Training Programs that Generate Leaders
Trainees benefit from strong mentorship and exposure to all subspecialties.

Our Research:
Bold and Broad
One of the nation’s largest ophthalmology & visual sciences research faculty drives innovation across the field through a highly multidisciplinary approach.
Sub-specialty and comprehensive care
for a diverse population
9,000+ procedures a year
11,000+ surgeries a year
165,000+ patient visits a year
Nationally ranked hospital partners:
Innovative Clinical Trials for Advanced Eye Care
Driving progress in vision science with groundbreaking research studies.

Latest News
WashU Medicine Shines at NANOS 2025
St. Louis, MO — March 31, 2025 — WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences had a remarkable showing at the 2025 North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS) Annual Meeting in Tucson, AZ. NANOS, a leading organization dedicated to advancing knowledge, research, and training in neuro-ophthalmology, brings together experts from around […]
WashU Medicine Study Highlights Most Effective Treatments for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
St. Louis, MO — April 1, 2025 —Researchers from WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences have identified the most effective treatments for chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR), a condition that can cause blurry vision and vision loss. The study, led by Henok Getahun and Dr. Rajendra Apte, reviewed the […]
Lee Named New Head of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (Links to an external site)
Aaron Y. Lee, MD, a physician-scientist at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence (AI) to ophthalmology research and patient care, has been named the head of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Arthur W. Stickle Distinguished Professor in Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. His appointment begins […]
The Role of Direction-Selective Signaling in Predation
This Research Insight covers a recent publication from the Kerschensteiner Lab. Here, we highlight how Jenna Krizan, PhD and colleagues added clarity to an ongoing debate about the origin of direction-selective signaling in the brain and explored its role in the predatory behaviors of the mouse. In their recent paper published in PNAS, scientists in […]
WashU Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology Recognized for Clinical Excellence with Dr. Philip Custer’s Prestigious Award
St. Louis, MO – March 21, 2025 – The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology is honored to celebrate Philip Custer, MD, FACS recipient of the 2025 Dr. Neville Grant Award for Clinical Excellence. This prestigious award recognizes an attending physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital who exemplifies superior clinical care, outstanding compassion, respect […]
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