Faculty from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences will present at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting, October 17–20, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. The AAO Annual Meeting is the world’s largest gathering of ophthalmologists, bringing together leading experts to share new research, clinical techniques, and innovations […]
Study identifies critical role of epigenetic regulation in rod photoreceptor specification Ismael Hernández-Núñez, PhD, researcher in the Clark lab at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, and his laboratory recently published “Active DNA demethylation upstream of rod-photoreceptor fate determination is required for retinal development”. The study uncovers how changes […]
St. Louis, MO – September 10, 2025 – WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is spotlighting advances in corneal regeneration, offering new hope for patients living with vision impairment due to corneal scars and opacities. Corneal scars and opacities—often caused by trauma, infection, or chemical injury—are a leading cause […]
We are excited to announce that Takeshi Yoshimatsu, PhD has received his first R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)! This prestigious five-year grant, which began on July 1, 2025, will support groundbreaking research titled: “Visual Feature Competition Between Central and Peripheral Retinal Pathways.” Why This Research Matters “Eye fixation is a critical […]
Autophagy Regulates Müller Glial Cell Inflammatory Activation A new study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science highlights the critical role of autophagy—the body’s process of recycling proteins—in regulating inflammation within the retina. The research, led by Thomas Ferguson, PhD, and Philip Ruzycki, PhD, from the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual […]
One of the most common questions we hear from patients considering LASIK is: “Will I still need reading glasses afterward?” Stephen Wexler, MD, LASIK surgeon at WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center, explains that the answer depends largely on your age and your vision goals. Under 40: Freedom From Glasses If you’re under 40 and choose […]
St. Louis, MO — August 27, 2025 — Researchers at the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences in collaboration with the Department of Neurology have published new findings on the effects of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulation on the human retina. The study, led by the Apte Lab and published […]
St. Louis, MO – August 26, 2025 – John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine is proud to announce that Margret Reynolds, MD, has been awarded a highly competitive K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This award supports early-career clinician-scientists who […]
The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine welcomes Alexander Lyss, OD, to the clinical team. Lyss brings a unique background and a strong commitment to patient-centered eye care. Before pursuing optometry, Lyss worked as a chemist—but soon realized he wanted a career that allowed him to connect more […]
We’re excited to share a new publication from Josh Morgan, PhD, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, titled “Alternative to the statistical mass confusion of testing for ‘no effect’”, published in the July 2025 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology. Morgan’s work challenges the traditional reliance on P values to determine whether an effect exists. While P […]
AUGUST 2025 – ST. LOUIS, MO — Brian Clark, PhD Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and colleagues have published a new study titled “Single-cell transcriptomics of ventral forebrain progenitors identifies Evf2 enhancer lncRNA–enhancer gene guidance through direct RNA binding and RNP recruitment domains”. This work provides new insights into how long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) […]
Uveitis might sound like a rare eye condition, but it affects thousands of people each year—causing discomfort, vision problems, and concern for long-term eye health. If you’ve recently been diagnosed or are supporting a loved one with uveitis, here’s what you need to know about the condition, its causes, treatment options, and why there’s real […]
July isn’t just summer vacation—it’s also Children’s Eye Health & Safety Month! At WashU Medicine’s John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, we’re highlighting the crucial role of sunshine and outdoor play in promoting healthy vision, particularly in preventing nearsightedness (myopia). Here’s a deep dive into the latest insights from the American […]
A Novel Insight Into Eye Immunity and Circadian Biology Charles Pfeifer, PhD, a former graduate student and postdoctoral researcher, Andrea Santeford, MS, supervisor in the Apte Lab at WashU Medicine, and Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, have published a landmark study in the journal Glia. The paper, […]
WashU Medicine’s John F. Hardesty Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences proudly celebrated the achievements of its outstanding students, residents, fellows, and faculty during the 2025 Graduation Awards Ceremony, held on Saturday, June 21. Hosted by Department Chair Todd Margolis, MD, PhD, the ceremony highlighted the academic and clinical accomplishments of the Class of 2025, […]
Click below to hear Eric Polk, OD from WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center explain why sleeping in your contacts can affect your LASIK candidacy: Why It Matters: Contacts, Sleep, and LASIK Risks Raise your hand if you’ve ever accidentally fallen asleep in your contacts. You’re definitely not alone! But as Eric Polk, OD explains in […]
Introducing the Chief of Ophthalmic Trauma, Residents and Fellows
Groundbreaking Advances in Imaging Technologies and Machine Learning to Reanalyze OHTS Data | Leveraging Modern Techniques to Enhance Glaucoma Risk Assessment July 2, 2025 – St. Louis, MO: A new publication in JAMA Ophthalmology led by James C. Liu, MD, glaucoma specialist at WashU Medicine, highlights the transformative potential of deep learning and artificial intelligence […]
We are excited to share some fantastic news: the Department of Ophthalmology residents have been named the 2025 recipients of the Friend of the ED Award! Each year, Emergency Medicine (EM) residents vote on the specialty that has gone above and beyond in supporting their training. This award recognizes excellence in collaboration, education, and clinical […]
ST. LOUIS, MO — June 9, 2025 — We are proud to announce that 21 physicians from the John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine have been recognized as 2025 Castle Connolly Top Doctors! This prestigious distinction is awarded to physicians who are nominated by their peers and rigorously vetted […]