Corneal & External Eye Disease
The University of North Carolina Department of Ophthalmology staffs two American Board of Ophthalmology board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologists who specialize in medical and surgical management of injuries, allergies, inflammation, dry eye disease (DED), dystrophies and other conditions that harm the clear outer layer at the front of the eye — the cornea. UNC Eye’s two eye specialists treat patients for a wide range of corneal and external ocular conditions, including complex anterior segment reconstruction, various keratoplasty techniques, corneal implants, and ocular surface surgeries. offers corneal disease consultative and diagnostic services at UNC Kittner Eye Center in Chapel Hill. Our two corneal disease surgically treat patients at UNC Hospitals Hillsborough campus.
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Sinthu Ranjan, MD, focuses on clinical and surgical diagnosis and management of corneal disease that provides high quality, personalized care for every patient she treats. Dr. Ranjan procedural expertise in corneal transplantation, includes PK, DSEK, and DMEK. Her surgical practice additionally includes routine and complex cataract surgery, intraocular lens exchange, and complex anterior segment surgery. Dr. Ranjan’s research interests are focused on the advancement of patient outcomes in corneal disease. Her primary interest is in quality improvements for corneal transplantation, with secondary interests in infectious keratitis.
Professor of Ophthalmology and Cornea Fellowship Program Director Mohammad Soleimani, MD, FICO, has a wide range of expertise in treating ocular disease, primarily focused on corneal disease, but also including (but not limited to) infectious keratitis, ocular trauma, and anterior segment reconstruction. Dr. Soleimani’s field of clinical experience includes keratoplasties, advanced cataract surgery, femtosecond laser-assisted surgery, ocular surface and stem cell transplantation, and refractive surgery. His research interests are diverse, including ocular trauma, infectious keratitis, and most importantly the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology.
Contact UNC Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020 to learn more about corneal disease patient care offered by UNC Ophthalmology and to schedule a consultation. To learn more about conditions that affect the cornea and cause various types of corneal disease, visit the NIH National Eye Institute (NEI)’s At a Glance: Corneal Conditions page.
To learn more about the importance of the cornea in eyesight and focus, watch the below American Academy of Ophthalmology video.