UNC Department of Ophthalmology is pleased to welcome Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Rodolfo Bonatti, MD, to our Glaucoma division! Dr. Bonatti 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 … Read more

Aging adults who face increased odds of developing a degenerative eye disease often narrow their eye health focus to watching for signs of the world’s two leading causes of blindness – cataract and glaucoma.  Lost in the messaging mix among seniors across the U.S. is adequate awareness of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause … Read more

UNC Department of Ophthalmology is pleased to welcome Professor of Ophthalmology Gabriella Szatmáry, MD, PhD, to our Neuro-Ophthalmology division!  Dr. Szatmary brings to our department and the institution a wealth of cross-disciplinary experience that includes direct teaching and conference presentations in Ophthalmology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuroradiology and Neuro-Ophthalmology. She is widely published in neurology and neuro-ophthalmology, … Read more

Join UNC Department of Ophthalmology on Saturday, April 13th, 2024, for our annual UNC Eye Symposium at the William & Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education. This conference is designed for Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Ophthalmic Technicians, and Photographers to hear the latest evidence-based diagnostic and medical/surgical approaches to comprehensive eye care and treating ocular disorders and disease. Technician registration is now open, with physician (MD, OD) registration coming soon. 

An adult who faithfully visits his PCP for well-check exams 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 for first-time exams. The asymptomatic patient is … Read more

UNC Department of Ophthalmology would like to congratulate Han lab team member and UNC School of Medicine (SOM) second-year student (M2) Mary Kaufmann for winning Best Poster at two forums in mid-November, for posters overviewing several major laboratory studies led by Associate Professor Zongchao Han, PhD. At the Association of Women Surgeons (AWS) Conference, Kaufmann’s … Read more

In December, even the most cautious of individuals can be affected by increased incidence of blunt force ocular trauma when year-end merry-making leads to careless behavior in adults and children alike. In a month loaded with gift-giving holidays and celebratory occasions, individuals are at risk of eye injuries in the path of high-speed shooting projectiles … Read more

Two UNC Department of Ophthalmology clinical faculty — Corneal Disease and Corneal Surgery specialist Hussam Banna, MD, and Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery specialist Daniel Rubinstein, MD — joined UNC Facial Nerve Center Director Matthew Miller, MD (Department of Otolaryngology) to perform the first corneal neurotization at UNC in October 2023. The procedure is a … Read more

Approximately one-third of Americans with diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, or gestational) can develop diabetic retinopathy, a progression of the disease caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults, and left undiagnosed and untreated, this complication can cause vision loss … Read more

* Over five+ years at UNC, Ophthalmology Assistant Professor of Research Hua Mei, PhD, has brought wet lab capacity a step closer to fostering translational treatment of corneal and anterior segment diseases. Her laboratory’s translational framework is leading the way in developing the first FDA-approved, anti-fibrotic drug therapy to treat and prevent injury-induced corneal scarring, … Read more

UNC Ophthalmology congratulates Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Residency Program Director Alice Zhang, MD, for her selection as the 2023 Real World Ophthalmology (RWO) Exceptional Leadership Award recipient. Created by an early-career ophthalmologist, Real World Ophthalmology (RWO) serves a wide network of ophthalmologists who are in early-stage medical practice. Both virtually and at specialty-dedicated events, … Read more

Every October, World Blindness Awareness Month brings a heightened focus to the blind and visually impaired community and the realities of living without sight. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “everyone, if they live long enough, will experience at least one eye disease or disorder in their lifetime.” Two globally recognized blindness outreach organizations … Read more