weeks are used 

overseas for transplants without significant problems reported, 

he adds. “We want to see if the length of time the donor cornea 

is kept in the preservation liquid before the transplant affects the 

likelihood of the transplant being successful.” 

Participants will be followed for three years after transplant 

to see if there are differences in transplant success or in the 

number of transplanted endothelial cells (the layers of cells 

that line the undersurface of the cornea) on the corneas that 

were preserved for seven days or less compared to those

NeW treAtMeNtS 

Elmer Tu, MD Yannek Leiderman, MD, PhD 

preserved between eight and 14 days. “There is no reason to 

believe there is any greater risk for transplant failure with 

either preservation time group,” Dr. Tu said. 

The study is headed by Jonathan Lass, MD, Chair of the 

Case Western Reserve Department of Ophthalmology 

& Visual Sciences. 

Building biomarker database 

Yannek Leiderman, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor and 

Director of the Vitreoretinal Microsurgery Laboratory, is 

implementing a system of large-scale sample collection, 

including storage of whole blood, DNA, RNA, plasma and 

serum, as well as a clinical database that will be utilized to 

investigate the relationship of biomarkers with health and 

diabetic retinopathy status and progression. 


The project is in collaboration with a major effort by Joe 

G.N. “Skip” Garcia, MD, Vice President for Health Affairs at 

the University of Illinois, to build a broad range of biomarkers 

for disease. The UI BioBank will provide a database for the 

correlation of clinical samples with phenotypic data for the 

purpose of investigative analyses and to provide access to 

study data for future protocols and investigations. 

The patient cohort for Dr. Leiderman’s study includes 

outpatients in the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary who 

have diabetes or conditions associated with proliferative 

retinopathies and patients that have opted to participate in 

the UI BioBank and have undergone blood collection in the 

course of their clinical care. He and research colleague 

Bin Liu, PhD, are coordinating sample collection with the 

Retina Service physicians.

10 INNOvAtIONS 

NeW 

teChNOLOgIeS 

Staying state-of-the-art 

With the acquisition of the eyesi tm 

surgical simulator, the illinois eye and 

ear infirmary made a million-dollar 

investment in new technologies for 

teaching, patient care and research. “as 

a world-class program, we must employ 

state-of-the-art technologies in every 

aspect of our mission,” states rohit 

Varma, mD, mPH, Professor and Chair, 

Department of ophthalmology & 

Visual Sciences. “my commitment is 

to ensure we have the resources to 

stay on the leading edge of biomedical 

technologies in ophthalmologic care 

and vision research.” 

training enhanced by 

surgical simulator 

Acquisition of the EyesiTM surgical 

simulator is the core component of 

infrastructure and design upgrades in 

a state-of-the-art Resident Education 

Center. Residents and Fellows can 

practice intraocular surgery in a closeto-real 

setting, available on demand at 

all times. 

The Eyesi surgical simulator provides 

direct feedback to the surgeon and clearly 

indicates any areas of deficiency, allowing 

for self-assessment and improvement. 

“Tools such as the Eyesi and wet and 

dry lab kits for surgical training give us 

a distinct advantage in preparing our 

residents for ophthalmology practice,” 

says William Mieler, MD, Professor and 

William Mieler, MD 

Vice Chair for Education. “The longterm 

impact will be markedly beneficial 

to our patients.” 

powerful laser scanning 

microscope aids research 

A state-of-the-art Zeiss Confocal 

Laser Scanning Microscope (LSM) 

710 is giving Department investigators 

advanced imaging capabilities, including 

time-lapsed imaging to study cell 

interactions and migration. 

The high-resolution microscope was 

purchased last spring with support from 

The Cless Family Foundation, the Core 

Grant for Vision Research from the 

National Eye Institute, and Research to 

Prevent Blindness, Inc. 

Ali Djalilian, MD, uses the Zeiss 

LSM 710 to study the changes that 

take place in corneal cells during wound 

healing. “The impressive quality of the 

images allows us to see fine changes 

over time, something we had previously 

been unable to do.” 

J.H. Robert Chang, PhD, and Kyu 

Yeon Han, PhD, employ the Zeiss LSM 

710 to track green fluorescent protein 

molecules in ocular cells. They are trying 

to detail aberrant corneal blood and 

lymphatic vessel growth after injury and 

infection, the main causes of corneal 

transplant rejection and blindness. 

“The LSM 710 microscope allows us 

to achieve a fundamental understanding 

of these mechanisms,” says Dr. Chang. 

“The results will provide therapeutic 

intervention to prevent and treat 

devastating, blinding eye diseases.” 

Together with the imaging facility’s 

live-cell microscopy system, the 

new microscopy system is a valuable 

resource for generating new basic 

science knowledge “that is essential to 

improve understanding and treatment 

of various eye diseases,” says Mahnaz 

Shahidi, PhD, Vice Chair for Research 

and Director of the Applied Physics 

Laboratory.

Left to right: Samuel Lee, MD, Joann Kang, MD, and Jose de la Cruz, MD 

Laser-assisted surgery 

benefits teaching mission 

For Joann Kang, MD, Co-Chief 

Resident at Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, 

performing cataract procedures using 

the latest advance in laser-assisted 

surgery is “a confidence builder.” 

With the Alcon LenSx® Laser 

System as a surgical tool, Dr. Kang can 

hone her skills at the beginning of her 

learning curve. “As someone in training, 

parts of the surgery can be more difficult 

than others. The laser can assist at those 

points, making the rest of the surgery 

easier and ensuring consistency from 

procedure to procedure.” 

The Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary is 

the first academic center in the Midwest 

to offer the laser-assisted technology 

to patients and the first and only 

center to provide access to the LenSx 

system to its residents and fellows. The 

technology, used for years in refractive 

surgery, recently won U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration approval for 

cataract surgery. 

“We’re changing the traditional 

thinking,” says Jose de la Cruz, MD, 

a member of the Cornea Service 

and an early enthusiast for laserassisted 

surgery. Typically, medical 

centers reserve new technologies for 

experienced faculty. “Having access to 

the LenSx system allows our residents 

and fellows to be more creative and to 

progress in their skills that much more 

quickly,” he explains. 

The system offers decided 

advantages for patients as well, including 

precision, consistency and less time in 

the operating room. 

The laser provides real-time, 3D 

images to guide the procedure and 

allows the surgeon to make an incision 

at the micron level. It also offers more 

stability and accuracy as the surgeon 

creates a perfect circular hole to enter, 

cut the lens and remove it, then center 

the intraocular lens. In traditional 

cataract surgery — which still represents 

the bulk of training for residents — a 

manual blade is used. 

The laser sends energy at an 

extremely short burst known as a 

femtosecond. For comparison, a 

femtosecond is to a second what a 

second is to 31.7 million years. “We 

haven’t done clinical studies yet, but 


in our surgeries we have noticed less 

post-surgery inflammation and a 

quicker recovery,” says Dr. de la Cruz, 

Assistant Professor and Director of 

the Millennium Park Eye Center, the 

university’s downtown satellite clinic. 

Cornea and Refractive Surgery 

Fellow Samuel Lee, MD, appreciates 

the opportunity the laser system gives 

him to “think more innovatively.” From 

his point-of-view, the LenSx levels the 

playing field for cataract surgeons. 

“We’re the younger generation of 

ophthalmologists who will be doing 

cataract surgery over the next 30 

years,” says Dr. Lee. “It’s nice that this 

technology isn’t just reserved for senior 

surgeons. We’re the ones who will use it 

for years to come.” 

Top: Cross-sectional optical coherence tomography (OCT) 

image showing where corneal incisions will be made and 

in what pattern. Bottom: OCT image with the highlighted 

treatment plan of the cataract.

12 pAtIeNt prOfILe

TYLER BURRESS: 

BACk IN the gAMe 

On Christmas Day 2011, Tyler Burress was accidently 

punched in his eye while playfully wrestling with a cousin. 

According to Tyler’s mother, Dana, the blow did not leave a 

bruise and did not seem to be a cause for concern. However, 

a few days later Tyler told his mother that he was seeing 

things floating in his right eye. Shortly after, he told her that 

he could not see anything at all except for blackness. 

Tyler’s parents took him to see a local eye doctor in 

their hometown of Danville, Illinois. He was sent to a retinal 

specialist who determined that Tyler had sustained blunt 

trauma to his right eye, which quickly developed into a large 

retinal tear. To treat his complicated condition, Tyler was 

referred to Yannek Leiderman, MD, PhD, at UIC’s Retina 

Service in Chicago. 

“These types of complex retinal detachments can be 

challenging to repair, particularly in children,” says Dr. Leiderman. 

He adds that while surgically repairing a retinal 

detachment is a common procedure performed by retina 

surgeons, maintaining the health of the eye and achieving 

good visual outcomes is more difficult in children and 

young adults. This was the primary reason Tyler’s retinal 

specialist referred him to the experts at the Illinois Eye 

and Ear Infirmary. Upon examining Tyler, Dr. Leiderman 

recommended immediate surgery. Despite the fast turn of 

events, Tyler’s parents were unfazed. 

“I was confident we were in the best place,” says Dana. 

The following day, Dr. Leiderman performed eye surgery 

(pars plana vitrectomy) to reattach Tyler’s retina. 

“The surgical procedure was a success,” says Dr. 

Leiderman. “And while Tyler has not regained perfect vision, 

he has made great progress and continues to improve.” 

“Tyler’s eye is healing very well,” says Dana, noting that 

there is no scar tissue. The toughest part for Tyler was 

Left: Dr. Yannek Leiderman of the Retina Service examines Tyler Burress. 

The Burress family with Dr. Leiderman 


keeping his head down for two weeks to maintain the gas 

bubble behind his eye that held his retina in place. 

“His vision is getting better,” says Dana, “although he sees 

wavy lines that may or may not go away.” Gradual vision 

improvement is typical following the surgical treatment of retinal 

detachment involving the critical central part of the retina. 

In the meantime, Tyler, an active 18-year old, is 

considering community college to pursue other interests 

until he finds out whether his vision will improve enough to 

join the Marines. 

“Tyler is a success story because we were able to restore 

his vision and help a young man continue to achieve his goals,” 

says Dr. Leiderman. He credits the skills of the entire UIC 

team who assisted in the treatment to save Tyler's sight. 

“It is a privilege to work as part of a team, including 

surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians and many 

others here at UIC that allow us to care for the most 

challenging and complex cases,” adds Dr. Leiderman.

14 gIvINg 

PaNTON famILY PROfESSORSHIP 

ENSURES ExcELLENcE IN OPHTHaLmOLOgY 

fOr geNerAtIONS 

tO COMe 

John H. Panton, MD, Res ’57, an 

ophthalmologist who completed 

his residency at the Illinois Eye and 

Ear Infirmary, made a $250,000 

pledge to establish the Panton Family 

Professorship, which will help the 

Department of Ophthalmology & Visual 

Sciences recruit and retain top faculty. 

Matching funds from the Raymond 

Nester Sweeney, MD, Med ’68, estate 

will complete the $500,000 needed for 

an endowed professorship. Dr. Sweeney 

was a radiologist who spent most of 

his career practicing in Terre Haute, 

Indiana. Grateful for his education at 

the College of Medicine, Sweeney 

made an estate gift of nearly $20 million, 

which has created an endowment fund 

to provide student scholarships and to 

establish endowed professorships, such 

as the Panton Family Professorship. The 

Panton Family Professorship will be fully 

funded in 2016. 

Dr. John Panton is joined in making 

the gift by his wife, Mary Karakourtis 

Panton, his two sons, Peter J. Panton, 

MD, Res ‘86, and Robert W. Panton, 

MD, Res ‘90, and his daughter, 

Elizabeth Panton Karkazis, OD, an 

optometrist. They are in practice 

together at the Panton Eye Center in 

Elmwood Park, Illinois. 

The Panton family has a long history 

with the University of Illinois, both 

the Chicago and Urbana campuses. 

Dr. Peter Panton describes his family’s 

education pedigree as “a journey from 

Ellis Island to the Ivy League, with all 

roads passing through the University 

of Illinois.” His grandfather, Angelos 

Karakourtis, emigrated from Greece to 

the United States, passing through Ellis 

Island and arriving in Chicago in 1913. 

He lived in Chicago’s old Greektown, 

which adjoins UIC’s East Campus, and 

learned to read and write English at 

Hull House. Angelos’s daughter, Mary 

Karakourtis, was a member of the first 

class to enter the University of Illinois at 

Chicago in 1946 and attended classes 

there until 1948 when she transferred 

to the Urbana campus to complete 

her BA. She and Dr. John Panton, who 

graduated from the University of Athens 

School of Medicine and completed 

his residency in ophthalmology at 

Presbyterian Hospital of the City 

of Chicago, a teaching affiliate of 

the University of Illinois College of 

Medicine, were married in 1955. Their 

sons, Peter and Robert, both attended 

Brown University as undergraduates 

and Brown University School of 

Medicine; both did their ophthalmology 

residencies at the Infirmary. Daughter 

Elizabeth graduated from the University 

of Illinois, Urbana before earning her 

OD at the Illinois College of Optometry. 

Christina Panton, Peter’s daughter, has 

started medical school at Brown.

Mary Karakourtis Panton would 

often tell her children that “Excellence 

is permanent.” This was how she 

paraphrased her husband, who was fond 

of quoting Aristotle: “We are what we 

repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not 

an act, but a habit.” The success of the 

Panton Eye Center and the family’s 

history of giving to the Department of 

Ophthalmology suggest they took her 

advice to heart. Dr. John Panton speaks 

warmly of the doctors who trained him, 

in particular Dr. William F. Hughes and 

Dr. Peter C. Kronfeld. Pointing to the 

facility in which he and his children have 

practiced for the past 20 years, he said, 

“All that we have here, all that we do 

here, is because of the good teachers at 

the Infirmary.” 

“you want to give back to the 

institutions that made your success 

possible,” said Dr. Peter Panton. “We 

want to help the place where we learned 

ophthalmology.” 

The Panton family’s history of giving 

to the Department of Ophthalmology 

dates back to the 1980s when they 

contributed to the effort to build the 

Lions of Illinois Eye Research Institute. 

In the past decade, they contributed 

to endowed professorships for Drs. 

Morton F. Goldberg, Joel Sugar and 

Jacob T. Wilensky. In 2007, Peter and 

Robert Panton joined with the children 

of Arnold D. Curnyn, MD, Res ’65 


From left: Dr. John H. Panton, Mary Karakourtis Panton, Dr. Elizabeth Panton Karkazis, Dr. Robert W. Panton and Dr. Peter J. Panton 

(Kimberlee M. Curnyn, MD, Res ’95), 

the late Harold Q. Kirk, MD, Res ’53 

(Ann Kirk Williams, MD, Res ’87 and 

her husband Douglas P. Williams, MD, 

Res ’87), and Karl E. Ticho, MD, Res ’57 

(Benjamin H. Ticho, MD, Res ‘91), to 

establish the Four Fathers Lecture in 

Ophthalmology. 

The Panton family also established a 

professorship in Modern Greek Studies 

at UIC. They have given generously to 

the National Hellenic Museum, located 

near UIC in Chicago’s Greektown. 

“We are so grateful to the Panton 

family for their generosity as loyal alumni 

of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary,” says 

Dr. Rohit Varma, Department Chair. 

“We are what we repeatedly do. 

Excellence, then, is not an act, 

but a habit.” – ariStotle

16 gIvINg 

CLeSS fAMILY 

fOUNDAtION 

Champions among donors 

Since 1995, when Gerhard (Gary) Cless 

first came to the Illinois Eye and Ear 

Infirmary for follow-up care after surgery 

to treat a macular hole, he has taken 

an active interest in the Department 

of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences's 

research, providing extraordinary 

support through a variety of gifts. 

A native of Stuttgart, Germany, 

Gary is Executive Vice President and 

co-founder of Zebra Technologies 

Corporation, a global leader in Barcode 

and Radio Frequency Identification 

(RFID) technology. He holds several 

U.S. patents related to the RFID 

industry. He and his wife, Ruth, formed 

The Karl Cless Family Foundation, 

named for his father, through which they 

direct their philanthropic activities. 

In 2000, Gary donated a $50,000 

high-powered confocal microscope, 

only the third of its kind installed in the 

United States at that time, and provided 

$70,000 for two research studies about 

macular holes. In 2001 he donated a 

Zeiss Optical Coherence Tomographer, 

imaging technology that allows 

doctors to better evaluate the disease 

progression and monitor treatment of 

patients. In 2012, support from The 

Cless Foundation made it possible to 

acquire the latest confocal microscope 

technology, a Zeiss laser scanning 

confocal system. 

In between, Gary has generously 

supported the Department’s research 

and education program, providing 

support for acquisition of other 

advanced microscopy for research, 

recruitment of retina faculty, clinical 

studies in diseases of the retina and 

macula, and for a retina fellow. Prior 

gifts established an endowed lecture, 

the Gerhard Cless Endowed Lecture 

Cless Best of the Best medal; Ruth and Gerhard (Gary) Cless 

in 2003, given at the annual retina 

meeting, and the Cless Best of the Best 

Award in 2008, which recognizes the 

best quality talk given at the annual 

meetings of the American Association 

of Ophthalmology and the Association 

for Research and Ophthalmology. 

The Cless Family Professorship 

in Ophthalmology is the latest gift 

from The Cless Family Foundation. 

The endowed professorship will be 

fully funded in 2013, with matching 

support from the College of Medicine’s 

Sweeney fund. 

“Gary and Ruth Cless have given 

more than $2 million to help the 

Department,” says Dr. Rohit Varma, 

Ophthalmology Chair. “We are deeply 

grateful for their contributions to vision 

research, which has impact well beyond 

our institution.”

WhY I gIve 

Chuck Barsky donates on 

behalf of his father 

Although he was just a teen at the time, 

Chuck Barsky vividly remembers his 

father, Albert, struggling for years with 

failing eyesight. A serious flare-up the 

day after his brother’s wedding caused 

Albert to lose most of his eyesight for 

the second time within 10 years. A trip 

to the local eye doctor in the Chicago 

suburbs confirmed that his case 

was extremely serious and required 

advanced attention. Albert was referred 

to the Department of Ophthalmology & 

Visual Sciences at UIC. 

“We consider ourselves fortunate 

to have been close to UIC, one of the 

leading eye institutes,” notes Chuck. 

Albert met with Jacob Wilensky, 

MD, Professor of Ophthalmology. Dr. 

Wilensky diagnosed Albert with acute 

glaucoma. After 25 years and more 

than 20 surgeries, including cornea 

transplants, Albert has regained some 

of his sight. According to Chuck, he can 

see roughly 25 percent out of one eye 

and has pinpoint vision in the other. 

“We give all the credit in the world to 

the doctors at UIC,” says Chuck. “We 

would never have dreamed that my 

father could one day see well enough to 

shoot baskets with his grandson.” 

Today, Albert regularly sees Dr. 

Wilensky and Joel Sugar, MD. Albert 

typically returns to UIC for treatment 

every three to six months. 


Chuck is grateful to the 

Department’s doctors for partially 

recovering his father’s eyesight, and feels 

that it is important to give back. “We 

owe so much to them,” he notes. 

Chuck earmarks his donation 

(which is matched by his employer, 

Discover Financial Services) for 

the Jacob Wilensky, MD, Endowed 

Glaucoma Research Fund, which is 

used for glaucoma research and the 

Department’s teaching program. 

“We hope that our donation can help 

someone else,” says Chuck. 

To learn about ways to give, email 

ophgift@uic.edu or call (312) 996-6591. 

From left: Albert Barsky with his sons, Chuck and Scott

18 gIvINg 

hONOr rOLL 

Of DONOrS 

2011—2012 † 

$100,000+ 

Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. 

$50,000–99,999 

American Health Assistance Foundation 

Dr. R. Mark and Mrs. Monica J. W. Hatfield * 

Hope for Vision 

Komarek-Hyde-McQueen Foundation 

Parent Petroleum 

$20,000–49,999 

ABMRF/The Foundation for Alcohol Research 

Foundation Fighting Blindness 

Mr. Gary R. Janko * 

Dr. John H. Panton * 

Dr. Allen Putterman * 

Dr. Howard H. and Mrs. Tena Tessler * 

$10,000–19,999 

Mr. Gerhard Cless * 

Cless Family Foundation 

Dr. Stephen A. Cullinan in honor of the 

UIC Illinois Eye Fund/Ophthalmology 

Cullinan/Falcon Foundation, Inc. 

Omega Surgery Centers, LLC 

Dr. Don M. Smart * 

Mr. Anthony Tworkoski 

$5,000–9,999 

Arch W. Shaw Foundation 

Solna A. Braude ** 

Braude Foundation 

Mr. Bill Crown 

Edwin F. Schild Foundation 

Eye Bank Association Of America, Inc. 

Ms. Anne C. Haffner 

in honor of Dr. Paul Knepper ** 

Mrs. Diane K. Henry * 

Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness 

Dr. Sao Cheng Liu ** 

Dr. Sao Jang Liu * 

† For the fiscal year July 1, 2011 – June 30, 2012 

$2,500–4,999 

Dr. Daniel C. Alter 

Prof. Arnold R. Bodmer 

Arnold Bodmer & Family Trust 

Dr. David J. Fuerst 

Glaucoma Foundation, Inc. 

Dr. Paul A. Knepper and Dr. Zibute Zaparackas * 

Dr. David M. Lubeck ** 

Medical Eye Services, Ltd. 

Midwest Eye-Banks and Transplantation Center 

$1,500–2,499 

Batavia Lions Club 

Dr. Norbert M. Becker 

Mr. Julian L. and Mrs. Joan S. Berman * 

Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund 

Geneva Eye Clinic, Ltd. 

Katherine Knaphurst Trust (DEC) 

KLS Martin, LP 

Dr. Harris and Mrs. Jeanne Ripps 

Ms. Dorothy T. Tannenbaum 

$1,000–1,499 

Dr. Alan J. and Mrs. Jennifer K. Axelrod 

Dr. Norman P. Blair 

Mr. Barry J. and Mrs. Barbara P. Carroll * 

The Carroll Foundation 

Dr. Richard M. Chavis 

Dr. Anne L. Coleman 

District 1-A Lions Clubs 

Dr. and Mrs. Deepak P. Edward * 

Dr. Debra A. Goldstein and Dr. David P. Cohen 

Dr. Sherwin Isenberg 

Dr. Lee M. Jampol 

Mr. Mark S. Kotz 

Kraff Eye Institute, Ltd. 

Dr. Jennifer I. Lim 

Dr. John J. and Mrs. Kathleen McGetrick ** 

Dr. Paul F. Nichols 

Dr. Brian A. and Mrs. Sonja R. Phillpotts 

Dr. George R. Reiss 

Dr. J. Patrick and Dr. Clarissa F. Rhode 

Dr. Donald R. Sanders 

Dr. William L. Schey ** 

Dr. Joanne Shen and Dr. Robert Ortega-Hamilton 

Dr. Veeral S. and Dr. Monica Johal Sheth 

Dr. George J. Wyhinny 

$500–999 

Dr. Phillip D. and Mrs. Vicki A. Alward ** 

Mr. Albert and Mrs. Doreen Barsky 

Dr. Felix y. Chau 

Dr. Marc F. Greenberg and Ms. Susan H. Glatt 

Dr. Nancy A. Hamming 

Dr. Marcus and Mrs. Sue Muallem 

Dr. John H. Panton, FACS, SC 

Dr. Robert W. Panton 

Mrs. Jenifer Mason Robbins 

Dr. Kathleen M. Scarpulla 

Mr. Ira J. and Mrs. Beverly W. Schulman 

Dr. Thasarat S. Vajaranant 

Ms. Patricia S. Wager * 

Dr. Robert D. Wertz 

Dr. Douglas P. Williams 

Dr. Eirene Wong 

$250–499 

Dr. Dimitri T. and Dr. Nathalie F. Azar * 

Mrs. Susan S. Donahue 

in memory of Dr. Elias Selinger 

Expert Optics, Inc. 

Dr. Jill A. Foster 

Dr. Frank R. Guastella 

Dr. John M. and Mrs. Sally Hattenhauer 

Dr. Sherwin Isenberg, Inc. 

Jules Stein Eye Institute 

Dr. Colman R. Kraff 

Dr. Manus C. Kraff 

Dr. Cheryl Kraff-Cooper 

Dr. Miriam T. Schteingart Light 

Dr. Frank I. and 

Mrs. Katherine Mendelblatt 

Mr. David W. Montross 

National Philanthropic Trust 

Ms. Lynn Orschel 

Dr. Ashok R. Penmatcha 

Mr. James T. Reid in honor of 

Dr. William Miele 

Up to $250 

Dr. Prasant and Dr. Harvinder K. S. Atluri 

Dr. Amparo Barrido 

Mr. Charles L. Barsky 

Mr. Gregory B. Beggs 

Dr. Abdhish R. Bhavsar 

Mr. John J. and Mrs. Phyllis A. Bierdz 

Prof. L. Vaughn Blankenship 

Mr. Karney Boyajian 

Mrs. Andrea Bromberg

Mrs. Marie J. Bugajski 

Dr. Michael E. Carroll 

Dr. Teresa C. Chen 

Chicago Cornea Consultants, Ltd. 

Mr. Christopher B. Cohen 

Mr. L. Park and Mrs. Sharlene M. Davis 

Discover Financial Services 

matching gift on behalf of Mr. Charles Barsky 

DuPage Ophthalmology 

Encompass Group, LLC 

Dr. Randy J. Epstein 

Dr. Victor F. Feldman 

Mr. Marc J. and Mrs. Geri Lynn Feldstein 

in honor of Dr. Stephen M. Litinsky 

Dr. Anthony G. Finder 

Mr. Dan and Mrs. Linda Fowler 

Dr. Joseph B. Garber 

Dr. Carl Garfinkle 

Miss Elden Genitis 

Ms. Anita S. Gerber 

Dr. Glenn S. Goldsher 

Mrs. Sylvia E. Greenberg 

Ms. Jacquelyn M. Guerra 

Dr. Balaji K. Gupta 

Dr. Margaret A. Halle 

Dr. David S. Hillman 

Mr. Richard A. and Mrs. Mary E. Howell 

Dr. Donald S. Jacobs 

Dr. Jeremy D. Keenan 

Ms. Kate T. Kestnbaum * 

Mrs. Patricia A. Konn 

Dr. Charlton Rex and Mrs. Janet M. Latta 

Mrs. Ale B. Lelis 

Mrs. Patricia M. Livingston 

Dr. Paul Arthur Mahlberg 

Dr. David I. and Mrs. Michele N. Malitz 

Ms. Helorna N. McFall 

Dr. Timothy T. and Mrs. Kay McMahon 

Dr. Irwin Menachof (DEC) 

Dr. Audrey C. Mok 

Mrs. Mildred R. Monsen 

Dr. Dorothy M. Moore and Mr. Garry J. Cap 

Dr. Paul K. and Mrs. Ruth Morimoto ** 

Mr. Gerald M. and Mrs. Barbara P. Newman 

Mr. Richard Palandech 

Mr. William D. Perkins 

Mrs. Sally L. Pope * 

Dr. Jose S. Pulido and Dr. Colleen A. Howe * 

Mr. Anthony L. Rainaldi 

Mr. James E. Rathmann 

Mr. Bernard B. Rinella 

Dr. David S. Robbin 

Mr. Marvin Rogan 

in memory of Dr. Laura E. Lehtinen-Rogan 

Dr. Alfred A. Rosenbloom Jr. 

Mr. David G. Rosenfeld 

Mr. Warner A. Rosenthal 

Mr. LeRoy and Mrs. Albina Schalansky 

Mrs. Gloria B. Schall 

Mr. Gary E. and Mrs. Nancy Q. Scheuermann 

in honor of Ms. Ellen M. Nichols 

Mr. Richard L. Schultz 

Mr. Leonard H. Solomon 

Ms. Barbara S. Spielman 

Dr. Alan V. Spigelman 

Dr. John B. Thompson 

Dr. Arnold Tobin 

Mr. Larry R. Tompkins 

UBS matching gift on behalf of 

United Way of Central New Mexico 

Samuel J. Vainisi DVM 

Mrs. Helen Vavrinchik 

Wells Fargo Foundation matching gift 

on behalf of Willow Springs Lioness Club 

Dr. George J. Witteman 

Mr. Michael J. and Mrs. Kathleen A. Worrall 

Dr. Terri L. young 

Mr. Tony Zamora 

* President’s Council 

** Chancellor’s Circle 

Illinois eye fund Board 

OFFICERS 

Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA 

CHAIR 

Samuel J. Cascio, DDS 

VICE PRESIDENT 

Julian L. Berman 

TREASURER 

Irene T. Schoenberg 

SECRETARY 

MEMBERS 

Barry J. Carroll 

Gerald Fishman, MD 

William Jackson Jones, DDS 

Steven P. Koenig, MD 

Barry Malkin 

Frank I. Mendelblatt, MD 

Marilyn T. Miller, MD 

Steven B. Ross 

Georgia Roulo 

Sriram Sonty, MD 

Van C. Stone 

Joel Sugar, MD 

Patricia Wager 

Jacob Wilensky, MD 

EMERITuS 

Diane Kraft Henry 

Dr. Harris Ripps, DSc 

EX-OFFICIO 

Julie Daraska 

ADVANCEMENT 

David J. Eaton 

One Vision 2012 19

20 eNDOWMeNt ACtIvItY 

eNDOWMeNt 

ACtIvItY repOrt 

Endowed gifts support valuable 

academic activity in the Department 

of Ophthalmology & Visual 

Sciences. We are proud to highlight 

just a few of the achievements of 

our endowed faculty and important 

endowed programs from the 2011–12 

academic year. 

EndowEd LEcturEs 

Morton F. Goldberg, MD, Endowed Lecture 

“The Demise of the Disc Margin and Cup to Disc 

Ratio in Glaucoma” 

Claude F. Burgoyne, MD 

Oregon Health and Sciences University 

Delivered June 29, 2012, at the 36th Annual 

Alumni / Resident Day 

Four Fathers Lecture 

“Manpower Needs in Ophthalmology” 


Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at UIC 



Jose S. Pulido, MD, Endowed Lecture 

“The Evolution of Surgery for Keratoconus” 

Mark J. Mannis, MD 

UC Davis Eye Center 



Samuel F. Schoenberg, MD, 

Memorial Lecture 

“Unlocking Mysteries in Measurements of the 

Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer” 

David S. Greenfield, MD 

Bascom Palmer Eye Institute 

Delivered May 16, 2012, at the Annual Glaucoma 

Symposium 

Jacob T. Wilensky, MD Lecture 

“Imaging in Glaucoma” 

Teresa C. Chen, MD 

Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary 

Delivered May 16, 2012, at the Annual Glaucoma 

Symposium 

Gerhard Cless Endowed Lecture 

“Defining and Describing New Medical Retina 

Diseases such as the White Dot Syndromes” 

Lee Jampol, MD 

Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine 

Delivered March 30, 2012, at the 5th Annual 

Retina Symposium 

Timothy McMahon, OD, Endowed Lecture 

"Opportunity for Impact: Therapeutic Lenses and 

Ocular Graft-vs-Host Disease” 

Deborah S. Jacobs, MD 

Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary 

Delivered April 22, 2011 

Marvin D. Henry, MD, Memorial Lecture 

“Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology” 

Grant T. Liu, MD 

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine 

Delivered October 14, 2011, at the 2nd Biennial 

Neuro-Ophthalmology Symposium 

Eugene R. Folk, MD, Memorial Lecture 

“Phylogeny of Eye Movements and the Extraocular 

Muscles” 

Steven M. Archer, MD 

W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan 

Delivered September 16, 2011, at the Pediatric 

Ophthalmology Meeting 

Dr. Rohit Varma, Dean Dimitri Azar and Dr. Joel Sugar 

commend Dr. Sandeep Jain and Dr. Ali Djalilian on their 

promotion to Associate Professors.

EndowEd chairs 

B.A. Field Chair of 

Ophthalmic Research 


Professor of Ophthalmology 

and Dean, College of Medicine 

Illinois Lions / 

Charles I. Young Chair 

of Ophthalmology 



and Department Chair * 

Marion Schenk Esq. Chair 


Jennifer I. Lim, MD 


and Director, Retina Service 

EndowEd ProfEssors 

Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of Ophthalmology 

Deepak Shukla, PhD Director, Ocular Virology Laboratory 


Two R21 grants submitted by Dr. Shukla to the National Eye Institute — Role of 

Optineurin in Ocular Herpes Infection and Entry Based Inhibition of Ocular HSV-1 

Infection — were awarded at the end of 2012. He was invited as a keynote speaker 

to the annual meeting of the Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists in 

Varanasi, India. 

Morton F. Goldberg, MD, FACS, Professor of Ophthalmology 

Mahnaz Shahidi, PhD Director, Applied Physics Laboratory 

National Eye Institute review of Dr. Shahidi’s competitive renewal application for 

her R01 research grant Noninvasive Imaging of Chorio-Retinal Oxygen Tension 

(R01Ey017918) received a third percentile rank and is expected to be renewed 

through 2017. Dr. Shahidi was selected to serve on the NEI grant review study 

section, Diseases and Pathophysiology of the Visual System. 

Searls-Schenk Professor of Ophthalmology 

David Pepperberg, PhD Director, Photoreceptor Research Laboratory 

A paper recently published in Nature Communications by Dr. Pepperberg and his 

colleagues reports a milestone advance in their research to develop a new type of 

molecular therapy for age-related macular degeneration and related photoreceptor 

degenerative diseases. Their work involves the creation of novel light-sensitive 

chemical compounds that can interface with inner retinal nerve cells to “bypass” 

dysfunctional rod and cone photoreceptors in the diseased retina. 

Joel Sugar, MD, Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology 

Joel Sugar, MD Professor of Ophthalmology, Cornea Service 

In addition to serving as Interim Department Head in 2012, Dr. Sugar continued 

seeing patients and participated in the Cornea Donor study and the Fuchs Corneal 

Endothelial Dystrophy Study. He was awarded the Castroviejo Medal by the 

Cornea Society for “outstanding contributions to Ophthalmology in the field of 

cornea and anterior segment of the eye.” 

Jacob Wilensky, MD, Endowed Professor of Ophthalmology 

Jacob Wilensky, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Glaucoma Service 

Dr. Jacob Wilensky served as the 47th C.S. O’Brien Professor at Tulane University 

Department of Ophthalmology, and delivered the lecture, “What have we learned from 

clinical trials in glaucoma?” at their Alumni Day, June 8 – 9, 2012. Dr. Wilensky earned 

his BA, MD, and completed his Ophthalmology Residency at Tulane. 

*Pending UIC Board of Trustees approval

22 fACULtY 

fACULtY 

Chair & Vice Chairs 


Illinois Lions/Charles I. Young Chair 

of Ophthalmology* 

Professor of Ophthalmology and 

Department Chair 


Joel Sugar, MD, Endowed Professor 


Vice Chair for Clinical Operations 

William Mieler, MD 


Vice Chair for Education 

Director, Ocular Oncology Clinic 

Mahnaz Shahidi, PhD 

Morton F. Goldberg, MD, Professor of 

Ophthalmology 

Vice Chair for Research 

Director, Applied Physics Laboratory 

*Pending UIC Board of Trustees approval 

Professors 

Kenneth Alexander, PhD 

Professor Emeritus 


Dean, College of Medicine 

B. A. Field Endowed Chair of 

Ophthalmologic Research 


Norman Blair, MD 


Director, Retinal Circulation and 

Metabolism Laboratory 



Nalin Kumar, DPhil 


Jennifer Lim, MD 

Marion Schenk Esq., Chair of Ophthalmology 

Director, Retina Service 


Irene Maumenee, MD 

Research Professor of Ophthalmology 

Director, Ocular Genetics Laboratory 

Timothy McMahon, OD 


Marilyn Miller, MD 


David Pepperberg, PhD 

Searls-Schenk Professor of Ophthalmology 

Director, Photoreceptor Research Laboratory 

Allen Putterman, MD 


Harris Ripps, PhD, DSc 


Howard Tessler, MD 


Jacob Wilensky, MD 


Beatrice Yue, PhD 

Thanis A. Field Professor of Ophthalmology 

Director, Ocular Cell Biology Laboratory 

Associate Professors 

Nathalie Azar, MD 

Associate Professor of Clinical 

Ophthalmology 

Director, Pediatric Ophthalmology and 

Adult Strabismus

Dingcai Cao, PhD 

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology 

Ali Djalilian, MD 


Director, Stem Cell Research Laboratory 

Director, Medical Student Education 

in Ophthalmology 

James Goodwin, MD 


Director, Neuro-Ophthalmology Service 

Sandeep Jain, MD 


Director, Corneal Neurobiology Laboratory 

Charlotte Joslin, OD, PhD 


Director, Contact Lens Service 

Paul Knepper, MD, PhD 

Research Scientist 

Deepak Shukla, PhD 

Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of 

Ophthalmology 

Associate Professor of Microbiology 

and Immunology 

Director, Ocular Virology Laboratory 

Joan Stelmack, OD 

Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology 

Director, Low Vision Service 

Benjamin Ticho, MD 

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology 

Elmer Tu, MD 

Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology 

Director, Cornea Service 

Marlos Viana, PhD 

Associate Professor of Biostatistics in 

Ophthalmology 

Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy 

Assistant Professors 

Javaneh Abbasian, MD 

Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology 

Amjad Ahmad, MD 


Ahmad Aref, MD 


Genie Bang, MD 


Jin-Hong Chang, PhD 

Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology 

Director, Angiogenesis Research Laboratory 

Qing Chang, MD, PhD 

Research Assistant Professor of 

Ophthalmology 

Retinal Chemical Genomics Laboratory 


Felix Chau, MD 


Director, Retinal Bioengineering Laboratory 

Soledad Cortina, MD 


Director, Comprehensive Ophthalmology 

Faculty Practice and General Eye Clinic 

Kimberlee Curnyn, MD 


Jose de la Cruz, MD 


Director, Millennium Park Eye Center 

Anthony Finder, MD 


Robert FitzGerald, MD 

Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

24 fACULtY 

Molly Gilbert, MD 


Director, Resident Education, 

James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center 

Michael Grassi, MD 


Ophthalmology 

Director, Retinal Chemical Genomics 

Laboratory 

Anil Gulati, MD 


Kyu Yeon Han, PhD 


Ophthalmology 

Metalloproteinases Research Laboratory 

David Hillman, MD 


Iris Kassem, MD, PhD 

Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology 

Alexander Khammar, MD 


Charles Kinnaird, OD 


Yannek Leiderman, MD, PhD 


Director, Retinal Bank Laboratory 

Amy Lin, MD 

Assistant Professor of Pathology 


Director, Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory 

Mark Lunde, MD 


Director of Resident Education, Jesse 

Brown Veterans Administration 

Jason McAnany, PhD 


Heather Moss, MD, PhD 


Director, Neuro-Ophthalmology 

Research Program 

Pete Setabutr, MD 


Director, Oculoplastic & Reconstructive 

Surgery Service 

Ellen Shorter, OD 


Director, PROSE Clinic 

Aisha Traish, MD 


Associate Director, Residency Program 

Director, Pediatric Cornea Clinic 

Larry ulanski, MD 


Thasarat Vajaranant, MD 


Director, Glaucoma Service 

Clinical Volunteer 

Faculty 

Daniel Alter, MD, PhD 

David Badawi, MD 

Adrienne Berman, MD 

Michael Blair, MD 

Rebekah Braslow, MD 

Victoria Butcko, OD 

Robert Egel, MD 

Steven Eiden, MD 


Timothy Flood, MD 

Jon Geiser, MD 

Molly Gilbert, MD 

Daniel Greenberg, MD 

Bruce Kaplan, MD 

Spero Kinnas, MD 

Timothey Kisla, MD 

Sheridan Lam, MD 

Janet Lee, MD 

David Lubeck, MD 

Carol Menner, MD 

David Mittelman, MD 

Smajo Osmanovic, MD 

Anna Park, MD 

Kirk Packo, MD 

Rakhi Patil, MD 

Richard Quinones, MD 

Pervez Rasul, MD 

Alfred Rosenbloom, OD 

Kenneth Resnick, MD 

Michael Shapiro, MD 

Marcus Solomon, MD 

Sriram Sonty, MD 

Thomas Stelmack, OD 

Daniel Tepper, MD 

Charles Vygantas, MD 

Robert Weiss, MD 

Chloe Winterbotham, MD 

Joint Courtesy 

& Adjunct Faculty 

Anthony Peter Adamis, MD 

Eric C. Beyer, MD, PhD 

Robert Folberg, MD 

Craig Foster, PhD 

Ken-Ichiro Fukuchi, MD, PhD 

Richard A. Gemeinhart, PhD 

Jie Liang, PhD 

Robert Paul Malchow, PhD 

Asrar Malik, PhD 

Daniel Roberts, OD 

William H. Seiple, PhD 

Janet P. Szlyk, PhD 

Vaibhav Tiwari, PhD 

Kimani Toussaint, PhD 

Kazuo Tsubota, MD

fACULtY 

pUBLICAtIONS 



Journal Articles 

07.01.2011–06.30.2012 

aakalu Vk, Putterman AM. 

Fat repositioning in lower lid 

blepharoplasty: the role of titrated 

excision. Ophthal Plast Reconstr 

Surg. 2011 Nov;27(6):462. 

aakalu Vk, Setabutr P. Current 

ptosis management: a national 

survey of ASOPRS members. 

Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011 

Jul-Aug;27(4):270-6. 

abbasian j, Martin TM, Patel 

S, Tessler HH, Goldstein DA. 

Immunologic and genetic markers 

in patients with idiopathic ocular 

inflammation and a family history 

of inflammatory bowel disease. Am 

J Ophthalmol. 2012 Jul;154(1):72-7. 

Epub 2012 Mar 30. 

Ali MM, Karasneh GA, Jarding 

MJ,Tiwari V, Shukla D. A 

3-O-sulfated heparan sulfate 

binding peptide preferentially 

targets herpes simplex virus 

2-infected cells. J Virol. 2012 

Jun;86(12):6434-43. 

Anastasakis A, Genead MA, 

McAnany JJ, fishman Ga. 

Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer 

thickness in patients with retinitis 

pigmentosa using spectral-domain 

optical coherence tomography. 

Retina. 2012 Feb;32(2):358-63. 

Aref AA. Management of 

immediate and sustained intraocular 

pressure rise associated with 

intravitreal antivascular endothelial 

growth factor injection therapy. 

Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2012 

Mar;23(2):105-10. 

Aref AA, Gedde SJ, Budenz DL. 

Glaucoma drainage implant surgery. 

Dev Ophthalmol. 2012;50:37-47. 

Epub 2012 Apr 17. Review. 

Baker S, Booth C, Fillman C, 

Shapiro m, Blair mP, Hyland JC, 

Ala-Kokko L. A loss of function 

mutation in the COL9A2 gene 

causes autosomal recessive Stickler 

syndrome. Am J Med Genet A. 

2011 Jul;155A(7):1668-72. doi: 

10.1002/ajmg.a.34071. 

Bakhtiari P, Chan C,Welder JD, de 

la Cruz J, Holland EJ, Djalilian AR. 

Surgical and visual outcomes of the 

type I Boston Keratoprosthesis for 

the management of aniridic fibrosis 

syndrome in congenital aniridia. Am 

J Ophthalmol. 2012 May;153(5):967- 

971.e2. Epub 2012 Jan 21. 

Blair mP, Shapiro mj, Hartnett 

ME. Fluorescein angiography to 

estimate normal peripheral retinal 

nonperfusion in children. J AAPOS. 

2012 Jun;16(3):234-7. 

Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator 

Group [Ticho BH, Khammar AJ], 

Bradfield yS, Melia BM, Repka MX, 

Kaminski BM, Davitt BV, Johnson 

DA, Kraker RT, Manny RE, Matta 

NS, Weise KK, Schloff S. Central 

corneal thickness in children. Arch 

Ophthalmol. 2011 Sep;129(9):1132-8. 

Borchert MS, Varma R, Cotter 

SA,Tarczy-Hornoch K, McKean- 

Cowdin R, Lin JH,Wen G, Azen 

SP, Torres M, Tielsch JM, Friedman 

DS, Repka MX, Katz J, Ibironke 

J, Giordano L; Joint Writing 

Committee* for the Multi-Ethnic 

Pediatric Eye Disease Study 

and the Baltimore Pediatric Eye 

Disease Study Groups. Risk factors 

for hyperopia and myopia in 

preschool children: The Multi- 

Ethnic and Baltimore Pediatric Eye 

Disease Studies. Ophthalmology 

2011;118(10):1966-1973. 

Bressler NM, Doan QV, Varma R, 

Lee PP, Suner IJ, Dolan C, Danese 

MD,yu E,Tran I and Colman S. 

Estimated cases of legal blindness 

and visual impairment avoided 

using ranibizumab for choroidal 

neovascularization: Non-Hispanic 

White population in the United 

States with age-related macular 

degeneration. Arch Ophthalmol 

2011;129(6):709-717. 

Cao D, Lu yH. Lateral suppression 

of mesopic rod and cone flicker 

detection. J Opt Soc Am A 

Opt Image Sci Vis. 2012 Feb 

1;29(2):A188-93. doi: 10.1364/ 

JOSAA.29.00A188. 

Cao D, Lu yH. Chromatic 

discrimination: differential 

contributions from two adapting 

fields. J Opt Soc Am A Opt Image 

Sci Vis. 2012 Feb 1;29(2):A1-9. doi: 

10.1364/ JOSAA.29.0000A1. 

Cao D, Pokorny J, Grassi MA. 

Isolated mesopic rod and cone 

electroretinograms realized with 

a four-primary method. Doc 

Ophthalmol. 2011 Aug;123(1):29-41. 

doi: 10.1007/s10633-011-9279-9. 

Cao D, Zele AJ, Pokorny J, Lee 

Dy, Messner LV, Diehl C, Ksiazek S. 

Functional loss in the magnocellular 

and parvocellular pathways in 

patients with optic neuritis. Invest 

Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Nov 

17;52(12):8900-7. 

Caprioli J, Varma R. Intraocular 

pressure: modulation as treatment 

for glaucoma. Am J Ophthalmol 

2011;152(3):340-344.e2. 

Chalmers RL,Wagner H, Mitchell 

GL, Lam Dy, Kinoshita BT, 

Jansen ME, Richdale K, Sorbara 

L, McMahon TT. Age and other 

risk factors for corneal infiltrative 

and inflammatory events in young 

Bold: Regular Faculty red: Volunteer and adjunct faculty Blue: residents and fellows 


soft contact lens wearers from the 

Contact Lens Assessment in youth 

(CLAy) study. Invest Ophthalmol 

Vis Sci. 2011 Aug 24;52(9):6690-6. 

Chabi A, Varma R, Tsai JC, 

Lupinacci R, Pigeon J, Baranak 

C, Noble L, Lines C, Ho,TW. 

Randomized clinical trial of the 

efficacy and safety of preservativefree 

Tafluprost and Timolol in 

patients with open-angle glaucoma 

or ocular hypertension, Am J 

Ophthalmol 2012;153(6):1187-1196. 

Chang JR, Koo E, Agrón E, Hallak 

J, Clemons T, Azar D, Sperduto 

RD, Ferris FL 3rd, Chew Ey; Age- 

Related Eye Disease Study Group. 

Risk factors associated with incident 

cataracts and cataract surgery 

in the Age-related Eye Disease 

Study (AREDS): AREDS report 

number 32. Ophthalmology. 2011 

Nov;118(11):2113-9. 

Chang Q, Peter ME, Grassi MA. 

Fas ligand-fas signaling participates 

in light-induced apoptotic death 

in photoreceptor cells. Invest 

Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012 Jun 

20;53(7):3703-16. 

Chaudhary S, Namavari A,yco L, 

Chang JH, Sonawane S, Khanolkar 

V, Sarkar J, Jain S. Neurotrophins 

and nerve regeneration-associated 

genes are expressed in the cornea

26 pUBLICAtIONS 

after lamellar flap surgery. Cornea. 

2012 Jun 5. [Epub ahead of print] 

Chen L, Xu G, Blair mP. Diagnostic 

and therapeutic challenges. Retina. 

2011 Jul-Aug;31(7):1424-7. 

Chen PJ, Saati S, Varma R, 

Humayun MS, and Tai yC. Wireless 

intraocular pressure sensing using 

microfabricated minimally invasive 

flexible-coiled LC sensor implant. J 

of Microelectromechanical Systems 

2010;19(4):721-34. 

Choudhury F, Varma R, Klein R, 

Azen SP, Mckean-Cowdin R and 

the Los Angeles Latino Eye Study 

Group. Risk factors for four-year 

incidence and progression of age 

related macular degeneration: The 

Los Angeles Latino Eye Study. Am 

J Ophthalmol 2011;152(3):385-95. 

Chow CC, Blair mP, Shapiro mj. 

Acquired vasoproliferative retinal 

tumor: a late sequela of retinopathy 

of prematurity. Arch Ophthalmol. 

2011 Sep;129(9):1234-5. 

Chow CC, Genead MA, 

Anastasakis A, Chau FY, fishman 

Ga, Lim JI. Structural and 

functional correlation in sickle cell 

retinopathy using spectral-domain 

optical coherence tomography and 

scanning laser ophthalmoscope 

microperimetry. Am J Ophthalmol. 

2011 Oct;152(4):704-711.e2. Epub 

2011 Jul 2. 

Cortina MS, He J, Li N, Bazan 

NG, Bazan HE. Recovery of corneal 

sensitivity, calcitonin gene-related 

peptide-positive nerves, and 

increased wound healing induced 

by pigment epithelial-derived 

factor plus docosahexaenoic acid 

after experimental surgery. Arch 

Ophthalmol. 2012 Jan;130(1):76-83. 

Cortina MS, Vajaranant T, de la 

Cruz J. Long-term complications 

associated with glaucoma 

drainage devices and Boston 

keratoprosthesis. Am J Ophthalmol. 

2011 Dec;152(6):1078-9; author 

reply 1079. 

Cotter SA, Varma R, Tarczy- 

Hornoch K, McKean-Cowdin R, 

Lin J,Wen G, Wei J, Borchert M, 

Azen SP, Torres M, Tielsch JM, 

Friedman DS, Repka MX, Katz 

J, Ibironke J, Giordano L; The 

Joint Writing Committee* for the 

Multi-Ethnic Pediatric Eye Disease 

Study and the Baltimore Pediatric 

Eye Disease Study Groups. Risk 

factors associated with childhood 

strabismus: The Multi-Ethnic 

and the Baltimore Pediatric Eye 


2011;118(11):2251-61. 

Cunningham ET Jr, Goldstein 

DA, Zierhut M. Uveitis treatment 

trials — a cross-study perspective. 

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2012 

Apr;20(2):63-7. 

Czugala M, Karolak JA, Nowak 

DM, Polakowski P, Pitarque J, 

Molinari A, Rydzanicz M, Bejjani 

BA, Yue BY, Szaflik JP, Gajecka 

M. Novel mutation and three other 

sequence variants segregating with 

phenotype at keratoconus 13q32 

susceptibility locus. Eur J Hum 

Genet. 2012 Apr;20(4):389-97. 

Dosa S, Castellanos K, Bacsa S, 

Gagyi E, Kovacs SK, Valyi-Nagy K, 

Shukla D, Dermody TS, Valyi- 

Nagy T. Chronic progressive 

deficits in neuron size, density and 

number in the trigeminal ganglia of 

mice latently infected with herpes 

simplex virus. Brain Pathol. 2011 

Sep;21(5):583-93. 

Francis B, Varma R, Lai M,Vigen 

C, Winarko J, Nguyen B, and Azen 

SP. Population and high risk group 

screening for glaucoma: The 

Los Angeles Latino Eye Study. 

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 

2011;52(3):6257-6264. 

Farooq AV, Shukla D. Herpes 

Simplex Epithelial and Stromal 

Keratitis: An Epidemiologic Update. 

Surv Ophthalmol. 2012 Apr 28. 

[Epub ahead of print] PubMed 

PMID: 22542912. 

Frick KD, Drye LT, Kempen JH, 

Dunn JP, Holland GN, Latkany 

P, Rao NA, Sen HN, Sugar EA, 

Thorne JE, Wang RC, Holbrook 

JT; Multicenter Uveitis Steroid 

Treatment-MUST Trial Research 

Group [Goldstein DA, Lim 

JI,Tessler HH]. Associations among 

visual acuity and vision- and healthrelated 

quality of life among patients 

in the multicenter uveitis steroid 

treatment trial. Invest Ophthalmol 

Vis Sci. 2012 Mar 9;53(3):1169-76. 

Gangaputra S, Almukhtar T, 

Glassman AR, Aiello LP, Bressler 

N, Bressler SB, Danis RP, Davis 

MD; Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical 

Research Network [Lim JI]. 

Comparison of film and digital 

fundus photographs in eyes of 

individuals with diabetes mellitus. 

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2011 Aug 

3;52(9):6168-73. 

Gangaputra SS, Altaweel MM, 

Peng Q, Friedman DS, Rao PK, 

Foster CS, Kim Ry, Reed SB, 

Srivastava SK,Wong IG, Kempen 

JH; MUST Trial Research Group 

[Goldstein DA, Lim JI,Tessler 

HH]. Morphologic assessment 

for glaucoma in the Multicenter 

Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) 

trial. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2011 

Aug;19(4):267-74. 

Gao X, Marjoram P, Mckean- 

Cowdin R,Torres M, Gauderman W, 

and Varma R. Genotype imputation 

for Latinos using the HapMap and 

1000 Genomes Project reference 

panels. Frontiers in Statistical 

Genetics and Methodology 2012: 

2012;3:117. 

Gatto NM, Varma R, Torres M, 

Wong Ty, Johnson PL, Segal- 

Gidan F, and Mack W. Retinal 

microvascular abnormalities and 

cognitive function in Latino Adults 

in Los Angeles. Ophthalmic 

Epidemiol 2012;19(3):127-136. 

Gedde SJ, Herndon LW, Brandt JD, 

Budenz DL, Feuer WJ, Schiffman 

JC, Tube Versus Trabeculectomy 

Study Group (Varma R). 

Postoperative complications in the 

tube versus trabeculectomy (TVT) 

study during five years of follow-up. 

Am J Ophthalmol 2012; 153(5):804- 

814.e1. 

Gedde SJ, Singh K, Schiffman 

JC, Feuer WJ; the Tube 

Versus Trabeculectomy Study 

Group (Varma R). The Tube 

Versus Trabeculectomy Study: 

interpretation of results and 

application to clinical practice. Curr 

Opin Ophthal 2012; 23(2):118–126. 

Genead MA, McAnany JJ, 

fishman Ga. Topical dorzolamide 

for treatment of cystoid 

macular edema in patients with 

choroideremia. Retina. 2012 

Apr;32(4):826-33. 

Genead MA, fishman Ga, Rha 

J, Dubis AM, Bonci DM, Dubra 

A, Stone EM, Neitz M, Carroll 

J. Photoreceptor structure and 

function in patients with congenital 

achromatopsia. Invest Ophthalmol 

Vis Sci. 2011 Sep 21;52(10):7298-308. 

Genead MA, fishman Ga. 

Efficacy of brinzolamide ophthalmic 

suspension 1% for treatment of a 

vitelliform macular lesion in a patient 

with desferrioxamine retinopathy. 

Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 

2011 Dec 8;42. 

Ghanem RC, Han Ky, Rojas 

J, ozturk o, Kim DJ, Jain S, 

Chang JH, Azar DT. Semaphorin 

7A promotes angiogenesis 

in an experimental corneal 

neovascularization model. Curr Eye 

Res. 2011 Nov;36(11):989-96. 

Girkin CA, McGwin G Jr, Sinai 

MJ, Sekhar GC, Fingeret M, 

Wollstein G, Varma R, Greenfield 

D, Liebmann J, Araie M, Tomita 

G, Maeda N, Garway-Heath DF. 

Variation in optic nerve and macular 

structure with age and race with 

spectral-domain optical coherence 

tomography. Ophthalmology 

2011;118(12):2403-8.

Gowrisankaran S, Alexander KR. 

Stimulus chromatic properties affect 

period doubling in the human cone 

flicker ERG. Doc Ophthalmol. 2012 

Aug;125(1):21-9. 

Gowrisankaran S, Anastasakis 

A, fishman Ga, Alexander KR. 

Structural and functional measures 

of inner retinal integrity following 

visual acuity improvement in a 

patient with hereditary motor 

and sensory neuropathy type 

VI. Ophthalmic Genet. 2011 

Sep;32(3):188-92. 

Grassi MA, Tikhomirov A, 

Ramalingam S, Lee KE, Hosseini 

SM, Klein BE, Klein R, Lussier yA, 

Cox NJ, Nicolae DL. Replication 

analysis for severe diabetic 

retinopathy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis 

Sci. 2012 Apr 30;53(4):2377-81. 

Grewal DS, Sehi M, Paauw JD, 

Greenfield DS; Advanced Imaging 

in Glaucoma Study Group (Varma 

R). Detection of progressive retinal 

nerve fiber layer thickness loss with 

optical coherence tomography using 

4 criteria for functional progression. 

J Glaucoma 2012;21(4):214-20. 

Gussin HA, Khasawneh FT, Xie 

A, Feng F, Memic A, Qian H, 

Le Breton GC, Pepperberg DR. 

Subunit-specific polyclonal antibody 

targeting human 1 GABA(C) 

receptor. Exp Eye Res. 2011 

Jul;93(1):59-64. 

Haller JA, Bandello F, Belfort R Jr, 

Blumenkranz MS, Gillies M, Heier 

J, Loewenstein A, yoon yH, Jiao 

J, Li Xy, Whitcup SM; Ozurdex 

GENEVA Study Group [Blair 

NP, Goldstein DA, Grassi M, 

Lim JI, Mieler WF, Shapiro mj, 

ulanski LJ], Li J. Dexamethasone 

intravitreal implant in patients 

with macular edema related to 

branch or central retinal vein 

occlusion twelve-month study 

results. Ophthalmology. 2011 

Dec;118(12):2453-60. 

Han Ky, Fahd DC,Tshionyi M, 

Allemann N, Jain S, Chang JH, 

Azar DT. MT1-MMP modulates 

bFGF-induced VEGF-A expression 

in corneal fibroblasts. Protein Pept 

Lett. 2012 Jun 4. [Epub ahead of 

print] PubMed PMID: 22670674. 

Han Ky, Azar DT, Sabri A, Lee 

H, Jain S, Lee BS, Chang JH. 

Characterization of the interaction 

between endostatin short peptide 

and VEGF receptor 3. Protein Pept 

Lett. 2012 Apr 16. [Epub ahead of 

print] PubMed PMID: 22512651. 

Harel S, Tu EY, Weisberg S, 

Esquilin M, Chambers SM, Liu 

B, Carson CT, Studer L, Reizis 

B, Tomishima MJ. ZFX Controls 

the self-renewal of human 

embryonic stem cells. PLoS One. 

2012;7(8):e42302. Epub 2012 Aug 3. 

Hernandez C, LePoole C, Tessler 

HH.Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada 

syndrome in a six-year-old Hispanic 

boy. Pediatr Dermatol. 2012 Mar- 

Apr;29(2):191-4. 

He M, Abdou A, Naidoo KS, 

Sapkota yD,Thulasiraj RD, 

Varma R, Zhao J and Ellwein LB. 

Prevalence and correction of near 

vision impairment at seven sites in 

China, India, Nepal, Niger, South 

Africa, and the United States. Am J 

Ophthalmol 2012;154(1):107-116.e1. 

Hoang Q, Chau FY, Shahidi M, 

Lim JI. In reply to “Spectral domain 

optical coherence tomography for 

assessment of sickle cell patients.” 

Am J Ophthalmol. 2011;152(6):1074; 

author reply 1074-5. 

Holbrook JT, Colvin R, van 

Natta ML, Thorne JE, Bardsley 

M, Jabs DA; Studies of Ocular 

Complications of AIDS 

(SOCA) Research Group [Lim 

JI]. Evaluation of the United 

States public health service 

guidelines for discontinuation of 

anticytomegalovirus therapy after 

immune recovery in patients with 

cytomegalovirus retinitis. Am J 

Ophthalmol. 2011 Oct;152(4):628- 

637.e1. 

Hou jH, de la Cruz J, Djalilian 

AR. Outcomes of Boston 

Keratoprosthesis implantation for 

failed keratoplasty after keratolimbal 

allograft. Cornea. 2012 Jan 10. 

[Epub ahead of print] PubMed 

PMID: 22236785. 

Hsu M, Tu E, Bouchard C. Confocal 

microscopy of contact lens 

keratitis presenting as central toxic 

keratopathy. Eye Contact Lens. 2011 

Nov;37(6):377-80. 

Hu j, Chow CC, Kiernan DF, 

Garcia-Valenzuela E, Mafee MF, 

Blair mP, Shapiro mj. Peripheral 

retinal nonperfusion associated 

with optic nerve hypoplasia and 

lissencephaly. Arch Ophthalmol. 

2012 Mar;130(3):398-400. 

Hu j, Blair mP, Shapiro mj, 

Lichtenstein SJ, Galasso JM, Kapur 

R. Reactivation of retinopathy of 

prematurity after bevacizumab 

injection. Arch Ophthalmol. 2012 

Apr 9. [Epub ahead of print] 

Huang D, Chopra V, Lu AT, Tan 

O, Francis B, Varma R and the 

Advanced Imaging for Glaucoma 

Study. Does optic nerve head size 

variation affect circumpapillary 

retinal nerve fiber layer thickness 

measurement by optical coherence 

tomography? Invest Ophthalmol Vis 

Sci.2012; 53(8):4990-7. 

Hwang JC, Konduru R, Zhang 

X,Tan O, Francis BA, Varma R, 

Sehi M, Greenfield DS, Sadda 

SR, and Huang D. Relationship 

among visual field, blood flow, and 

neural structure measurements in 

glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis 

Sci 2012;53(6):3020-6. 

Jacobson SG, Cideciyan AV, 

Ratnakaram R, Heon E, Schwartz 

SB, Roman AJ, Peden MC, Aleman 

TS, Boye SL, Sumaroka A, Conlon 

TJ, Calcedo R, Pang JJ, Erger KE, 

Olivares MB, Mullins CL, Swider M, 

Kaushal S, Feuer WJ, Iannaccone 

A, fishman Ga, Stone EM, Byrne 

BJ, Hauswirth WW. Gene therapy 

for leber congenital amaurosis 

caused by RPE65 mutations: safety 

and efficacy in 15 children and 

adults followed up to 3 years. Arch 

Ophthalmol. 2012 Jan;130(1):9-24. 

Jansen ME, Chalmers R, Mitchell 

GL, Kinoshita BT, Lam Dy, 

McMahon TT, Richdale K, Sorbara 

L,Wagner H. Characterization of 

patients who report compliant and 

non-compliant overnight wear of soft 

contact lenses. Cont Lens Anterior 

Eye. 2011 Oct;34(5):229-35. 

Jiang X, Varma R, Wu S,Torres 

M, Azen SP, Francis BF, Chopra 

V, and Nguyen BB for the Los 

Angeles Latino Eye Study Group. 

Baseline risk factors that predict 

the development of open-angle 

glaucoma in a population: The 


Ophthalmology 2012: Available 

online 12 July 2012. 

Kang JJ, de la Cruz J, Cortina 

MS.Visual Outcomes of Boston 

Keratoprosthesis implantation as 

the primary penetrating corneal 

procedure. Cornea. 2012 Feb 23. 

[Epub ahead of print] 

Karasneh GA, Shukla D. Herpes 

simplex virus infects most cell types 

in vitro: clues to its success.Virol J. 

2011 Oct 26;8:481. Review. 

Karasneh GA, Ali M, Shukla D. An 

important role for syndecan-1 in 



herpes simplex virus type-1 induced 

cell-to-cell fusion and virus spread. 

PLoS One. 2011;6(9):e25252. Epub 

2011 Sep 21. 

kiernan Df, Zelkha R, Hariprasad 

SM, Lim JI, Blair mP, Mieler WF. 

En face spectral-domain optical 

coherence tomography outer retinal 

analysis and relation to visual acuity. 

Retina. 2012 Jun;32(6):1077-86. 

kiernan Df, Shah RJ, Hariprasad 

SM, Grassi MA, Small KW, Kiernan 

JP, Mieler WF.Thirty-year followup 

of an African American family 

with macular dystrophy of the retina, 

locus 1 (North Carolina macular 

dystrophy). Ophthalmology. 2011 

Jul;118(7):1435-43. 

Kopplin LJ, Przepyszny K, 

Schmotzer B, Rudo K, Babineau 

DC, Patel SV,Verdier DD, Jurkunas 

U, Iyengar SK, Lass JH; Fuchs’ 

Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy 

Genetics Multi Center Study Group 

[Sugar J, Tu E]. Relationship 

of Fuchs endothelial corneal 

dystrophy severity to central corneal 

thickness. Arch Ophthalmol. 2012 

Apr;130(4):433-9. 

krakauer m, aakalu Vk, Davis 

PL, Ahmad AZ. Silicone spacer 

repair of medial rectus after 

iatrogenic orbit fracture. Ophthal 

Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 

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Putterman AM. Cheek-midface 

lift. In: Hartstein ME, Wulc AE, 

Holck DE. Midfacial Rejuvenation. 

New york: Springer Science + 

Business Media, LLC, 2012:49-64. 

Sajja k, Putterman AM. Posterior 

approach ptosis repair in the 

aesthetic patient with or without 

blepharoplasty, In: Massry GG, 

Murphy MR, Azizzadeh B. Master 

Techniques in Blepharoplasty and 

Periorbital Rejuvenation. New york: 

Springer; 2011:137-146. 

Schmidt-Erfurth, Ursula, Williams 

GA, and Mieler WF. Encyclopedia of 

Ophthalmology. Berlin: Springer, 2012. 

Setlur Vj, Ohsie L. Neuroophthalmology. 

In: Gerstenblith 

AT, Rabinowitz MP. The Wills Eye 

Manual: Office and Emergency 

Room Diagnosis and Treatment 

of Eye Disease. Philadelphia: 

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012. 

Setlur Vj. Acute anterior uveitis. 

In: Maguire JI, Murchison AP, 

Jaeger EA. The Wills Eye Institute 

5-Minute Ophthalmology Consult. 

Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & 

Wilkins, 2011. 

Setlur Vj. Hard exudates. In: 

Maguire JI, Murchison AP, 





Setlur Vj. Lens-induced uveitis. 

In: Maguire JI, Murchison AP, 





Strömland K, Miller MT. Teratogens 

and ocular malformations. In: 

Traboulsi, Elias I. Genetic Diseases of 

the Eye. Oxford: Oxford University 

Press, 2012. 

ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

05.06.12–05.10.12 

Allemann N, Fahd D, Chamon 

W, Chang J, Jain S, Azar 

DT. Impediment to whole eye 

transplantation: An animal model 

and surgical techniques. ARVO 

Meeting Abstracts 2012;53:293. 

Antoine TE, Shukla D. Non-muscle 

myosin IIA mediates HSV-1 entry 

into the cells of the human and pig 

corneas. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:6153. 

Bui km, Garcia-Gonzalez jm, Lin 

A, Patel S, Goldstein DA, Edward 

DP. Directed conjunctival biopsy 

and impact of histologic sectioning 

methodology in the diagnosis 

of sarcoidosis. ARVO Meeting 

Abstracts 2012;53:3215. 

Burdi RA, Wagner E, Walker L, 

Grybauskas A, McCarty RD, Mayer 

JP, Knepper PA. Hemopexin: An 

inhibitor for hyaluronidase-2. ARVO 


Burke TR, fishman Ga, Tsang SH, 

Smith T, Ayyagari R, Koenekoop 

RK, Iannaccone A, Cremers FP, 

Klaver CC, Allikmets R. Retinal 

phenotypes in patients homozygous 

for the G1961E mutation in the 

ABCA4 gene. ARVO Meeting 


Cao D, Zhuang X, McNamara PJ, 

King AC. Acute alcohol effects on 

mesopic rod and cone temporal 

processing. ARVO Meeting 


Chamon W, Ozturk O, Fahd D, 

Allemann N, de la Cruz J, Cortina 

MS, Foster C, Azar DT, Jain S. A 

new approach to experimentally 

determine human corneal 

biomechanical characteristics using 

OCT applied to an anisotropic finite 

element model. ARVO Meeting 


Chang J, Han K, Azar DT. 

Involvement of lysosomal proteases 

in VEGF-C down-regulation 

of VEGFR-3. ARVO Meeting 


Chang Q, Peter M, Grassi 

MA. Fas-mediated death of 

photoreceptors in A phototoxicity 

model. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:2569. 

Chau FY, Mezu-Ndubuisi OJ, 

Reddy NM,Wanek J,Teng P, 

Blair NP, Reddy SP, Shahidi M. 

Spectral domain optical coherence 

tomography (SDOCT) findings 

in a mouse model of retinopathy 

of prematurity. ARVO Meeting 


Chow CC, Shah RJ, Lim JI, Chau 

FY, Hallak JA, Vajaranant TS. 

Effect of macular thinning, vessel 

tortuosity, and vessel diameter in 

peripapillary RNFL thickness by 

spectral domain OCT in sickle cell 

disease: Implications for glaucoma 

evaluation. ARVO Meeting 


Cideciyan AV, Moore AT, Zrenner 

E, Fishman GA, Scholl HP, van 

den Born LI, Bittner AK, Sadigh 

S, Dagnelie G, Koenekoop RK. 

Increased vision within days of oral 

cis-retinoid (QLT091001) treatment 

in blindness due to mutations 

in retinal pigment epitheliumspecific 

protein 65kDa (RPE65) 

or lecithin retinol acyltransferase 

(LRAT). ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:6965. 

Collison FT, Cao D, McAnany 

JJ, Genead MA, fishman Ga. 

Pupillary responses to offset 

and onset of isolated rod and 

cone stimuli using A 4-primary 

photostimulating method. ARVO 


Cortina MS, He J, Russ T, Erickson 

J, Bazan N, Bazan HE. Corneal 

nerve damage induces epithelial 

localization of vesicular glutamate 

transporter-2 (vglut2). ARVO 


Djalilian AR, Sagha HM, 

Movahedan A, Milani By, Majdi 

M, Lavker RM, Yue B.The effect 

of notch signaling on wnt pathway 

genes in corneal epithelial cells. 


2012;53:1822. 



Fahed DS, Allemann N, Chamon 

W, Chang J, Jain S, Azar DT. 

Effect of neurotrophins and growth 

factors on RGC5 and an animal 

model of optic nerve transection in 

Thy1-yFP mice. ARVO Meeting 


Gao X, Gauderman WJ, Marjoram 

P,Torres M, Haritunians T, Chen 

yI,Taylor KD, Rotter JI, Varma 

R. Genetic variants associated 

with central corneal thickness in 

latinos. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:1550. 

Gaynes BI,Teng P,Wanek JM, 

Shahidi M. Hemorheologic 

and hemodynamic response of 

conjunctival microcirculation to 

acute hypotension in rabbits. ARVO 


Genead MA, Salvatore S, 

McAnany JJ, fishman Ga. 

Intrasession and intersession 

repeatability of retinal sensitivity 

using a modified nidek MP-1 

microperimeter in patients with 

stargardt disease. ARVO Meeting 


Giovingo M, McCarty RD, Beverley 

R, Nolan M, Grybauskas A, Burdi 

RA,Wagner E, Knepper PA. 

DHA increases outflow resistance 

in porcine organ cultures. ARVO 


Godara P, Cooper RF, Diederichs 

MA, Sergouniotis P, Genead 

MA,Webster AR, Fishman GA, 

Han DP, Michaelides M, Carroll J. 

Assessing photoreceptor reflectance 

and structure in congenital 

stationary night blindness. ARVO 


Grace em, Sonawane S, Khanolkar 

V, Katam N, Gaitonde SS, Rondelli 

D, Patel P, Jain S. Histopathologic 

and immunophenotypic 

characteristics of conjunctival 

biopsies in chronic graft versus host 

disease. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:2318. 

Grassi MA,Tikhomirov A, 

Ramalingam S, Lee KE, Klein BE, 

Klein R, Lussier y, Cox NJ, Nicolae 

DL. Replication analysis for severe 

diabetic retinopathy. ARVO 


Grybauskas A,Wagner E, Burdi 

RA,Walker L, Knepper PA.TLR-4 

innate immune differential 

response to three dietary fatty 

acids challenged with low molecular 

weight hyaluronic acid, a TLR-4


ligand. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:6615. 

Han Ky, Chang J, Azar DT. 

Proteomic profiling between MT1- 

MMP enzymatic domain deletion 

and total knockout on cornea 

fibroblast cells. ARVO Meeting 


Hou JH, Singa R, Green SJ, 

Jain S, aakalu Vk, Setabutr P. 

Characterization of adrenergic 

receptor subtype gene expression 

in human muller’s muscle using 

laser-capture microdissection and 

quantitative polymerase chain 

reaction. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:6748. 

Hu j, Bui km, Patel KH, Kim 

H, Arruda JA, Wilensky JT, 

Vajaranant TS. Changes in 

intraocular pressure and ocular 

perfusion pressure during 

hemodialysis. ARVO Meeting 


Huang D, Zhang X, Varma R, 

Greenfield DS, Schuman JS, 

Advanced Imaging for Glaucoma 

Study Group,. Nerve fiber 

layer and ganglion cell complex 

measurements by optical coherence 

tomography as risk factors for visual 

field progression in glaucoma. 


2012;53:2260. 

Huh eS, Lim JI. Macular edema 

associated with branch retinal 

vein occlusion and anti-VEGF 

therapy. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 


Jiang X,Wu S,Torres M, Azen SP, 

Francis BA, Chopra V, Nguyen 

BB, Varma R, Los Angeles Latino 

Eye Study Group,. Risk factors for 

four-year incidence of open-angle 

glaucoma:The los angeles latino eye 

study. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:6378. 

jivrajka rV, Genead MA, 

McAnany JJ, Chow CC, fishman 

Ga, Mieler WF. Early detection 

of functional changes using 

microperimetry on patients with 

subclinical hydroxychloroquine 

toxicity. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 


Joslin CE, Hallak JA, Vajaranant 

TS. Five- and ten-year glaucoma 

incidence in the age-related eye 

disease study (AREDS). ARVO 


Kang JJ, Aref AA, Allemann N, 

Cortina MS, de la Cruz J. Argon 

laser iridoplasty for optic obstruction 

in boston keratoprosthesis. ARVO 


Kang Mieler JJ, Osswald CR, 

Guthrie MJ, Mieler WF. Efficacy 

of dexamethasone sodium 

phosphate nanospheres within 

thermo-responsive hydrogel 

treatment in A laser induced 

choroidal neovascularization animal 

model. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:2267. 

Kashani AH, Jaime GRL, Saati S, 

Chader GJ, Varma R, Humayun 

MS.Variation in retinal vascular 

oxygen content among human 

patients: A study using computed 

tomographic imaging spectroscopy. 


2012;53:2167. 

Kim MK,Thomas JG, Ciavatta VT, 

Adkins AM, Hetling jr, Pardue 

MT. Electrical stimulation therapy 

preserves visual acuity and retinal 

ganglion cells in P23H-1 rats. ARVO 


Kinoshita BT, Chalmers RL, 

Mitchell GL, Jansen ME, Lam Dy, 

McMahon TT, Richdale K, Sorbara 

L,Wagner H. Minus soft contact lens 

power progression in young myopes: 

A retrospective chart review. ARVO 


Knepper PA, McCarty RD, 

Grybauskas A, Mayer JP, Burdi 

RA,Wagner E, Samples JR, 

Liebmann JM, Ritch R. Low 

molecular weight hyaluronic 

acid and hyaluronic acid binding 

protein-2: A theory for hemorrhages 

in POAG. ARVO Meeting 


krakauer m, Chow C, Mieler 

WF, Lim JI. Scrolled epiretinal 

membrane: Case series of A novel 

OCT finding. ARVO Meeting 


Kuchenbecker JA, Greenwald SH, 

Carroll J, fishman Ga, Genead 

MA, Connor TB, Neitz M, Neitz J. 

Cone isolating electroretinograms 

in individuals with A mutant 

opsin allele associated with cone 

dystrophy. ARVO Meeting 


Lim JI, Niec M, Hung D,Wong V. A 

pilot study of combination therapy 

for neovascular AMD using a single 

injection of liquid sustained release 

intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide 

and intravitreal ranibizumab as 

needed. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:2035. 

Lim JM, Hou jH, Singa r, aakalu 

V, Setabutr P. Incidence and 

demographic characteristics of 

patients with different types of 

ptosis referred to oculoplastics at 

A tertiary referral center. ARVO 


Lopez-Solache I, Koenekoop RK, 

Ren H, Keser V, Fu Q, Genead MA, 

fishman Ga,Traboulasi EI,Wang 

H, Chen R. Mutations in Lca9 cause 

human congenital blindness due to 

leber congenital amaurosis. ARVO 


Majdi M, Movahedan A,ying H, 

Sagha HM, milani BY, Shafiq MA, 

Lavker RM, Yue BY, Djalilian 

AR.The role of notch signaling 

pathway in corneal epithelial 

cell migration. ARVO Meeting 


malchow rP, Jacoby J, Alford 

ST, Qian H, Kreitzer MA.The 

pH-sensitive dye HAF reports an 

extracellular alkalinization upon 

stimulation of catfish horizontal 

cells:Testing the H+ hypothesis of 

lateral inhibition. ARVO Meeting 


McAnany JJ, Alexander KR, 

Genead MA, fishman Ga. 

Equivalent intrinsic noise, sampling 

efficiency, and contrast sensitivity 

in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. 


2012;53:4361. 

Mezu-Ndubuisi OJ,Wanek 

JM,Teng, Pang-yu, Chau FY, 

Reddy NM, Lin A, Blair NP, Reddy 

SP, Shahidi M. Retinal vascular 

oxygen tension imaging and 

fluorescein angiography in a mouse 

model of retinopathy of prematurity. 


2012;53:4689. 

Milani By, Namavari A, Shafiq MA, 

Majdi M, Movahedan A, Sagha HM, 

Djalilian AR. Effect of sirolimus on 

proliferation and differentiation of 

human corneal fibroblasts. ARVO 


Miller RC, krakauer m, aakalu V, 

Ahmad A. Efficacy of combined 

upper eyelid blepharoplasty and 

resection of retro-orbicularis oculus 

fat resection. ARVO Meeting 


Movahedan A, Djalilian AR, Majdi 

M, Sagha HM, Milani By, Lavker 

RM, Yue BY. Notch inhibition 

accelerates mouse corneal epithelial 

wound healing. ARVO Meeting 



Mwanza J, Sayyad FE, Aref AA, 

Budenz DL. Rates of false positive 

peripapillary and macular optical 

coherence tomography scans in 

healthy myopic eyes: Cirrus HD- 

OCT versus RTVue-100. ARVO 


Namavari A, Sarkar J, Chaudhary 

SV, Ozturk O,yco L, Sonawane 

S, Khanolkar V, Katam N, Hallak 

J, Jain S. Corneal reinnervation 

following surgical transection. 


2012;53:1809. 

Nolan PR, McAnany JJ.The 

effects of light adaptation on the 

harmonic components of the flicker 

electroretinogram. ARVO Meeting 


Oestreicher N, Bressler NM, 

Colman SS, Dolan CM, Kline Leidy 

N, Sunness JS,Tschosik EA, Varma 

R, Kimel M. The functional reading 

independence index (FRII): A 

new measure of treatment benefit 

in geographic atrophy. ARVO 


oltra eZ, Chow CC, Chau FY, 

Lim JI, Moss HE. Neurocognitive 

function and retinal thinning by 

spectral-domain optical coherence 

tomography in sickle cell patients. 


2012;53:1160. 

osmanovic S, Hou j, aakalu V, 

Setabutr P, Putterman AM. 

Muller’s muscle-conjunctiva 

resection outcomes and 

phenylephrine predictability in 

ptosis from horner’s syndrome. 


2012;53:6747. 

ostheimer ta, Chow CC, Shah 

rj, Hallak JA, Chau FY, Lim 

JI,Vajaranant TS. Rate of retinal 

nerve fiber layer thinning by 

Heidelberg SD-OCT in sickle cell 

disease: Implications for glaucoma 

evaluation. ARVO Meeting 


Patel S, Echandi LV, Dodds 

EM, Goldstein DA. Induction 

of prolonged drug-free disease 

remission of sympathetic ophthalmia 

with chlorambucil therapy. ARVO 


Prickett al, Chamon W, Bui km, 

Hallak J, Bakhtiari P, Azar DT. 

A novel approach to determine 

theoretical head tilt effect on ocular 

cyclotorsion measurements during 

laser refractive surgery. ARVO 

Meeting Abstracts 2012;53:5570.

Rha J, Genead MA, Godara 

P,Williams V, Schroeder B, 

Summerfelt P, Dubra A, Stepien 

KE, fishman Ga, Carroll J. Highresolution 

imaging of photoreceptor 

structure in choroideremia. ARVO 


Richer SP, Stiles WR, ulanski 

L,Thomas C. Observation of human 

retinal remodeling in octogenarians 

with resveratrol+. ARVO Meeting 


Richter GM,Wu C,Torres M, Azen 

SP, Varma R. 4-year incidence of 

cataract surgery and associated risk 

factors in the los angeles latino eye 

study (LALES). ARVO Meeting 


roberts Dk, Wilensky JT. 

Persistent pupillary membranes 

and long anterior zonules. ARVO 


Salvatore S, Genead MA, McAnany 

JJ, fishman Ga. Rod sensitivity loss 

in patients with stargardt disease 

and its correlation with retinal 

structural changes. ARVO Meeting 


Sarkar J, Chaudhary SV, Namavari 

A, Ozturk O,yco L, Sonawane 

S, Khanolkar V, Batta P, Hallak 

J, Jain S.Topical benzalkonium 

chloride treatment causes corneal 

neurotoxicity. ARVO Meeting 


Shafiq MA, Milani By, Majdinasab 

M, Yue BY, Djalilian AR. 

Evaluation of decellularized human 

cornea in a mouse model. ARVO 


Shah M, Zhang X, Varma R, 

Greenfield DS, Schuman JS, Huang 

D, AIGS Group . Baseline nerve 

fiber layer and ganglion cell complex 

thickness by optical coherence 

tomography as risk factors for the 

development of glaucomatous 

visual field defects. ARVO Meeting 


Shah rj, Lim J. Enhanced 

depth imaging optical coherence 

tomography in sickle cell disease. 


2012;53:2645. 

Shahidi M, Mohammad F,Wanek 

J, Lim JI, Zelkha R. Enface outer 

retinal imaging in age-related 

macular degeneration. ARVO 


Shen W, Purpura LA, Nan C, 

Chang I, Ripps H. Regulation 

of synaptic transmission at the 

photoreceptor terminal: A novel role 

for the cation-chloride cotransporter 

NKCC1. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:5267. 

Shukla D,Tiwari V. Non-professional 

phagocytosis can play A role 

in herpesvirus entry into ocular 

cells. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:6161. 

Sivaraman kr, Hou jH, Allemann 

N, De la Cruz J, Cortina MS. 

Retroprosthetic membrane 

thickness and risk of melt in patients 

with type I boston keratoprosthesis. 


2012;53:6068. 

Srinivas S,Tan O, Varma R, Nittala 

MG, Huang D, Sadda SR. Effect 

of quality parameters on validity 

of doppler FDOCT scans. ARVO 


Srivastava SK, Albini TA, Callanan 

D, Goldstein DA, Bena J, Nguyen 

QD. Outcomes of patients treated 

with the fluoconinole acetonide 

implant and standard of care 

therapy for non-infectious uveitis: 

Combined results of three clinical 

trials. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:2250. 

Suhr KS,Warrow D, Rosenthal 

JL, Lee CM, Bhoomibunchoo C, 

Rosen RB, Seiple WH. Structural 

and functional correlation between 

multifocal electroretinography 

and microperimetry in 

hydroxychloroquine toxicity. ARVO 


Sun W, Gangaputra S, Cleary PA, 

Grassi MA, Benz W, Hubbard 

L, Davis MD, Epidemiology 

of Diabetes Interventions and 

Complications (EDIC),. Reliability 

of patient reporting of pan-retinal 

photocoagulation (PRP) compared 

to fundus photograph assessment 

in sixteen years of the epidemiology 

of diabetes interventions and 

complications study (EDIC). ARVO 


Tan O, Zhang X, Varma R, Huang 

D. Peripalliary nerve fiber layer 

and retinal pigment epithelium 

reflectance ratio for glaucoma 

diagnosis. ARVO Meeting 


Teng P,Wanek J, Blair NP, Shahidi 

M. Retinal oxygen extraction 

fraction:The ratio of oxygen 

consumption to delivery. ARVO 


Tu EY, Shoff ME, Joslin CE.The 

effect of low concentrations 

of benzalkonium chloride on 

acanthamoebal survival. ARVO 


Turpcu A, Colman S, Suner IJ, 

Bressler NM, Varma R, Lee 

P, Dolan C,Ward J,yau L.The 

responsiveness of the national 

eye institute visual function 

questionniare-25 (NEI VFQ-25) 

to visual acuity gains in diabetic 

macular edema patients. ARVO 


Turturro SB,ying H, Shen X, Shyam 

R, Yue BY. Mapping of functional 

consequence sites in the human 

optineurin gene. ARVO Meeting 



Vajaranant TS, Hallak JA, Joslin 

CE. Intraocular pressure and ocular 

perfusion pressure among 10-year 

incident glaucoma cases in the agerelated 

eye disease study (AREDS). 


2012;53:6363. 

Varma R, Bressler NM, Doan Q, 

Lee PP, Suner IJ, Danese M, Dolan 

CM,Turpcu A,Ward J, Ehrlich 

JS. Cases of legal blindness and 

visual impairment avoided using 

ranibizumab for diabetic macular 

edema in the united states. ARVO 


Vazquez LE,Torres M,Wu C, 

McKean-Cowdin R, Varma R. Risk 

polymorphism in SERPING1 and 

primary open angle glaucoma:The 

los angeles latino eye study 

(LALES). ARVO Meeting 


Vincent AL, Carroll J, fishman Ga, 

Sharp D, Summerfelt P, Williams 

V, Dubra A, Dubis AM,Wong 

F. Retinal structure and function 

in a pedigree cosegregating 

achromatopsia and a rhodopsin 

mutation. ARVO Meeting 


Wagner EL, Grybauskas A, Burdi 

RA,Walker L, Yue B, Samples 

J, Knepper PA. Naloxone as a 

neuroprotectant in glaucoma: 

Its role in the TLR4 pathway and 

innate immunity. ARVO Meeting 


Wanek J,Teng P, Blair NP, Shahidi 

M. Global inner retinal metabolic 

rate of oxygen during hypoxia in 

rat. ARVO Meeting Abstracts 

2012;53:4990. 

Wang M,Wu S,Wang D,Torres M, 

Hsu C, Azen S, Varma R, Chinese 

American Eye Study. Refractive 

error, ocular biometry, and lens 

opalescence:The chinese american 

eye study. ARVO Meeting 


ying H, Shen X, Yue BY. Alterations 

in the barrier function and cell 

migration in stable RGC5 cell lines 

induced by expression of wild-type 

and mutated myocilin. ARVO 


yue L, Pawlowski M, Bruzik KS, 

Qian H, Pepperberg D. Direct 

activation of GABAA receptors 

of retinal ganglion cells by a 

propofol-based photoisomerizable 

compound. ARVO Meeting 

Abstracts 2012;53:279.

34 SpONSOreD reSeArCh 

SpONSOreD 

reSeArCh 

fEdEraLLY sPonsorEd rEsEarch 

inVeStiGator title SourCe 

kenneth alexander, PhD Visual Dysfunction in Retinal Degenerations National Eye Institute 

Dimitri azar, mD, mBa Metalloproteinase Expression in Corneal Wound National Eye Institute 

Dimitri azar, mD, mBa P30 Core Grant for Vision Research National Eye Institute 

Dimitri azar, mD, mBa UIC K12 Independent Clinical Vision Scientist 

Development Program 

National Eye Institute 

Dingcai Cao, PhD Rod-cone Interactions in Mesopic Vision National Eye Institute 

robert Chang, PhD Inhibition of VEGF Receptor Dimerization and Signaling in 

Corneal Lymphangiogenes 


ali Djalilian, mD Notch Signaling in the Corneal Epithelium National Eye Institute 

jeffrey fortman, DVm Ophthalmic Animal Facility Grant National Center for Research Resources 

michael Grassi, mD Genomic and Genetic Studies of Diabetic Retinopathy National Eye Institute 

Sandeep jain, mD Keratocyte Role in Guidance of Corneal Nerves National Eye Institute 

Charlotte joslin, oD, PhD Local Food Environments and Disparities in Ovarian 

Cancer Survival 

j. jason mcanany, PhD Mechanisms Limiting Visual Performance in 

Retinal Degenerations 

David Pepperberg, PhD Development of Nanoscale Neuromodulating Platforms National Eye Institute 

mahnaz Shahidi, PhD Retinal Image Quality In Retinal-Diseased Eyes National Eye Institute 

mahnaz Shahidi, PhD Noninvasive Imaging of Chorioretinal Oxygen Tension National Eye Institute 

National Institute on Minority Health and Health 

Disparities, Center of Excellence Program 


mahnaz Shahidi, PhD Investigating Optical and Neural Causes of Vision Loss Department of Veterans Affairs 

Deepak Shukla, PhD Molecular Mechanism of HSV Entry and Spread National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 

Deepak Shukla, PhD Significance of Heparan Sulfate in HSV-1 Spread National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 

thasarat Vajaranant, mD The Impact of Gender in Eye Diseases and Glaucoma National Eye Institute Building Interdisciplinary Research 

Careers in Women’s Health Program/ National Institute 

of Child Health and Human Development/ Office of 

Research on Women’s Health 

Beatrice Yue, PhD Cellular Processing of Optineurin, the Product of 

a Glaucoma Gene 

National Eye Institute

foundation sPonsorEd rEsEarch 

inVeStiGator title SourCe 


Vinay aakalu, mD, mPH Lacrimal Stem Cells and Dry Eye Research American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery 

ahmad aref, mD Omega-3 Fatty Acid Nutritional Supplementation in 

the Treatment of Ocular Surface Disease Associated 

with Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Medications 

American Glaucoma Society 

Dimitri azar, mD, mBa Unrestricted Grant to Department Research to Prevent Blindness 

Pablo Barrionuevo, PhD 

(Cao) 

Postdoctoral Fellowship International Brain Research Organization 

Dingcai Cao, PhD Alcohol Effects on Visual Processing in At-Risk Social Drinkers AMBRF The Foundation for Alcohol Research 

Dingcai Cao, PhD Mesopic Visual Function Assessment and Risk Genotypes for 

Age-related Macular Degeneration 

Midwest Eye-Banks 

robert Chang, PhD Differential Binding of Endostatin-derived Peptides and 

VEGF-A, -B, -C and –D Short Peptides to VEGF Receptors 

1, 2 and 3 via SPR in Vitro 


ali Djalilian, mD Career Development Award Research to Prevent Blindness 

michael Grassi, mD Cellular Studies of Apoptosis in RP Using Small Molecule 

Screening and RNA Interference 

Foundation Fighting Blindness 

joelle Hallak (jain) BDNF Polymorphism in Dry Eye Disease and Depression Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness 

Sandeep jain, mD Numerical and Experimental Study of Collagen Cross-linking 

Treatment for Keratoconus 

UIC Chancellor’s Discovery Fund for 

Multidisciplinary Research 

Sandeep jain, mD Reinnervation After Corneal Surgery Eye Bank Association of America 

iris kassem, mD, PhD Fibrin Membrane Formation and Inflammation Knights Templar Eye Foundation 

Paul knepper, mD, PhD Activation of Innate Immune Toll-4 Receptor in POAG American Health Assistance Foundation 

Hsuan Yolanda lu (Cao) Medical Student Fellowship Fight for Sight 

Behrad milani, mD 

(maumenee) 

Gene and Mutation Identification in the Knobloch Syndrome, 

an Entity Combining Neural Tube Defects, Congenital High 

Myopia and Childhood Retinal Detachment 


Paul Park (Shukla) Targeted Therapy for HSV-infected Corneas Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness 

David Pepperberg, PhD Plasmonic Nano-antennas to Enhance Light Sensitivity of 

Retinal Molecular Devices Designed for Vision Restoration 

Doheny Eye Institute/Beckman Initiative for 

Macular Degeneration 

mahnaz Shahidi, PhD Senior Scientific Investigator Award Research to Prevent Blindness 

Deepak Shukla, PhD Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award Research to Prevent Blindness 

Deepak Shukla, PhD Novel Peptides to Understand Herpetic Damage to Human 

Trabecular Meshwork via Actin Rich Nanotubular Structures 

The Glaucoma Foundation 

Sanja turturro, PhD (Yue) Delivery of Active Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 

Using Microparticles 


thasarat Vajaranant, mD Structural Testing in Advanced Glaucoma American Glaucoma Society 

thasarat Vajaranant, mD Mentoring for the Advancement of Physician Scientists American Glaucoma Society 

Hong-Yu Ying (Yue) Identification of miRNAs that Regulate the Expression of 

Myocilin, a Glaucoma Gene 

Xiaohua Zhuang, PhD 

(Cao) 

Novel Psychophysical Assessment of Functional Loss 

in Pre-perimetric Glaucoma 


Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness

36 CLINICAL INveStIgAtIONS AND trIALS 

CLINICAL 

INveStIgAtIONS 

AND trIALS 

ContaCt lenS 

Charlotte Joslin, OD, PhD Corneal Refractive Power Post Refractive Surgery 

Ellen Shorter, OD; C. Joslin Contact Lens Parameters in Keratoconus Patients at UIC, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary 

Ellen Shorter, OD; C. Joslin The Use of Daily Disposable Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lenses in Patients with Dry Eye at the University of Illinois 

Cornea 

Soledad Cortina, MD; E. Shorter Longitudinal Evaluation of Boston Keratoprosthesis 

Soledad Cortina, MD; J. de la Cruz Imaging Techniques for the Management of Patients with Keratoprosthesis 

Jose de la Cruz, MD Safety and Efficacy of the KXL System with Riboflavin 0.1% Ophthalmic Solution for Corneal Collagen-Linking in Eyes with Keratoconus 

Ali Djalilian, MD Changing the Fate of Skin Epithelial Cells Grown on Human Amniotic Membrane 

Sandeep Jain, MD Histopathologic and Immunophenotypic Characteristics of Conjunctival Biopsies in Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease 

Sandeep Jain, MD Presence of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NET) in Dry Eye Disease 

Sandeep Jain, MD Presence of Proteins and Enzymes in Lacrimal Gland 

Sandeep Jain, MD Symptom Analysis of Dry Eye Disease 

Joel Sugar, MD Compassionate Use of the Ophtec 311 Artificial Iris Lens Implant 

Joel Sugar, MD Cornea Donor Study – 10 year follow-up 

Joel Sugar, MD; E. Tu Fuch’s Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Study 

Elmer Tu, MD; S. Cortina Cornea Preservation Time Study 

Elmer Tu, MD Parasitic Ulcer Treatment Trial (Planning Stage) 

Elmer Tu, MD; W. Mieler Results of Cataract Surgery in Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa 

GlauComa 

Thasarat Vajaranant, MD; 

J. Wilensky; M. Lunde 

Comparing the Effectiveness of Treatment Strategies for (Primary) Open-Angle Glaucoma 

Registry in Glaucoma Outcome Research (RiGOR) 

Thasarat Vajaranant, MD Estrogen Deficiency and Risk for Premature Aging of the Optic Nerve and Glaucoma 

Thasarat Vajaranant, MD Structure and Function of the Optic Nerve in Glaucoma 

Jacob Wilensky, MD Clinical Experience with Transscleral Laser Cyclotherapy 

neuro-oPHtHalmoloGY 

Heather Moss, MD, PhD Afferent Visual Function in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 

Heather Moss, MD, PhD A Phase 1-Open-label, Dose Escalation Trial of QPI-1007 Delivered by Single Intravitreal Injection to Patients with Optic Nerve Atrophy 

(Stratum I) and Acute Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) (Stratum II) 

Heather Moss, MD, PhD A Prospective Case-crossover Study to Evaluate the Possible Association Between the Use of PDE5 Inhibitors and the Risk of Acute 

Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION) 

Heather Moss, MD, PhD Prospective Evaluation of Retinal Hemodynamics in Humans With and Without Papilledema 

Heather Moss, MD, PhD Prospective Study to Determine the Proportion of Patients with Isolated Third, Fourth and Sixth Nerve Palsies of Microvascular versus 

Non-Microvascular Etiology 

Heather Moss, MD, PhD Retrospective Evaluation of Optical Coherence Tomographic Imaging of Optic Nerve Head Evaluation 

Red indicates a sponsored clinical trial. Filled rows indicate open patient enrollment.

oCuloPlaStiC SurGerY 

Vinay Aakalu, MD, MPH Lacrimal and Accessory Lacrimal Tissue Gene Expression 

Vinay Aakalu, MD, MPH Ocular Trauma Score and Visual Acuity Outcomes in Ocular Paintball Injuries 

Pete Setabutr, MD Biopsy-Proven Ocular Sarcoidosis: A Descriptive Study 

Pete Setabutr, MD Elemental Peri-Orbital Tissue Gene Expression Analysis 

Pete Setabutr, MD Oculoplastic Considerations in Keratoprosthesis Surgery 

Pete Setabutr, MD Roof Pad Sculpting in Upper Blepharoplasty 

PeDiatriC oPHtHalmoloGY & aDult StraBiSmuS 

Iris Kassem, MD, PhD Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group 

Iris Kassem, MD, PhD Positional Changes in Preoperative Measurements for Pediatric Cataract Surgery 

Irene Maumenee, MD; T. Vajaranant Ocular Manifestations of Connective Tissue Diseases 

Aisha Traish, MD Candidate Gene Screening in Peters’ Anomaly: A Study of Two Pedigrees Combining Dominant Cataracts and Peters’ Anomaly 

retina 


yannek Leiderman, MD, PhD Biomarkers in Proliferative Retinopathies 

yannek Leiderman, MD, PhD Systemic Immunosuppressive Therapy for Eye Diseases Cohort Study 

Jennifer Lim, MD; y. Leiderman; 

F. Chau; L. Ulanski 

A 1-Month, Multicenter, Observational Study to Evaluate the Degree of Ocular Inflammation Associated with Pars Plana Vitrectomy 

Jennifer Lim, MD A Comparative Effectiveness Study of Intravitreal Aflibercept, Bevacizumab and Ranibizumab for Diabetic Macular Edema (Protocol T) 


A Double-Masked, Randomized, Active-Controlled Study of the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Intravitreal Administration of VEGF 


Trap-Eye (Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection [IAI]) in Patients with Macular Edema Secondary to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion 







Effect of Diabetes Education during Retinal Ophthalmology Visits on Diabetes Control (Protocol M) 

An Evaluation of Intravitreal Ranibizumab for Vitreous Hemorrhage Due to Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy (Protocol N) 

Genes in Diabetic Retinopathy Project 

Jennifer Lim, MD Genetics of AMD in African Americans 



Jennifer Lim, MD; L. Ulanski Maculopathy 

Intravitreal Ranibizumab or Triamcinolone Acetonide in Combination with Laser Photocoagulation for Diabetic Macular Edema (Protocol I) 

Jennifer Lim, MD Optical Coherence Tomographical Retinal Thickness Analysis of Sickle Cell Patients 





An Open-Label Study of the Safety and Tolerability of Combining IBI-20089 (Triamcinolone Acetonide Intravitreal Injection) When Used 

Adjunctively with Lucentis® 0.5 mg Intravitreal Injection in Subjects with Subfoveal Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration 

A Randomized, Double Masked, Controlled Phase 3 Study of the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Repeated Intravitreal Administration of 

VEGF Trap-Eye in Subjects with Macular Edema Secondary to Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) 

Jennifer Lim, MD; L. Ulanski Ranibizumab Therapy For Choroidal Neovascularization Associated With Angioid Streaks 

Jennifer Lim, MD A Retrospective Case Series to Assess the Efficacy of Anti-VEGF Therapy in the Treatment of Macular Edema Secondary to 

Retinal Vein Occlusion 

William Mieler, MD Early Detection of Functional Changes Using Microperimetry in Patients with Subclinical Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) Toxicity 

William Mieler, MD Ocular Complications of Vaginal Mesh Implants 

William Mieler, MD Radiation-Induced Maculopathy following Brachytherapy Treatment of Uveal Melanoma 

William Mieler, MD Results of Brachytherapy Treatment of Uveal Melanoma 

Lawrence Ulanski, MD A 3-Year, Phase 3, Multicenter, Masked, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of 700 ug and 30 ug 

Dexamethasone Posterior Segment Drug Delivery System (DEX PS DDS) Applicator System in the Treatment of Patients with 

Diabetic Macular Edema 

Lawrence Ulanski, MD Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2): A Multi-Center, Randomized Trial of Lutein, Zeaxanthin, and Omega-3 Long-Chain 

Polysaturated Fatty Acids Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) in Age-Related Macular Degeneration 

Lawrence Ulanski, MD Home Vision Monitoring in AREDS2 for Progression to Neovascular AMD Using the ForeseeHome Device 

To learn more about any of these investigations and trials, including how to refer patients, please call (312) 996-6591.

38 reSIDeNtS AND feLLOWS 

OphthALMOLOgIStS IN trAININg 

Residents 

THIRD yEAR 

Kelly Bui, MD 

MD—University of Washington 

Joshua Hou, MD 

MD—Washington University, St. Louis 

Sara Huh, MD 

MD—Case Western Reserve University 

Renu Jivrajka, MD 

MD—USC Keck School of Medicine 

Joann Kang, MD 

MD—Columbia University 

Chief Resident 

Erica Oltra, MD 

MD—Penn State College of Medicine 

Chief Resident 

SECOND yEAR FIRST yEAR 

Janet Lim, MD, MBA 

MD—University of California-Irvine 

Randee Miller, MD 

MD—Wayne State University School of Medicine 

Senad Osmanovic, MD 

MD—Northwestern University 

Kevin Patel, MD 

MD—University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago 

Adam Prickett, MD 

MD—Stanford University School of Medicine 

Kavitha Sivaraman, MD 

MD—Washington University, St. Louis 

Michael Andreoli, MD 

MD—Boston University School of Medicine 

Asim Farooq, MD, MPH 

MD—University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago 

Sachin Jain, MD 

MD—University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria 

Bryan Kim, MD 

MD—University of Washington School of Medicine 

Ernest Lee, MD 

MD—Dartmouth Medical School 

Kaitlyn Wallace, MD 

MD—University of Chicago-Pritzker

Clinical Fellows 

Cornea 

Scott Kelly, MD, MPH 

MD—University of Texas HSC 

at Houston 

Cornea 

Samuel Lee, MD 

MD—Loma Linda University 


GlauComa 

Chirag Patel, MD 

MD—Indiana University School 

of Medicine-Indianapolis 

neuro-oPHtHalmoloGY 

Peter MacIntosh, MD 

MD—Chicago Medical School, 

Roslind Franklin University 

oCuloPlaStiC SurGerY 

Rakesh Patel, MD 

MD—Medical Universtiy of 

South Carolina, Charleston 

PeDiatriC 

oPHtHalmoloGY 

Senem Salar, MD 

MD—Hacettepe University 

Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey 

retina 

Clement Chow, MD 

MD—University of Wisconsin 


retina 

Vikram Setlur, MD 

MD—University of Illinois 

College of Medicine-Chicago 

One Vision 2012 39

40 reSIDeNtS AND feLLOWS 

fOrMer 

reSIDeNtS retUrN 

Pediatric Ophthalmology & 

Adult Strabismus Service 

javaneh abbasian, mD, and Genie 

Bang, mD, joined the Pediatric 

ophthalmology & adult Strabismus 

Service as assistant Professors of 

ophthalmology. Both doctors were 

residents from 2008-2011 at the illinois 

eye and ear infirmary, uiC Department 

of ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. 

Javaneh Abbasian, MD, has long 

standing ties to UIC and the Chicago 

area. She earned her BA in Biology 

at Northwestern University and her 

medical degree at UIC’s College of 

Medicine. She served as Chief Resident 

in Ophthalmology from 2010–11. 

She did her pediatric ophthalmology 

fellowship at Children’s Hospital of 

Philadelphia. 

“As a resident, I had the chance to be 

among an excellent group of mentors 

who paved the way for me and will now 

be my colleagues,” says Dr. Abbasian. 

Genie Bang, MD, received her 

medical degree from the University 

of Minnesota Medical School-Twin 

Cities. She holds a BS in Biology from 

Brown University. After completing 

her residency at the Infirmary, she 

moved on to a fellowship in Pediatric 

Ophthalmology & Strabismus at the 

Mayo Clinic. 

“The Infirmary is a great environment 

in which to start my career, and I hope to 

contribute as much as I have received,” 

says Dr. Bang.

Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary Residency Program 

uIC aLUmNI 

Anniversary Classes 2012 

65th anniversary 

resident Class of 1947 

Nathan H. Miller, MD† 

Sidney W. Penn, MD 

James D. Stratton, MD† 

Florence A. Walters, MD 



Frank D. Berry, MD 

George T. Fitzgerald, MD 

Margaret A. Halle, MD 

Clarence L. Hans, MD 

Morton R. Kahn, MD 

Max Kaplan, MD† 

J. Harley Quint Jr., MD 

Taylor Smith, MD 

Dana O. Troyer, MD† 



Robert Azar, MD 

Alina A. Domanskis, MD† 

Edward B. Lazor, MD 

John H. Panton, MD 

Judith V. Perry-Smith, MD 

Karl Ticho, MD 



William M. Adler, MD 

Richard E. Berge, MD 

Curtis Deters, MD 

Anonymous Alumnus 

Daniel C. Alter, MD, PhD 

Brian S. Biesman, MD 

Norbert M. Becker, MD, Res’87 

Bruce Buerk, MD 

Teresa Chen, MD 

Janis I. Dzelzkalns, MD 

Walter J Fried, MD, PhD 

David J. Fuerst, MD 

Frank R. Guastella, MD 

Ronald S. Fishman, MD 

Donald J. Holzberg, MD 

Theodore Lawwill, MD 

Joseph M. Robbins, MD† 

Paul J. Schmidt, MD† 

Richard F. Schwerdt, MD† 

Richard J. Underriner, MD† 



Irineo P. Acacio Jr., MD 

James S. Close, MD 

Bernard Davidorf, MD 

Victor Feldman, MD 

N. Warren Hindle, MD 

Donald J. Kozil, MD 

Michael P. Lipsich, MD 

Mary L. Spitzer, MD 

Charles Vygantas, MD 



yee-Sheng Chiu, MD 

Frank R. Guastella, MD 

John Hattenhauer, MD 

Stephen Herman, MD 

Felipe Huamonte, MD 

Alexandra M. Ilkiw, MD 

John F. Kwinn, MD 

Robert Lennon, MD 

Sally R. Oakes, MD 

yoshitaka Obara, MD 

Paul R. Rice, MD 

Thomas S. Stevens, MD 

Howard Tessler, MD 

Michael B. Woolf, MD 



Alan J. Axelrod, MD 

Krystyna H. Berry, MD 

Robert C. Fletcher, MD 

Walter I. Fried, MD, PhD 

Nayan V. Gandhi, MD 

James L. Green, MD 

Sherwin J. Isenberg, MD 

Harvey K. Minatoya, MD 

Donald R. Sanders, MD 

George J. Witteman, MD 

Shin yoneya, MD 



Daniel B. Feller, MD 

David J. Fuerst, MD 

Edward J. Goldman, MD 

Claudio P. Juarez, MD 

Marc Lieberman, MD 

Michael Lieppman, MD 

John J. McGetrick, MD 

Paul A. Mahlberg, MD 

Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD 

Robert Weinreb, MD 

Bajali K. Gupta, MD 

John M. Hattenhauer, MD 

R. Mark Hatfield, MD 

Sherwin J. Isenberg, MD 

Sukesh Kansal, MD 

Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH 

Janet Lee, MD 

David Lubeck, MD 

Marcus Muallem, MD 

Paul F. Nichols, MD 



Mary P. Collins, MD 

Douglas G. Day, MD 

Janis I. Dzelzkalns, MD 

R. Mark Hatfield, MD 

Cheryl B. Kraff-Cooper, MD 

Paul F. Nichols, MD 

Ann K. Williams, MD 

Douglas P. Williams, MD 



Brian S. Biesman, MD 

SueEllen Colby, MD 

Daniel J. Green, MD 

Balaji K. Gupta, MD 

Michael Janowicz, MD 

Eugene Liu, MD 

Michael E. Mockovak, MD 

Peter K. Rabiah, MD 

Bruce Saran, MD 



Charles Ahn, MD 

Frank Caserta, MD 

Teresa Chen, MD 

Joseph Garber, MD 

Peggy Gramates, MD 

Rachael Greenberg, MD 

Gregory Nelson, MD 

If you wish to make a gift to support resident 

education, please contact the Department at 

(312) 996-6591, email ophgift@uic.edu, or visit 

our website: IllinoisEyeAndEarInfirmary.com 

Ashok Penmatcha, MD 

Daniel Taglia, MD 



Vandana Badlani, MD 

Bruce Buerk, MD 

Faisal Haq, MD 

Sukesh Kansal, MD 

Mona Khan, MD 

Nighat Khan, MD 

Hemang Patel, MD 

Raju Sarwal, MD 

Thao Tran, MD 

Phillip Wu, MD 



Mauricio Chavez, MD 

Manishi Desai, MD 

Jeremy Keenan, MD, MPH 

Janet Lee, MD 

Theodore Lin, MD 

Marcus Muallem, MD 

Names in italics have made 

a donation to support 

resident education. 

†Deceased 

the Department of ophthalmology & Visual Sciences wishes to thank the following individuals for support of resident education in 2012. 

John H. Panton, MD 

Donald R. Sanders, MD 

Raju Sarwal, MD 

Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD 

Donald Smart, MD 

Judith Perry Smith, MD, Res’57 

Ann K. Williams, MD 

Douglas P. Williams, MD 

George J. Witteman, MD 

Wilson Ophthalmics



College of Medicine 

1855 West Taylor Street 

Chicago, IL 60612 

www.IllinoisEyeAndEarInfirmary.com 

upcoming 

symposia 2013 

March 

16–22 Illinois Eye Review 2013 

22 2013 Retina Symposium 

May 

22 2013 Spring Glaucoma Symposium 

June 

21 37th Annual Alumni / Resident Day 

July 

12–14 International Children’s Anophthalmia 

and Microphthalmia Network Annual Meeting 

Hosted by Pediatric Ophthalmology 

& Adult Strabismus 

September 

13–14 2013 Cornea Symposium 

21 Pediatric Ophthalmology for 

the Non-Ophthalmologist 

October 

2 3rd Biennial Neuro-Ophthalmology 

Symposium

View Annual Report 2012 - University of Illinois College of Medicine ...

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