Professor of Ophthalmology
Vice Chair of Quality
Cornea Fellowship Program Director
Specialties
Corneal disease and keratoplasty
Cataract surgery including complex cases
Refractive surgery including femtosecond laser-assisted surgery
Ocular surface and stem cell transplantation
Education
Medical School
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Residency
Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Fellowships
Cornea Surgery (Tehran University of Medical Sciences)
Clinical & Research: Ocular Regenerative Medicine and Ocular Surface (University of IL – Chicago)
Dr. Mohammad Soleimani is a distinguished ophthalmologist and cornea subspecialist with extensive experience in patient care, clinical and translational research, and education. He earned his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where he also completed his residency in ophthalmology and a fellowship in cornea. Dr. Soleimani further advanced his expertise with research and clinical fellowships in Ocular Surface and Ocular Regenerative Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Soleimani has held various academic positions, with more than 15 years’ experience in ophthalmology and Cornea diseases, he joined the University of North Carolina’s Kittner Eye Center in 2024 as a Professor of Ophthalmology. His field of clinical experience includes keratoplasties, advanced techniques of cataract surgery and femtosecond laser assisted surgery, ocular surface and stem cell transplantation, and refractive surgery. His clinical experience also encompasses infectious keratitis, ocular trauma, and anterior segment reconstruction.
His research interests are diverse, including ocular trauma, infectious keratitis, and most importantly the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology. Dr. Soleimani has published more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals, including The Ocular Surface and the Journal of Current Ophthalmology. He is currently leading an international collaboration in application of AI in ophthalmology.
Dr. Soleimani is actively involved in mentoring and teaching, having trained over 120 undergraduate and medical students and more than 140 residents and fellows as well as his leadership roles. He is currently program director of Cornea, anterior segment, and refractive surgery fellowship at University of North Carolina.
He is a member of multiple scientific associations, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. Dr. Soleimani’s contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous awards and grants.
Dr. Soleimani’s dedication to advancing ophthalmology through clinical excellence, innovative research, and education makes him a valuable asset to the Kittner Eye Institute and the broader medical community.
Dr. Soleimani enjoys engaging in charity work, especially focused on decreasing health disparities. He enjoys spending time with his wife who is a psychiatrist, and their son. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Soleimani, please call the UNC Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020.
