News

Our Duke Ophthalmic Technician students presented an impressive series of research talks last Friday, June 5, 2026.

In a new study published June 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers from Duke University School of Medicine found that specific features in the developing retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, are closely linked to cognitive, motor, and behavioral outcomes at age 2. The findings suggest that the eye could serve as an early biomarker for brain development in vulnerable infants.

In a recent episode of Evidence Based Retina from Eyes On Eyecare, Duke’s Sharon Fekrat, MD, FACS, FASRS joined Rishi P. Singh, MD, FASRS to discuss how multimodal retinal imaging and artificial intelligence are reshaping the early detection of neurocognitive disease.

Duke Eye Center will launch its first organized, institution-wide implementation of AI-powered diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening in May 2026, marking a major milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence into routine clinical care. Supported by The Robert M. Sinskey, M.D. Foundation, the initiative brings advanced retinal screening directly into endocrinology clinics, where many patients with diabetes already receive care.

Duke Eye Center is delighted to announce that W. Daniel Stamer, PhD, FARVO, Professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering, has been elected the next Executive Vice President (EVP) of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). His five‑year term will begin at the 2027 ARVO Annual Meeting and continue through May 2032.

Duke Eye Center had a strong presence at the 2026 ARVO Annual Meeting, held May 3–7 in Denver, Colorado, with more than 70 Duke‑led presentations, including lectures, minisymposia, posters, papers, symposia, and collaborative sessions. Faculty, trainees, and research teams represented Duke across the full spectrum of vision science, from basic discovery to clinical innovation.

Duke Eye Center hosted Vision Quest 2026 on Saturday April 25, an engaging continuing education program for allied pphthalmic personnel led by Course Director Giselle Grimshaw, COMT, ROUB. This year’s program delivered a full day of high‑value learning focused on glaucoma, eye trauma, imaging, ocular anatomy, ocular oncology, refractive care, and more.

BrightFocus Foundation’s National Glaucoma Research program has awarded a two-year, $150,000 grant to Myoungsup Sim, PhD, a Duke Research Scientist in the Liton lab, for his innovative research in vision health. 

Duke Eye Center faculty and trainees were proud to take part in the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., where ophthalmologists and trainees from across the country met with lawmakers to advocate for policies that protect patients’ access to sight‑saving care.

Duke Eye Center faculty and trainees made a strong showing at the 2026 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) Annual Meeting, contributing podium presentations, instructional courses, and electronic posters, while also earning several prestigious national honors.