Retinal research advances the mission of Duke Eye Center (DEC) by developing, leading and participating in research that will improve our understanding of disease mechanisms and enable us to develop new and better ways to diagnose and care for patients with retinal disease. Retinal research at DEC extends from bench to bedside and includes clinical trials, innovative research methods, and development of innovative therapies and devices to improve medical and surgical care.
We have a long-standing tradition of excellence in Basic translational and clinical research. Robert Machemer (chairman of Ophthalmology 19xx-19yy) and others here at Duke, developed the field and many of the early surgical tools for Vitreoretinal surgery.
Our current research programs are vibrant and multifaceted. Each of our physicians is involved in retinal research, and many work together with colleagues in research here at Duke, across the country, and around the World. We have several general research areas:
Identify disease mechanisms and new therapeutic targets for retinal conditions:
- age related macular degeneration
- diabetic retinopathy
- iMND - Eye-Multimodal Retinal and Choroidal Imaging in Neurodegenerations
- inherited retinal diseases
- inflammatory diseases
- retinopathy of prematurity
- pediatric retinal diseases
- macular holes and macular pucker
- Retinal detachment and scarring after retinal detachment such as
- proliferative vitreoretinopathy
Develop tools to improve research and clinical care:
- Duke Reading Center for Clinical Trials Analyses - Duke Advanced
- Research in SS/SD Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging —iMIND (Eye- Multimodal Retinal and Choroidal Imaging in Neurodegenerations) - patient-centered and outcomes research