The Cornea, External Disease and Refractive Surgery Division is internationally acclaimed and boasts an impressive research program, a comprehensive fellowship training program, and unrivaled clinical and surgical care to more than 36,000 patients a year.  The Duke Cornea Division represents the largest tertiary referral center for corneal and anterior segment disease in North Carolina and the Southeast region. 

Led by Melissa Daluvoy, MD, the award-winning team of 10 board-certified cornea specialists and one optometrist evaluate and treat the full range of corneal and anterior segment disorders and diseases using state-of-the-art equipment and technology.  

Mission

  • Provide the best possible care for individuals experiencing visual impairment due to structural changes or anomalies of the anterior segment. 

  • Discover important new knowledge about causes, mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment of corneal and ocular surface, dry eye and refractive errors 

  • Translate research innovations into new care modalities 

  • Train future cornea leaders in the medical and surgical management of cornea, external disease 

Highlights

Pre-clinical and Clinical Research  

Participated or led several recent Principal Investigator-initiated and industry-initiated clinical trials have resulted in the introduction of new medications and therapeutics to patients. 

  • new medications for dry eye disease  

  • serum tears for GVHD  

  • next generation OCT guided ophthalmic surgery  

  • corneal neurotization  

  • acyclovir for zoster eye disease  

  • genetic testing for corneal disorders   

  • ocular tumor registry  

  • multiphoton imaging of conjunctival lesions  

  • epigenetics of ocular tumors 

  • immune contribution to MGD  

  • dendritic cells and retinoic acid in conjunctival scarring  

  • macrophages in maintenance of corneal nerve physiology  

  • innate lymphoid cell network in ocular surface tissues  

  • Esteemed fellowship program for more than 40 years  

  • Highly-challenging and deeply-rewarding environment for the medical school students, residents, and fellows 

  • Graduates of this program have become leaders in academic and private medicine worldwide. With a focus on in depth clinical and surgical training,  

  • Duke fellowship trained sub-specialists receive intense medical training  

  • Clinical and surgical rotations with Duke Cornea specialists at the main Duke Eye Center and at our satellite locations  

  • A specific learning track at Miracles in Sight Eye Bank 

  • Cornea Fellowship is registered with the Association of University Professors of Ophthalmology (AUPO) fellowship compliance program and meets guidelines set forth by the AUPO fellowship compliance committee.  

  • Active in education on a local, national and international level, leading and organizing meetings at the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), and other prominent national and international conferences.   

  • Cornea fellows lead monthly Cornea Conferences by presenting case presentations on various aspects of corneal disease. 

  • Hosts a regular Journal Club led by the Cornea faculty to discuss advanced clinical cases 

  • Holds an annual “Controversies in Cornea and Cataract Surgery” conference, featuring prominent visiting guest faculty from around the country 

  • Diseases and disorders of the cornea and anterior segment such as cataracts; refractive errors (e.g., myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism) 

  • Utilize noninvasive diagnostic imaging modalities to accurately diagnose conditions affecting the cornea and employ a wide range of cutting-edge treatments and surgical interventions.  

  • Cataract surgery using advanced laser surgery technology and advanced intraocular lenses for astigmatism and presbyopia correction  

  • Refractive surgery (PRK, LASIK, INTACs, implantable collamer lenses, and corneal crosslinking).  

  • Corneal degenerations and dystrophies (e.g. keratoconus and Fuchs’ dystrophy) 

  • Corneal inflammation, scarring and ulcers 

  • Dry eye, blepharitis, and meibomian gland dysfunction; and complex ocular surface disorders (e.g., limbal stem cell deficiency, ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, and ocular graft vs. host disease) 

  • Medical and surgical therapies include advanced corneal transplantation (DMEK, DSAEK, DALK, PKP, and Boston keratoprosthesis type 1) 

  • Intraocular lens exchange, anterior segment reconstruction  

  • Cornea collagen crosslinking  

  • Scleral contact lens fitting and autologous serum and platelet-enriched plasma eye drops (for severe dry eyes),  

  • Tumor excisions, limbal stem cell transplants 

  • Ocular surface reconstruction (for ocular surface disease and tumors)