Keeping up to date with advances in comprehensive ophthalmology and in the ophthalmic sub-specialties is extremely difficult because of the accelerating rapidity with which new information and technology become available and the diminishing time and opportunity for practitioners and trainees to read and learn. The first edition of
Albert and Jakobiec’s Principles and Practice (1994) was conceived with the idea of utilizing an electronic, updated version in which the chapters were revised by the chapter authors on an annual or semi-annual basis, but the technology was not sufficiently advanced to achieve this goal. Subsequent editions (2000 and 2008) were organized by Saunders and the last published by Elsevier (of which Springer has obtained the complete rights to move forward with the 4
th edition, see attachment). The third edition sold 1950 copies since 2009-2012 plus 21 copies of the ebook were sold in that time. From 2012-2015, 422 copies were sold. The monthly online usage numbers up through 2016 were approximately 3300 views (includes chapter views and downloads). All of these numbers came courtesy of Dr. Albert, via his former Elsevier editor, Russell Gabbedy and Dr. Albert’s royalty statements.
For more than two decades, this text has provided its readers with authoritative and comprehensive coverage of all facets of ophthalmology, written and edited by a group of authors who represented a “Who’s Who” in ophthalmology. By using Springer’s Meteor platform, with its ability to allow authors and editors access to updating their chapters online annually/semi-annually, and with the recruitment of select chapter authors, this work’s usefulness as the standard text in ophthalmology will be maintained and expanded upon by Springer.
Back Cover Copy Draft text:
The 4th edition of this comprehensive and authoritative text is written by hundreds of the most distinguished authorities from around the world and edited by three leaders in the field, providing today's best answers to every question that arises in ones ophthalmology practice. Richly illustrated with thousands of high quality, full color, clinically-relevant images, Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, 4th Edition covers every scientific and clinical principle in ophthalmology, ensuring that the reader will always be able to find the guidance needed to diagnose and manage patients' ocular problems and meet today's standards of care. Written for practicing ophthalmologists and trainees, this book delivers in-depth guidance on new diagnostic approaches, operative techniques, and treatment options, as well as coherent explanations of every new scientific concept and its clinical importance. The 4th edition will prove to be the source every practicing clinician needs to efficiently and confidently overcome any clinical challenge they may face.
Updates include new chapters on anterior and posterior segment diseases, as well as chapters more focused on treatment, plus thousands of new, high-quality, color images and illustrations, updated references, and information on the most cutting-edge technology used by clinicians in their practices today. Additionally, readers will enjoy the same, user-friendly, full-color design they remember from the previous edition, complete with many at-a-glance summary tables, algorithms, boxes, and diagrams that allow the reader to locate the assistance needed more rapidly than ever.
“I am familiar with the book and well recognized authors and Editors. The book in its current form is encyclopedic. Could be more focused on treatment. Long duration between 3rd and the 4th edition necessitates almost complete rework. The proposal hits on the key aspects for a successful textbook. The unique advantages are its name recognition (20 yrs of legacy) and established track record. Would support the proposal.” Dr. Arun Singh, Cleveland Clinic, Department of Ophthalmology (Springer’s EiO series editor and regular Springer volume editor):
– I shared these comments with the VE’s and they have acknowledged that all chapters will be re-worked in one way or another (from basic, updated references to complete re-writes of chapters and updated, clinically relevant, full-color photos).
“…This has always been a very authoritative and prestigious text with encyclopedic knowledge from prestigious authors and contributors. It has served, in the past, as a standard approach for all residents in training, as well as comprehensive ophthalmologists and people in allied fields. Formerly, optometrists did not purchase books, but they do now. My Retinal Atlas is a good example of how they are trying to understand the ophthalmic principles and practices to enhance their profession. One addition to the new version would be imaging…anterior and posterior segment diseases. This would be essential to allow a broad interest and comprehensive training and learning experience.” – Dr. Lawrence Yannuzzi, MD, President The Macula Foundation, Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Columbia University (current Springer Volume Editor). – I shared these comments with the VE’s and they agreed to add the anterior and posterior segment diseases (and had been planning on it)
Reviews of the last edition: "The reference by which other ophthalmology texts are judged." ? Archives of Ophthalmology "The current standard in comprehensive ophthalmology textbooks." ? JAMA "A magnificent encyclopedic work...A ready source of information when getting ready to perform a seldom-done surgical procedure or when stumped with an unusual clinical problem." ? Survey of Ophthalmology
"This is a wonderful set of volumes with top quality in their coverage of current ophthalmology, a valuable addition to the library of all ophthalmologists." Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, September 2009
"In 1994, Daniel M. Albert and Frederik A. Jakobiec produced the first edition of this award-winning and esteemed masterwork, which is used by the ophthalmic community worldwide as reference. The third edition… is a 4-volume, 5502-page update of this magnificent encyclopedic work. A highpoint of this new edition is the website access…this is a wonderful set of volumes with top quality in their coverage of current ophthalmology, a valuable addition to the library of all ophthalmologists." – Springer: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2009) 247:1437–1438
Fundamentals of Genetics.- Molecular Mechanisms of Inherited Disease.-
Genetic Testing.- Principles of Genetic Counseling.- Immunology An
Overview.- A Cast of Thousands: The Cells of the Immune System.-
T-Lymphocyte Responses.- B-Lymphocyte Responses.- Immune-Mediated Tissue
Injury.- Regulation of Immune Responses.- Ocular Bacteriology.- Chlamydial
Disease.- The Spirochetes.- Parasitic and Rickettsial Ocular Infections.-
Fungal Infections of the Eye.- Ocular Virology.- Ocular Pharmacokinetics.-
Anesthetics.- Antibacterials.- Antivirals.- Antifungal Agents.-
Antiparasitics.- Corticosteroids in Ophthalmic Practice.- Nonsteroidal
Antiinflammatory Drugs.- Antihistamines and Mast Cell Stabilizers in Allergic
Ocular Disease.- Tear Film and Blink Dynamics.- Tear Substitutes.-
Viscoelastics.- Pharmacologic Agents with Osmotic Effects.- Pharmacologic
Treatment of Immune Disorders and Specifically of Immune Ocular Inflammatory
Disease.- Angiogenic Factors and Inhibitors.- Principles of Toxicology of
the Eye.- Toxicology of Ophthalmic Agents by Class.- Epidemiology and
Clinical Research.- Epidemiology of Age-Related Cataract.- Epidemiology of
Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.- Epidemiology of Diabetic Retinopathy.-
Epidemiology of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.- Anatomy and Cell Biology
of the Cornea, Superficial Limbus, and Conjunctiva.- Corneal Form and
Function: Clinical Perspective.- Ocular Surface Epithelial Stem Cells and
Corneal Wound Healing Response to Injury and Infection.- Corneal
Examination, Specular and Confocal Microscopy, UBM, OCT.- Corneal
Dysgeneses, Dystrophies, and Degenerations.- Keratoconus and Corneal
Noninflammatory Ectasias.- Corneal Manifestations of Metabolic Disease.-
Immunologic Disorders of the Conjunctiva, Cornea, and Sclera.- Allergic and
Toxic Reactions: The Immune Response.- 48: Lid Inflammations.- Viral Disease
of the Cornea and External Eye.- Bacterial, Chlamydial, and Mycobacterial
Infections.- Fungal Keratitis.- Acanthamoeba Keratitis.- Interstitial
Keratitis.- Recurrent Corneal Epithelial Erosion.- Persistent Epithelial
Defects.- Chemical Injuries of the Eye.- Wetting of the Ocular Surface and
Dry-Eye Disorders.- Tumors of the Cornea and Conjunctiva.- Lamellar
Keratoplasty.- Penetrating Keratoplasty.- Endothelial Keratoplasty.-
Complications of Corneal Transplantation and Their Management.- Excimer
Laser Phototherapeutic Keratectomy.- Conjunctival Surgery.- Ocular Surface
Transplantation.- Amniotic Membrane Surgery.- Keratoprosthesis.- History,
Development, and Classification of Refractive Surgical Procedures.- Optical
Principles for Refractive Surgery.- Corneal Topography and Wave Front
Analysis.- Diagnosis and Management of Corneal Irregular Astigmatism.-
Biomechanics and Wound Healing in Refractive Surgery.- Excimer Laser
Instrumentation.- Mechanical and Laser Microkeratomes.- LASIK Patient
Evaluation and Selection.- Photorefractive Keratectomy for Myopia,
Hyperopia, and Astigmatism.- Decentration in Keratorefractive Procedures.-
LASEK and Epi-LASIK.- LASIK for Myopia, Hyperopia, and Astigmatism.-
Wavefront-Guided Excimer Laser Surgery.- Intraoperative Complications of
LASIK.- Incisional Surgery: Radial and Astigmatic Keratotomy.- Intrastromal
Corneal Rings for Myopia, Keratoconus, and Corneal Ectasia.- Conductive
Keratoplasty for the Treatment of Hyperopia and Presbyopia.- Scleral
Procedure for Presbyopia.- Refractive Surgery with Phakic IOLs.- Clear Lens
Extraction.- Accommodative and Pseudoaccommodative Intraocular Lenses.-
Future Developments with Conductive Keratoplasty.- Introduction to
Uveitis.- Immunosuppression.- Anterior Uveitis.- Ocular Manifestations of
Sarcoidosis.- Intermediate Uveitis.- Infectious Causes of Posterior Uveitis.-
Birdshot Chorioretinopathy.- VogtKoyanagiHarada Disease (Uveomeningitic
Syndrome).- Ocular Histoplasmosis.- Sympathetic Ophthalmia.- Fuchs
Heterochromic Iridocyclitis.- Serpiginous Choroiditis.- Intraocular
Lymphoproliferations Simulating Uveitis.- Choroidal Effusions and
Detachments.- Biology of the Lens: Lens Transparency as a Function of
Embryology, Anatomy, and Physiology.- Lens Proteins and Their Molecular
Biology.- Biophysics and Age Changes of the Crystalline Lens.- Mechanism of
Cataract Formation.- Subjective Classification and Objective Quantitation of
Human Cataract.- History of Cataract Surgery.- Historical Development of
Modern Intraocular Lens Surgery.- Preoperative Preparation of Patients for
Cataract and Lens Implant Surgery.- Anesthesia for Cataract Surgery.-
Extracapsular Cataract Extraction.- Phacoemulsification Theory and
Practice.- Fluidics.- Intraocular Lens Implantation.- Pediatric Cataract
Surgery.- Combined Procedures.- Secondary Intraocular Lens Implantation.-
Astigmatism and Cataract Surgery.- Complications of IOL Surgery.- Functional
Anatomy of the Neural Retina.- Visual Acuity, Adaptation, and Color Vision.-
Objective Assessment of Retinal Function.- Müller Cells and the Retinal
Pigment Epithelium.- Retinal and Choroidal Circulations.- Examination of the
Retina: Ophthalmoscopy and Fundus Biomicroscopy.- Principles of Fluorescein
Angiography.- Indocyanine Green Videoangiography.- Optical Coherence
Tomography.- Retinal Arterial Occlusions.- Retinal Venous Occlusive
Disease.- Diagnosis, Management, and Treatment of Nonproliferative Diabetic
Retinopathy.- Diabetic Macular Edema.- Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.-
Advanced Retinopathy of Prematurity.- Eales Disease.- 138: Retinal
Arterial Macroaneurysms.- Coats Disease and Retinal Telangiectasia.-
Neuroretinitis.- Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy.- Central Serous
Chorioretinopathy.- Genetics of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.-
Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Drusen and Geographic Atrophy.- Foods and
Supplements in the Prevention and Treatment of Age-Related Macular
Degeneration.- Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Choroidal
Neovascularization.- Photodynamic Therapy.- Anti-VEGF and Other
Pharmacologic Treatments for Age-Related Macular Degeneration.- Surgical
Treatments of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.- Acute
Idiopathic Maculopathy.- Idiopathic Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.-
Angioid Streaks.- Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome.- Pathologic Myopia.-
Idiopathic Macular Hole.- Choroidal and Retinal Folds.- Acute Posterior
Multifocal Placoid Pigment Epitheliopathy, Serpiginous Choroiditis, and
Relentless Placoid Chorioretinitis.- Multiple Evanescent White Dot
Syndrome.- Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy.- Macular Epiretinal
Membranes.- Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy.- Toxoplasmosis.- Retinal
Manifestations of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome: Diagnosis and
Treatment.- Acute Retinal Necrosis.- Ocular Syphilis.- Subretinal Fibrosis
and Uveitis Syndrome.- Diffuse Unilateral Subacute Neuroretinitis.- Frosted
Branch Angiitis.- Retinal Manifestations of the Rheumatic Diseases.-
Retinopathy Associated with Blood Anomalies.- Posterior Segment
Sarcoidosis.- Sickle-Cell Retinopathy.- Traumatic Retinopathy.- Photic
Retinopathy.- Radiation Retinopathy.- Retinal Toxicity of Systemic
Medications.- Retinitis Pigmentosa and Allied Diseases.- Hereditary Cone
Dystrophies.- Heredofamilial Macular Degenerations.- Lattice Degeneration,
Cystic Retinal Tufts, Asymptomatic Retinal Breaks, and Additional Selected
Peripheral Retinal Findings.- Retinoschisis.- Retinal Detachment.-
Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy.- Postoperative Endophthalmitis.- Giant
Retinal Tears.- Management of Retained Lens Fragments and Dislocated
Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses.- Intraocular Foreign Bodies.- Diseases
of the Vitreous.- Heredofamilial Vitreoretinopathies.- Aqueous Humor and the
Dynamics of Its Flow: Formation of Aqueous Humo.- Aqueous Humor and the
Dynamics of Its Flow: Mechanisms and Routes of Aqueous Humor Drainage.-
Cellular Mechanisms in the Trabecular Meshwork Affecting the Aqueous Humor
Outflow Pathway.- Genetics of Glaucoma.- Clinical Evaluation of the Glaucoma
Patient.- Tonometry and Tonography.- Glaucomatous Visual Field Loss.- Optic
Nerve Head and Nerve Fiber Layer Imaging.- Primary Congenital Glaucoma.-
Juvenile-Onset Open-Angle Glaucoma.- Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma.- Primary
Angle-Closure Glaucoma.- Combined-Mechanism Glaucoma.- The Exfoliation
Syndrome: A Continuing Challenge.- Pigment Dispersion Syndrome and
Pigmentary Glaucoma.- Inflammatory Glaucoma.- Glaucoma Associated with
Ocular Trauma.- Lens-Associated Glaucomas.- Iridocorneal Endothelial
Syndrome.- Ocular Tumors and Glaucoma.- Corticosteroid-Induced Glaucoma.-
Glaucoma Associated with Increased Episcleral Venous Pressure.- Glaucoma
Secondary to Anterior Segment Surgery.- Neovascular Glaucoma.-
Nanophthalmos: Guidelines for Diagnosis and Therapy.- Penetrating
Keratoplasty and Glaucoma.- Glaucoma Associated with Disorders of the Retina,
Vitreous, and Choroid.- Medical Management of Glaucoma.- Laser
Trabeculoplasty for Open-Angle Glaucoma.- Laser and Surgery Treatment of
Angle-Closure Glaucoma.- Glaucoma Filtration Surgery: Indications,
Techniques, and Complications.- Nonpenetrating Glaucoma Surgery:
Indications, Techniques, Complications, and Results.- Management of Glaucoma
and Cataract.- Glaucoma Drainage Implants.- Cycloablation.- Basic Anatomy
of the Orbit.- Introduction to Orbital Diseases.- The Approach to Orbital
Surgery.- Cystic Lesions of the Orbit.- Pathophysiology of Graves
Orbitopathy.- Management of Graves Ophthalmopathy.- Noninfectious Orbital
Inflammations.- Infectious Processes of the Orbit.- Epithelial Tumors of
the Lacrimal Gland.- Tumors of the Lacrimal Gland and Sac.- Vascular
Anomalies of the Eyelid and Orbit.- Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors of the
Orbit.- Orbital and Ocular Adnexal Lymphoid Tumors.- Other Lymphocytic
Disease Processes.- Metastatic and Secondary Orbital Tumors.- Miscellaneous
Rare Tumors and Disorders Involving the Orbit.- Benign Histiocytic Disorders
of the Orbit.- Mesenchymal, Fibroosseous, and Cartilaginous Orbital Tumors.-
Anatomy of the Eyelids, Eyebrow, Midface, and Lacrimal Drainage System.-
Congenital Eyelid Anomalies.- Eyelid Infections.- Benign Epithelial
Tumors.- Periocular Dermatology.- Mohs Surgery for Eyelid Malignancies.-
Basal Cell Carcinoma in the Eyelid.- Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the
Eyelids.- Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms.- Eyelid and Periorbital
Reconstruction.- Eyelid Tumors of Apocrine, Eccrine, and Pilar Origins.-
Melanocytic Lesions of the Eyelid and Ocular Adnexa.- Unusual Eyelid
Tumors.- Upper Eyelid Malpositions: Congenital Ptosis.- Acquired Ptosis.-
Upper Eyelid Malpositions: Retraction, Ectropion, and Entropion.- Lower
Eyelid Malpositions.- Disorders of the Eyelashes and Eyebrows.- Blepharospasm
and Hemifacial Spasm.- Upper Blepharoplasty.- Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty
and Midface Elevation Surgery.- Ablative CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing.-
Enucleation, Evisceration, and Exenteration.- Assessment and Management of
the Eyebrow.- Principles of Pathology.- Conjunctival and Corneal
Pathology.- Pathology of the Uveal Tract.- Pathology of the Lens.-
Pathology of the Retina and Vitreous.- Pathology of Glaucoma.- Pathology
of the Lids.- Orbital Pathology.- Pathology of the Optic Nerve.- Clinical
Examination.- Examination of the Visual Field.- Neuroophthalmologic Disease
of the Retina.- Optic Atrophy and Papilledema.- Optic Neuritis.- The
Ischemic Optic Neuropathies.- Tumors of the Anterior Visual Pathways.-
Hereditary Optic Neuropathies.- Infectious, Inflammatory, Toxic and Other
Optic Neuropathies.- Chiasmal Disorders.- Retrochiasmal Disorders.-
Neurovascular Neuroophthalmology.- Primary Headache Disorders with Ophthalmic
Features.- Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (Pseudotumor Cerebri).-
Nonorganic Visual Disorders.- The Pupils and Accommodation.- Diseases of
the Ocular Muscles.- Myasthenia.- Third-, Fourth-, and Sixth-Nerve Lesions
and the Cavernous Sinus.- Central Eye Movement Disorders.- The Pediatric Eye
Examination.- Refractive Errors in Children.- Amblyopia.- Infections of the
Eye and Adnexa in Children.- Congenital and Developmental Abnormalities of
the Eye, Orbit, and Ocular Adnexa.- Pediatric Ptosis.- Lacrimal System
Abnormalities.- Pediatric Glaucomas.- Congenital and Childhood Cataracts.-
Visual Impairment in Infants and Young Children.- Retinal Lesions Presenting
in Childhood.- Retinopathy of Prematurity.- Ocular Trauma in Infancy and
Childhood.- Congenital Optic Nerve Anomalies.- Nystagmus and Nystagmoid Eye
Movements.- Learning Disorders and Vision Therapy.- Clinical Evaluation of
Strabismus.- Genetics of Strabismus.- Imaging and Strabismus.- Comitant
Strabismus.- Complex or Incomitant Strabismus.- Treatment of Diplopia and
Strabismus.- Hypertension and Its Ocular Manifestations.- Diabetes
Mellitus.- 322: Childhood Arthritis and Anterior Uveitis.- Adult Rheumatoid
Arthritis.- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.- Giant Cell Arteritis.- Wegeners
Granulomatosis.- Scleroderma.- AdamantiadesBehçets Disease.- Systemic
Manifestations of Sarcoidosis.- Osseous and Musculoskeletal Disorders.-
Amyloidosis and the Eye.- Gastrointestinal and Nutritional Disorders.-
Oculorenal Syndromes.- Ophthalmic Manifestations of Some Metabolic and
Endocrine Disorders.- Nutritional Blindness.- Pregnancy and the Eye.- The
Eye in Aging.- Systemic Bacterial Infections and the Eye.- Mycobacterial
Diseases: Tuberculosis and Leprosy.- Systemic Viral Infections and the Eye.-
AIDS and Its Ophthalmic Manifestations.- Fungal Infections and the Eye.-
Systemic Parasitic Infections and the Eye.- Spirochetal Infections and the
Eye.- Chlamydial Disease.- Hematologic Disorders.- Graft versus Host
Disease.- Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Vasculitides.- Pigmented Tumors
of the Iris.- Diagnosis of Choroidal Melanoma.- Charged Particle
Irradiation of Uveal Melanoma.- Brachytherapy for Posterior Uveal Malignant
Melanoma.- Surgical Resection of Uveal Melanoma.- Enucleation for Uveal
Melanoma.- Genetics of Uveal Melanoma.- Melanocytomas.- Choroidal
Metastasis.- Leukemias.- Intraocular Lymphoma.- Choroidal Nevus and
Melanocytoma.- Tumors of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium.- Choroidal
Hemangiomas.- Choroidal Osteoma.- Tumor Involvement of the Vitreous.-
Ophthalmological Manifestations of Systemic Neoplasia and Its Treatment.- The
Phakomatoses.- Assessment of Risk for Hereditary Retinoblastoma.- Second
Primary Neoplasms in Retinoblastoma: Effect of Gene and Environment.-
Staging and Grouping of Retinoblastoma.- Current Management of
Retinoblastoma.- Genetic Progression from Retina to Retinoblastoma.-
Overview of Ocular Trauma.- Evaluation and Initial Management of Patients
with Ocular and Adnexal Trauma.- Anterior Segment Trauma.- Penetrating
Posterior Segment Trauma.- Nonpenetrating Posterior Segment Trauma.-
Intraocular Foreign Bodies.- Sports Injuries.- Epidemiology and Prevention
of Ocular Trauma.- Neuroophthalmologic Manifestations of Trauma.-
Penetrating Eyelid and Orbital Trauma.- Structural Injuries of the Orbit.-
Late Management of Orbital Deformities.- Managing the Child with an Ocular
or Orbital Injury.- Physical Optics for Clinicians.- Geometric Optics.-
Optics of the Eye.- Objective Determination of Refractive Error.- Optical
Instruments Used to Examine the Eye.- Prescription of Spectacles.-
Prescribing Prisms.- Contact Lenses.- Optics of Intraocular Lenses.- Low
Vision, Vision Disability, and Blindness.- Visual System Disorders and Low
Vision Rehabilitation.- Quantifying Vision Disability.- Psychiatric and
Psychosocial Factors in Low Vision Rehabilitation.- Rehabilitation Medicine
Model for Low Vision Rehabilitation.- Evaluation and Management of the
Patient with Low Vision: Entrée into Vision Rehabilitation.- Central Scotomas
and Preferred Retinal Loci.- Driving with Low Vision: Who, Where, When, and
Why.- Computer Technology Assistance for the Low Vision Patient.-
Conclusion: The Role of the Ophthalmologist in Low-Vision Rehabilitation
Help When There Is No Cure.- Professionalism in Medicine.- The Ethical
Ophthalmologist.- Teaching Professionalism and Ethics in Ophthalmology.-
Informed Consent.- Learning Surgery An Ethical Perspective.- Ophthalmic
Co-Management.- Ethics in Marketing a Medical Practice.- Commercial
Relationships.- Ethics of Expert Witness Testimony.- Complementary and
Alternative Therapy.- Ethics and Professionalism Online: The Internet,
E-mail, and Ethical Practice.- Ethical Issues in Clinical Research.- The
American Academy of Ophthalmology Code of Ethics.- Source Documents for
Medical Ethics.
Dan Albert, MD, began his academic career at Yale University and continued at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. He moved to the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1992 to become department chair, then chair emeritus of ophthalmology and visual sciences, the Frederick Allison Davis Chair; the Lorenz Zimmerman Professor; and founding director of the McPherson Eye Research Institute. Dr. Albert is now a researcher for Oregon Health & Science University and his research focuses on the treatment and prevention of ocular cancers; particularly the use of vitamin D analogues, resveratrol and its analogues, and anti-angiogenic peptides in the treatment and prevention of ocular cancer and in reversing angiogenesis in the wet form of macular degeneration. Joan Miller, MD, is Chief and Chair in the Department of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and is an internationally recognized expert on retinal disorders. As a vitreoretinal physician in Mass. Eye and Ear's Retina Service, she treats patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal degenerations, and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Miller received her medical degree and ophthalmology residency training from Harvard Medical School and then completed fellowships in ophthalmology research and vitreoretinal surgery at Mass. Eye and Ear. Dr. Miller is the first female physician to achieve the rank of Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and the first woman to chair the Department of Ophthalmology. She is also the first woman appointed as Chief of Ophthalmology at both Mass. Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to these roles and responsibilities, she also co-directs Mass. Eye and Ear's Angiogenesis Laboratory.
Dr. Miller, along with Dr. Evangelos Gragoudas, are credited with developing photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (Visudyne®). This therapy was the first AMD treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and drug regulatory agencies worldwide. In addition, Dr. Miller is recognized for co-discovering the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in eye disease and demonstrating the therapeutic potential of VEGF inhibitors. This work formed the scientific basis of anti-angiogenic ophthalmic therapies, which are widely used to prevent vision loss in AMD and other retinal diseases by blocking abnormal blood vessel growth and leakage. Dr. Miller continues to conduct research to improve therapeutic options for retinal disease.
Dr. Miller has received numerous prestigious awards. For her contributions to the development of anti-angiogenic retinal therapies, she was a co-recipient of the 2014 Antonio Champalimaud Vision Award, which is the highest distinction in ophthalmology and visual science. She also was the first woman to receive the Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology.
Dimitri Azar, MD, MBA is Dean in the College of Medicine at the University of Illinois and is Professor of Ophthalmology, Bioengineering and Pharmacology as well as the B.A. Field Chair in Ophthalmologic Research. Dr. Azar is an internationally recognized ophthalmic surgeon who brings experience in administration, research, education and clinical practice to his position as Dean of the College of Medicine at University of Illinois.
He joined the faculty in 2006 as Head of the Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences. Previously he was a tenured Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Cornea Service at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Senior Scientist at Schepens Eye Institute and a faculty member at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is a leader in basic science and clinically related vision research, making significant contributions to the treatment of corneal diseases and to advances in refractive surgery through mathematical analyses and applications of advanced optics. His basic science research on matrix metalloproteinases in corneal wound healing and angiogenesis has been continually funded by the National Eye Institute R01 award since 1993.
Dr. Azar is the author of more than 400 scientific articles and book chapters. He is the editor of 14 books in ophthalmology and holds 15 patents. He has been named one of The Best Doctors in America or recognized among Castle Connollys Regional Top Doctors in America annually since 1994. He serves as a trustee for the Chicago Ophthalmological Society and for the Association of Research and Vision in Ophthalmology. Dr. Azar has received multiple leadership awards, including the 2009 Lans Distinguished Award and the University of Illinois at Chicago Scholar Award.
