As we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the new year, I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of the Department of Ophthalmology over the past year and express my optimism for an even better 2025. We’ve seen consistent growth, including the recruitment of several new faculty members, and continued groundbreaking research in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, inherited eye diseases, and more.
By collaborating with international institutions, supporting student-led initiatives, and launching innovative programs for doctors from developing nations, the University of Iowa’s (UI) Department of Ophthalmology is enhancing eye care access and quality worldwide, including in its own backyard.
In 2018, Dr. Abramoff founded Digital Diagnostics, a UI spinoff that earned the FDA’s first approval for an AI system to autonomously diagnose disease. This AI tool detects diabetic retinopathy at the point of care without physician input and is now the world’s fastest-growing AI medical procedure based on patient usage..
Dr. Mark Greiner and his team at the University of Iowa are pioneering the use of ubiquinol, a potent antioxidant, to prevent corneal cell death, potentially reducing the need for transplants in ophthalmology.
UI Ophthalmology is using AI and computer-aided studies to improve early detection and treatment of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Other research uncovers genetic causes of eye diseases, and clinical trials aim to enhance patient outcomes.
In 1925 Dr. Cecil Starling O'Brien was hired as the first department head of the brand new University of Iowa Ophthalmology Department. Over the course of 2025, we'll take a look back at each decade of the last century. But we'll start with the time leading up to Dr. O'Brien's hiring...Read more
Dr. John Graether, an alumnus of UI Ophthalmology, completed his residency in 1961 before joining the team at Wolfe Clinic in Marshalltown, Iowa. We recently sat down with Dr. Graether to talk about his time at Iowa and beyond.
Dr. Stephen Kraft, a distinguished pediatric ophthalmologist, has made significant contributions to strabismus and pediatric ophthalmology. His journey began with a fellowship at the University of Iowa in 1982-83 under Bill Scott and the late Frank Judisch.
Dr. Elaine Binkley, an associate professor at the University of Iowa, specializes in retinal diseases and ocular oncology. Known for her innovative approaches, she focuses on advanced diagnostics and treatments for eye cancers like ocular melanoma, including brachytherapy and vitreoretinal surgery.
The Iowa Visual Field Reading Center (IVFRC) advances vision-related therapies by providing accurate, reliable data for clinical trials and research. Established in 2008, it supports researchers and clinicians in diagnosing and managing ocular conditions.
Dr. Tina Hendricks returns to Iowa City as an Assistant Professor, having graduated from our residency program in June 2024. Dr. Tahreem Mir joins the retina service as an Assistant Professor, after completing her residency at Yale and fellowship at Vanderbilt.
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