News

Cynthia Toth, MD was recently featured in an Ophthalmology Times article and accompanying Eye Care Network video discussing new research that suggests a simple bedside eye scan may help identify neurodevelopmental risks in preterm infants before symptoms appear.

We are proud to announce that Joanne Wen, MD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Ophthalmology with Tenure, effective July 1, 2026.

SriniVas Sadda, MD, FARVO, will join Duke Health as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology effective November 10, 2026. 

Vision loss can have a profound impact on independence, but professionals best positioned to help— like occupational therapists — have historically received little formal training in vision disorders. The gap has created a critically small workforce at a time when an aging population is driving an urgent need for greater vision rehabilitation services.

Duke Ophthalmology hosted the 2026 Residents’ & Fellows’ Graduation Banquet on June 6 at the JB Duke Hotel, bringing together trainees, faculty, and staff for an evening recognizing excellence in education, research, innovation, and clinical care. The event highlighted the accomplishments of residents, fellows, ophthalmic technicians, and faculty who have shaped another outstanding academic year.

Linus (Liangbo) Shen, MD, vitreoretinal surgery fellow at Duke Eye Center, has been awarded a Clinical Research Fellowship Award from the Foundation Fighting Blindness. The highly competitive award provides $65,000 in research support and is given to only three recipients each year.

Duke Ophthalmology hosted the 2026 Trainee Day Scientific Sessions on June 5 at the AERI Auditorium, bringing together residents, fellows, and research trainees to present new discoveries and clinical insights across the field. The event featured a full afternoon of podium presentations and an extensive poster session, highlighting trainee-led research aimed at advancing patient care.

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.

A recent Modern Retina feature spotlighted insights from Sharon Fekrat, MD, FACS, FASRS, who discussed emerging evidence linking dopamine signaling to age‑related macular degeneration (AMD) during her presentation at Retina World Congress 2026. Dr. Fekrat explained that dopamine released by amacrine cells decreases with age, which may contribute to retinal changes seen in AMD. She noted that dopamine receptors are present in both the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium, offering multiple potential pathways for influence.