Cataracts are one of the most common causes of vision impairment, especially among older adults, affecting millions worldwide. By learning about what cataracts are, how they develop, and the warning signs to look out for, you can take important steps to protect your sight. What are Cataracts Cataracts occur when the natural lens of your […]
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 […]
If you’re tired of the hassle of contact lenses and want the freedom to see clearly from the moment you wake up, you’re not alone. In this video, St. Louis LASIK surgeon Dr. Stephen Wexler explains why LASIK may be a safer, more convenient long-term solution for many patients. Here, he compares LASIK surgery vs. […]
Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor and vice chair of innovation and translation in the John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the 2025 Retina Research Foundation’s Gertrude D. Pyron Award. The honor recognizes a vision scientist whose work […]
St. Louis, MO — May 30, 2025 — The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine proudly announces the winners of the 2025 Winston Fellow Competition. This annual event showcases outstanding research contributions from postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the award recipients. Winners […]
On Saturday morning, our faculty and residents traded scrubs for sneakers and gathered at Tower Grove Park for the 2025 Faculty vs Residents Kickball Showdown! The annual game brought out the competitive spirit in the best way, as colleagues turned teammates battled it out for bragging rights and the championship title. Faculty & Fellows Line-Up […]
ST. LOUIS, MO — May 27, 2025 — WashU Medicine Ophthalmology and Visual Science’s Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor and Vice Chair of Innovation and Translation, has been named the 2025 Snell Memorial Lecturer at the University of Rochester’s Flaum Eye Institute. Apte delivered his keynote address on May 23, […]
St. Louis, MO — May 23, 2025—WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences is proud to announce that Andrew Lee, MD, Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Director of Medical Student Education for Ophthalmology, graduated from the first cohort of WashU Medicine’s Pivotal Leaders Program for Division Chiefs and Section Heads. This […]
ST. LOUIS, MO — May 23, 2025 — The Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER) has awarded a prestigious Research Fellowship Grant to Mitsukuni Yoshida, MD, PhD, a research fellow in the Apte Lab and a physician-scientist in the Academic Scholar Advancement Program (ASAP) in the Department of Anesthesiology. The funded project, titled “The […]
This Research Insight covers a collaborative study pioneered by the Yoshimatsu Lab, which elucidates a rod photoreceptor-driven pathway in the zebrafish retina that supports dim-light vision and is shared across species. Whereas the rod pathway has been speculated to be unique to the mammalian retina, this study presents the first converging evidence that a homologous […]
Every May, Healthy Vision Month serves as a national reminder of how essential it is to care for our eyes — not just when problems arise, but every single day. In 2025, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends everyone take simple, proactive steps to safeguard their vision and reduce their risk of eye disease. […]
Now accepting applications for the Interdisciplinary Training in Vision Science (ITVS) Pathway What is the ITVS Pathway? The Interdisciplinary Training in Vision Science (ITVS) Pathway is a 2-year training program that is layered above traditional PhD programs to continue to combine theory and practice, build professional skills, and expand mentoring opportunities into years 3 and […]
The John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences (DOVS) at WashU Medicine is proud to announce that two medical students from the Apte Lab have received prestigious awards recognizing their outstanding research in vision science. Wilson Wang, a talented medical student researcher, has been awarded the Max & Evelyn Grand and Robert Carter […]
From May 4–8, 2025, Salt Lake City, Utah, hosted the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, the premier international forum for the exchange of cutting-edge research and ideas in the field of eye and vision science. This year’s theme, “i3: Imagining Innovation and Intelligence in Vision Science,” emphasized the transformative impact […]
This Research Insight covers a publication from the Kerschensteiner Lab. Here, we highlight how Michael Fitzpatrick, PhD and colleagues uncovered a new pupil response in the mouse, disentangled the neural pathway in the retina that drives it, and discovered that it is also present in humans. These findings shed new light on strategies the visual […]
WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences hosted the 36th Annual Ophthalmology Spring Update on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Connor Auditorium in the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center on the Medical School Campus. This year’s event brought together distinguished leaders in ophthalmology […]
In April 2025, Todd P. Margolis, MD, PhD, Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor and Chairman, delivered lectures at two academic medical institutions, sharing his clinical and research insights on ocular diseases, such as, ocular surface disease, viral uveitis, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. University of Colorado Department of Ophthalmology – April […]
When it comes to laser vision correction, LASIK is often the star of the show. But there’s another safe, effective option you should know about—PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy). At WashU Medicine LASIK Surgery Center, we’re not here to upsell one procedure over another. We’re here to help you choose the safest and most successful option for […]
ST. LOUIS, MO – April 25, 2025 —WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences proudly announces that Sharon Sabapathypillai, MD, MS has been selected as one of the 2025 – 2026 Heed Ophthalmic Fellows. Dr. Sabapathypillai, currently a resident physician at WashU Medicine and incoming glaucoma fellow in the Department […]
The 2025 ARVO Annual Meeting is the premier international forum for the exchange of cutting-edge research and ideas in the field of eye and vision science. Each year, thousands of scientists, clinicians, trainees, and professionals from affiliated disciplines convene to share their latest findings, foster collaborations, and shape the future of vision research. In 2025, […]