Advancing the Understanding and Treatment of Eye Diseases
Here at the University of Maryland, our research team is actively engaged in cutting-edge research to advance the understanding and treatment of eye diseases. We are working on several studies focused on glaucoma, aging, and a number of other ocular diseases. Our faculty members’ research is designed to explore innovative diagnostic tools that aim to improve patient outcomes and preserve vision.
We encourage patients and caregivers to explore our ongoing studies and consider the potential benefits of participating in our research efforts. For more information about specific research studies, please contact our research team.
Thank you for helping us work toward better eyesight for all.
Our Research
Aging Research
Vasomotion is the pulsing of blood in the eye and is potentially a critical component of various diseases associated with aging, including Alzheimer’s disease and glaucoma. Our aging research aims to further understand the effects of aging on retinal vessel density and blood flow.
Basic Research
Our expertise in both clinical and basic research, as well as pharmaceutical clinical trials, puts us in a strong position to successfully achieve our mission. Current labs include: Lens Biochemistry (Shambu Varma, PhD), Molecular Biology (Steven Bernstein, MD, PhD), Ocular Cell Biochemistry (Shay-Whey Koh, PhD) and Ocular Hemodynamics (Robert Flower).
Glaucoma Research
Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. Our glaucoma research focuses on blood flow in the eye to investigate the vascular component of glaucoma development and progression.
Retinopathy of Prematurity Research
Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is the top cause of preventable blindness in children and a major socio-economic and public health challenge. Our team is working towards identifying biomarkers to use during serial screenings in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to identify ROP earlier and more reliably.
Summer Undergraduate Research Internship in Ophthalmology
Our research team is dedicated to engaging undergraduate students in the field of ophthalmology and ensuring that the future of vision science is in excellent hands—yours. Each summer, our department hosts the UM Ophthalmology Research Summer Internship, a paid 10-week research opportunity led by our pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr. Alexander.
Contact Us
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of Maryland School of Medicine
419 W. Redwood Street, Suite 470
Baltimore, MD 21201
Email: eyeresearch@som.umaryland.edu
Phone: 667-214-1463