Glaucoma
Donald L. Budenz, MD, MPH, is a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist and the Kittner Family Distinguished Professor and Chair of the University of North Carolina Department of Ophthalmology. His practice centers on the diagnosis, treatment and management of glaucoma, including surgery for glaucoma and cataract patients.
Dr. Budenz has been the principal investigator in numerous clinical trials including the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. Concurrent with his research, Dr. Budenz has been published widely in the field of glaucoma and authored the textbook, Atlas of Visual Fields.
He has also contributed chapters to several medical books, is an editorial reviewer for numerous medical journals, and is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Glaucoma. He has written or coauthored more than 200 peer reviewed journal articles.
Dr. Budenz provides consultative eye care to adult glaucoma and cataract patients. He sees patients at Kittner Eye Center in Chapel Hill and at Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro. He performs surgery at UNC Hillsborough Hospital and Person Memorial Hospital in Roxboro.
David Fleischman, MD, FACS, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist whose focus is on the management of glaucoma and cataracts. Dr. Fleischman specializes in treating glaucoma through medical, laser, surgical and micro-invasive approaches. He also treats routine and complex cataracts and ocular trauma.
His research interests include the mechanisms of glaucoma pathogenesis; the role of cerebrospinal fluid pressure in glaucoma and other ophthalmic diseases; and outcome measures of techniques in glaucoma surgery; and cataracts and ocular trauma. He has authored numerous book chapters and has written or co-authored more than 25 peer reviewed journal articles.
Dr. Fleischman is fluent in English and Spanish. He sees patients at the Kittner Eye Center, Holly Springs and Pittsboro. He performs surgery at UNC Hospitals Hillsborough and UNC Chatham Hospital.
Meredith R. Klifto, MD is a native of Oakdale, New York. She graduated from The New York University School of Medicine in 2013 and completed her ophthalmology residency at NYU. While a medical student, she volunteered at the NYC Free Clinic and the Harm Reduction Alliance, both at NYU.
Dr. Klifto completed her fellowship in glaucoma at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019. She has numerous publications, abstracts and presentations in retina disease and glaucoma. Her clinical interests include glaucoma treatment by medical, laser and surgical means including trabeculectomy, tube shunt, minimally-invasive surgery, cataracts, ocular trauma and pediatric glaucoma. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Phi Beta Kappa.
Dr. Klifto enjoys snow skiing, golf, boating and running. In college, she was a member of the NCAA Division I Crew Team at Colgate University and was a member of the women’s soccer team at Manchester University in Manchester, England, in 2007. Dr. Klifto lives locally with her husband, an orthopedic hand surgeon, and three daughters.
Rodolfo Bonatti, MD, has extensive academia and private practice experience and expertise in treating adult and pediatric glaucoma, as well as other areas, including cataract surgery and ocular trauma. He enjoys exploring tailored treatment options with patients and offers care in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. His glaucoma proficiency extends to medical and surgical glaucoma interventions, including laser procedures, trabeculectomy, tube shunts, and minimally invasive surgeries.
Dr. Bonatti completed his Glaucoma fellowship (2022-2023) at Dalhousie University Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences in Nova Scotia, Canada. Prior to glaucoma subspecialization, he trained as an Ophthalmology resident (2017-2020) and an Oculoplastic fellow (2019-2021) at Hospital das Clinicas of the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Dr. Bonatti offers outpatient glaucoma and cataracts specialized care at UNC Kittner Eye Center and UNC Holly Springs Ophthalmology office. He offers procedural care at UNC Hospitals Hillsborough and UNC Holly Springs Hospitals.