Welcome Sanjana Shashidhar, OD

WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences welcomes Sanjana Shashidhar, OD, to the pediatric optometry team. Shashidhar brings a rich background, diverse clinical interests, and a wealth of experience and dedication to patient care. Shashidhar’s areas of clinical interest include: For Shashidhar, the most rewarding aspect of working with patients is […]

Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of vision problems caused by diabetes, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts, and glaucoma. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, people living with diabetes face a higher risk of developing serious eye diseases, including diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts. However, recent studies show that awareness of […]

Free Eye Service provides vision screenings at First Ladies of St. Louis Health Empowerment Event

WashU Medicine’s student-run mobile eye clinic joined community partners to offer free vision screenings at an event attended by more than 800 people Volunteers from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences’ Free Eye Service participated in the Fifth Annual First Ladies of St. Louis Health Empowerment Event last […]

Wang and Apte receive Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital grant

Funding supports study using optical coherence tomography angiography to predict risk for preeclampsia Wilson Wang, MD and Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, have received a $139,150 grant from the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital. This grant is in support of their project […]

Faculty and Staff share expertise at national ophthalmic conferences

Faculty and ophthalmic personnel represented WashU Medicine at the AAO and ACE meetings in Orlando, sharing insights and advancing clinical education Faculty, trainees and allied health professionals from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences attended the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and Allied Health/ACE conferences in Orlando, Florida, […]

2025 Trunk or Treat at the St. Louis Children’s Specialized Care Center

Nearly 1,000 attendees enjoyed creative costumes, candy and community at this year’s event The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences joined other departments at the St. Louis Children’s Specialized Care Center (CSCC) this past weekend for a successful Trunk or Treat event! Despite strong winds, the turnout was outstanding […]

OD residents present research at Academy of Optometry meeting

WashU Medicine Ophthalmology residents shared clinical case studies highlighting innovation in vision care and patient outcomes Two optometry residents from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences presented research posters at the 2025 American Academy of Optometry annual meeting, showcasing their clinical expertise and contributions to advancing patient care. […]

Ophthalmology team hosts annual Beep Ball game

In partnership with MindsEye, WashU Medicine Ophthalmology promotes inclusion and awareness through accessible sports The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences partnered with MindsEye to host its annual Beep Ball game on Saturday, October 11, 2025 in Forest Park, bringing together faculty, trainees, staff and patients for a day of friendly […]

Ray-Tracing Technology: The Future of LASIK Arrives in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO — October 13, 2025 — The WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center is proud to announce the arrival of  Wavelight® Plus Ray-Tracing Technology, a breakthrough in vision correction now available for qualifying patients following recent FDA approval. Unlike traditional LASIK methods, which rely on averaged measurements,  Wavelight® Plus Ray-Tracing builds a personalized model of each […]

Cayouette delivers 2025 Beebe Lecture on retinal development and regeneration

Michel Cayouette, PhD, presents during the 8th Annual David C. Beebe Lectureship in Vision Science On October 2, 2025, the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences hosted the 8th Annual David C. Beebe Lectureship as part of the Vision Science Seminar series. This year’s distinguished speaker, Michel Cayouette, PhD, delivered a […]

Vision Science Research Retreat 2025 celebrates innovation, collaboration and discovery

Faculty, trainees and staff gathered for the annual retreat featuring poster sessions, food trucks and research awards The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences hosted the 2025 Vision Science Research Retreat on Friday, October 3, bringing together faculty, trainees and staff for a day celebrating innovation and collaboration in vision research. […]

Ophthalmic Personnel Update XX brings 50+ attendees for engaging day of learning

Seminar sponsored by WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences featured expert talks and continuing education opportunities for ophthalmic personnel More than 50 ophthalmic personnel from WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and community practices across the St. Louis region gathered for the 2025 […]

Lee returns to WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences to advance research and care in ophthalmology

Recognized for expertise in retinal diseases and innovative research on brain and systemic health links Cecilia Lee, MD, MS, will join the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. Lee, a specialist in medical retina and cataract surgery, is a leading investigator in big data and AI applications in ophthalmology, […]

Distinct cell types exhibit innate resilience in the retina post-injury

This Research Insight covers a publication from the Williams Lab. Here, we highlight how Allison Hall and colleagues unveiled the cellular identity of a retinal ganglion cell that innately survives well following injury to the optic nerve. They further explored cellular factors that could help explain the resilience of these cells to offer insights into […]

Why Fall is the Perfect Season for LASIK Surgery

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, many of us prepare for the cooler months by updating our wardrobes, switching up our skincare routines, and getting cozy. But have you considered that fall might be the perfect time to invest in your vision? LASIK surgery is a life-changing procedure that can […]

Shui accepts award on behalf of WashU Medicine Eye Center volunteers

Honored for ongoing service with Health Protection & Education Services at University City Library Ying-Bo Shui, MD, PhD, Senior Scientist at WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, accepted an award in September on behalf of colleagues and trainees from the WashU Eye Centers. The recognition, presented at the Health […]

John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Celebrates Completion of Modern Research Space

28,000-square-foot renovation brings teams together to drive the future of ophthalmology St. Louis, MO — September 25, 2025 — The WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences has officially opened its state-of-the-art vision research hub on the 9th floor of the McDonnell Medical Sciences Building (MMSB). The milestone was celebrated […]

Mutations to CRX alter DNA binding to drive multiple inherited retinopathies

This Research Insight covers a study from the Chen Lab. Here, we highlight a proposed model for retinal degeneration based on binding activity of the Cone-Rod Homeobox transcription factor, CRX.  In this study published in eLife, researchers in the lab of Shiming Chen, PhD, Dr. Bernard and Janet R. Becker Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at […]

Lee and Team Named Finalists in NIH S-Index Challenge

NIH S-Index Challenge

Aaron Y. Lee, MD, MSCI, and team named Phase 1 finalists in the NIH S-Index Challenge for developing a novel metric to reward high-quality data sharing. St. Louis, MO — September 16, 2025 — We are excited to share that Aaron Y. Lee, MD, MSCI, Arthur W. Stickle Distinguished Professor and Chairman of the WashU Medicine […]

Faculty to Present at the 2025 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Annual Meeting

AAO 2025

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 […]