Carla and Mildred Reeves Foundation Awards $40,000 Grant to Dr. Rajendra S. Apte for Groundbreaking Research in Retinal Neurodegeneration

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Carla and Mildred Reeves Foundation Awards $40,000 Grant to Dr. Rajendra S. Apte for Groundbreaking Research in Retinal Neurodegeneration St. Louis, MO – The Carla and Mildred Reeves Foundation has awarded a $40,000 grant to Rajendra S. Apte, MD, PhD, the Paul Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Washington University School of […]

Honoring the Legacy of Morton E. Smith, MD

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Morton E. Smith Professorship

The John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at WashU Medicine invites you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary career and enduring impact of Morton E. Smith, MD. Dr. Smith, Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences and Associate Dean Emeritus, continues to inspire as a living legend in the field […]

Drs. Ruzycki and Clark Awarded Research Grant from the Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation

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Drs. Ruzycki and Clark Awarded Nine-Month Research Grant from the Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation ST. LOUIS, MO – November 11, 2024 — The Carl Marshall & Mildred Almen Reeves Foundation has awarded a nine-month research grant to Philip Ruzycki, PhD and Brian Clark, PhD, supporting their groundbreaking project titled “Epigenetic Changes in […]

Can You Get PRK After Cataract Surgery? A Guide to Vision Correction Options

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Cataract surgery is a highly effective way to restore clear vision after development of a cataract, but some patients still experience refractive errors after surgery, like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. If you’ve had cataract surgery but still find yourself needing glasses or contacts, you may be wondering if LASIK or PRK is an option to […]

WashU Medicine Researcher Awarded Grant to Study Aging Immune System’s Role in Uveitis

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Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD

WashU Medicine’s Dr. Rajendra Apte receives $35,000 research grant award from the Macula Society to study the impact of the aging immune system on uveitis-related vision loss, aiming to discover targeted treatments for older patients. ST. LOUIS, MO – November 4, 2024 – Dr. Rajendra S. Apte, the Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology […]

AVA-Net: A Tool for Identifying Arteries and Veins in Eye Scans

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Haneen Alfauri presented and led a thought-provoking discussion on AVA-Net, a powerful new retinal blood vessel analysis tool. Through her presentation, Haneen demonstrated how AVA-Net enables clearer visualization and differentiation of arteries, veins, and even the tiniest capillaries in OCTA (Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography) images. She emphasized the model’s potential to reveal subtle changes in […]

WashU Medicine at AAO 2024

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The 2024 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Conference in Chicago brought together leading experts in eye care to explore the latest advancements in the field. WashU Medicine’s Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences actively participated, contributing to important discussions on new technologies and sharing insights on new technology, surgical techniques, and patient care. Contributions from […]

WashU Ophthalmologists Receive 2024 ASOPRS Research Award

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St. Louis, MO – October 18, 2024 – Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis’ Drs. Custer and Maamari have been awarded the 2024 American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) Research Award for their groundbreaking paper titled “The Hatchet Flap for Eyelid and Midfacial Reconstruction: Experience from 70 Cases.” The paper, […]

Trunk or Treat at Children’s Specialty Care Center-South County Recap

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A big thank you to everyone who made our Trunk or Treat event at the St. Louis Children’s Specialty Care Center a success! With over 800 attendees, the event was packed with spooky fun, creative costumes, and amazing trunk displays. Best Trunk Winners: We appreciate all the community support and look forward to next year’s […]

Treatment Strategies for Vision Loss Due to Thygeson Superficial Punctate Keratitis

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Treatment Strategies for Vision Loss Due to Thygeson Superficial Punctate Keratitis

Surgeons Discuss Treatment Recommendations for Thygeson Superficial Punctate Keratitis A 20-year-old patient presents with a history of light sensitivity, decreased best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and challenges with night driving, attributed to Thygeson Superficial Punctate Keratitis (SPK). Despite a 5-year treatment regimen that included corticosteroids and various therapies like refractive lenses and cyclosporine, her symptoms remain […]

Gateway Curriculum: Eye Movement and Pupillary Abnormalities

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In 2020, WashU Medicine introduced the Gateway Curriculum, a forward-thinking initiative designed to transform medical education. As part of this new curriculum, Dr. Andrew Lee and Dr. Cynthia Montana had the privilege of developing the ophthalmology content for second-year medical students, aiming to enhance their understanding of this critical field. Dr. Stunkel also played a […]

Dr. Poonam Naik Named CRM Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar

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Poonam Naik, PhD

We are thrilled to share that Poonam Naik, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the laboratory of Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD, has been named a Center of Regenerative Medicine (CRM) Distinguished Postdoctoral Scholar for her groundbreaking research on Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This prestigious honor recognizes her innovative work on one of the leading causes of […]

WashU Medicine at SfN 2024

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The 2024 Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference has wrapped up, and WashU Medicine Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences made a big impact by sharing groundbreaking research. From retinal degeneration to new gene therapies, WashU researchers are at the forefront of vision science. Here’s a look at the exciting posters our team presented and the promising developments […]

Understanding LASIK: The Life-Changing Eye Surgery

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For millions of people, the need for glasses or contact lenses can be a daily hassle. Whether it’s misplacing your glasses or the discomfort of wearing contacts all day, vision problems can significantly impact your quality of life. Fortunately, modern advancements in eye care, like LASIK surgery, offer a permanent solution to common vision issues, […]

Dr. Andrew JW Huang and Dr. Qin Liu Receive NIH/NEI Grant to Investigate Neural Mechanisms of Corneal Injuries Caused by Ammonia Exposure

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ST. LOUIS, MO – October 4, 2024 – Andrew JW Huang, MD, MPH, Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, and Qin Liu, PhD, Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, have been awarded a four-year R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Eye […]

Understanding the Leading Causes of Blindness 

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Understanding the Leading Causes of Blindness

October is Blindness Awareness Month. Across the world millions of people live with some form of vision loss. While total blindness affects a small percentage, many individuals experience low vision or visual impairment that significantly impacts their daily lives. Understanding the leading causes of blindness can help promote early detection and treatment, which is essential […]

Post-LASIK Tips for Fall: Enjoying Clear Vision Through the Season

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You’ve made the decision to undergo LASIK, and now you’re looking forward to clear, sharp vision just in time for fall. While the recovery process is usually quick and easy, there are some specific steps you can take during the fall season to ensure you get the most out of your LASIK results. Here are […]

St. Louis Vision Walk 2024

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The Foundation Fighting Blindness — St. Louis hosted its 18th Annual VisionWalk on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Our team, the WashU Visionaries, raised over $3000 in support. The Foundation Fighting Blindness is committed to finding treatments and cures for people affected by blinding retinal diseases. Since its inception in the Spring of 2006, VisionWalk has raised over $66 million […]

Vision Science Journal Club: Gene Editing Discovery in Retinal Cell

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Sean McCracken, a Neuroscience PhD candidate in the Williams’ Lab, gave his presentation at the Vision Science Journal Club on Retrograde AAV-mediated gene modulation revealing chloride intracellular channel proteins as potent regulators of retinal ganglion cell death. Sean explained that Tapia et al used a special method to label and track viruses in retinal ganglion cells […]

Healthy Aging Month and LASIK: Is It Ever Too Late for Clear Vision?

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September is Healthy Aging Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the positive aspects of growing older and focusing on the lifestyle choices that can lead to a healthier, more vibrant life as we age. Vision plays a crucial role in how we experience the world, and maintaining clear, healthy eyesight is key to enjoying an […]