News

As a UNC freshman, Nicholas Ilgandi was a familiar face around UNC Kittner Eye Center. By graduation, the well-liked, motivated undergraduate’s primary role within the department had expanded to assisting a wide range of faculty-led clinical studies serving as a Clinical Research Assistant.  Nicholas is now a first-year medical student...

Advanced-age adults who face increased odds of developing a degenerative eye disease frequently narrow their worries to conditions that are most in the spotlight and/or prevalent, such as the world’s two leading causes of blindness — cataract and glaucoma. Lost in this mix among senior Americans is adequate awareness of...

A UNC Ophthalmology faculty-mentored, resident-led study published in the December 2022 Journal of Glaucoma assessed how well glaucomatous changes detected to the optic disc, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) parameters agree among them in pre-perimetric and early perimetric glaucoma, based on optical coherence tomography...

An adult who faithfully visits his PCP for annual well-checks shows no signs of mid-life worsening vision and falls short of scheduling a first-time comprehensive eye exam in his 40s. At age 50, he is diagnosed with glaucoma at an overdue screening, 10 years past the recommended age. The asymptomatic...

UNC Ophthalmology congratulates Department Chair and Kittner Family Distinguished Professor Donald L. Budenz, MD, MPH, for receiving the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)’s 2022 Life Achievement Honor Award. Among eight highly achieved ophthalmologists worldwide, Dr. Budenz was awarded this career honor at a ceremony held at the AAO’s Annual Meeting...

  African American glaucoma patients who report medication non-adherence* and are exposed before clinic visits to the importance of question-asking during appointments are significantly more likely to inquire about their condition than those who do not receive pre-visit prompts. In a study published in the September/October 2022 Ophthalmology Glaucoma (Vol. 5/Issue...

For the aging American population, a first-time, dilated ophthalmic exam to screen for and treat eye diseases early on that are related to gradually worsening eyesight is important. For the 30 million Americans living with diabetes, the need for a comprehensive eye exam yearly is critical. Approximately one-third of Americans...

UNC Department of Ophthalmology is pleased to welcome Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Sinthu Ranjan, MD, as the newest Department’s clinical faculty member. Dr. Ranjan specializes in corneal transplantation via procedural approaches including Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK), Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK), and Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK). Her ophthalmic expertise...

Patients with open globe injuries experience best visual acuity outcomes when ophthalmologists can perform rapid surgical closure within 24 hours of injury. A UNC Department of Ophthalmology faculty and a team comprised of two medical students and an ophthalmology resident has found that rapid surgical closure of open globe injuries...

Accept only wrapped candy trick-or-treating. Stick with friends in well-lit areas close to home. Don’t enter any houses going door to door. You’ve covered the precautions with your older kids as a responsible parent. As a grown child at heart who also loves Halloween, you smile that it’s your turn...

“Aging” can be a nebulous term. Entering their 40s, many adults are unaware that in this mid-life* decade, gradually declining health is linked to diminishing whole-body function and risk of developing chronic disease. Just as sun-damaged skin shows the effects of aging on integumentary health, the decreasing capacity to focus...

UNC Department of Ophthalmology welcomes Jon Brisley, MD, our newest Comprehensive Ophthalmologist. Dr. Brisley provides comprehensive clinical eye care at UNC Kittner Eye Center in Chapel Hill and at UNC Eye Holly Springs.  Dr. Brisley is a dyed-in-the-wool Tar Heel, returning to the institution he attended as an undergraduate and...