Department Organization

The Faculty presently consists of seven full-time members and two part-time faculty members. The general Eye Clinic is organized and staffed by the residents, while the faculty is organized into subspecialty clinical services.

The Vitreo-retinal Service (Dr. Conway, Dr. Ghazi, and Dr. Yates) sees primarily patients with medical and surgical problems of the retina and vitreous, including ocular tumors. Over the past three years, the Vitreo-retinal Services has averaged 550 surgical procedures and 600 laser procedures annually. In addition to the surgical volume, a large number of patients with non-surgical retinal diseases (including dystrophies and degenerations) are referred for consultation and treatment. Diabetic retinopathy is an area of particular emphasis in both clinical and research aspects. The other research interests of the division include retinal imaging and oxygenation.

The Neuro-ophthalmology/Orbit Service (Dr. Newman) bridges the interface between ophthalmology, neurology, neurosurgery, plastics, and head and neck surgery. Patients with ophthalmic manifestations of systemic disease are often seen through this service. In addition to neuro-ophthalmic problems, this subspecialty service treats orbital and oculo-plastic disorders and serves as the ophthalmic consultation service for a wide variety of unusual pathology. Current clinical research interests of the neuro-ophthalmology division include skull-base tumors, their neuro-ophthalmic manifestations and clinical approaches, pseudotumor cerebri, the optic neuropathy of increased intracranial pressure, and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (natural history and treatment). Additional research involves the application of automated static perimetry to neuro-ophthalmology, potentials for therapy in various forms of optic neuropathy, orbital and cerebrovascular blood flow and the use of needle aspiration techniques in the diagnosis of tumors of the orbit and skull base. Quantitative techniques are being examined to improve the ability to study natural history and detect progression in various neuro-ophthalmic disease processes. The hospital has a superconducting magnetic coil resonance imager which is currently available for clinical research. Adult and acquired strabismus patients are evaluated and treated to maximize binocular single vision. Twenty years of computerized patient records provides for the opportunities for retrospective clinical research. We are also actively supporting the establishment of neuro-ophthalmic research through the use of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmic Society Research net. Residents are encouraged to become actively involved in research projects, either retrospective studies based on a computerized database or prospective analysis to answer clinical questions. Support is available for presentation at regional and national meetings.

Dr. Bruce Prum directs the Glaucoma Service and performs glaucoma consultation and management almost exclusively. Besides medical therapy of complex and unusual glaucoma cases, Dr. Prum performs a variety of laser and intraocular surgical procedures. Research includes a large NIH-sponsored surgical trial, The Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study, multicenter drug studies, and the Tube Versus Trabeculectomy Study. Other projects involve analysis of the surgical management of cataract and glaucoma, postoperative complications of trabeculectomy, pars plana vitrectomy of posterior Baerveldt placement, and unusual cases of angle closure glaucoma. Residents will be exposed to a wide variety of glaucoma patients and glaucoma and cataract procedures. Residents have the opportunity to assist in and appropriately perform many glaucoma procedures, including trabeculectomy using Mitomycin-C and 5-Fluorouracil, trabeculotomy ab-externo, Baerveldt glaucoma implants, and combined procedures utilizing temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification, foldable intraocular lens implants, and trabeculectomy with Mitomycin-C.

Dr. Leslie Olsakovsky directs the Cornea and External Disease Service. This consultative clinic sees a large number of infections of the cornea and external disease as well as other diseases of the cornea. Over 100 corneal procedures are performed each year including high-risk corneal transplantation and anterior segment reconstruction. There are also several hundred cataract procedures performed, using the latest in intraocular lens style. The residents are exposed to the use of computerized corneal topography in the management and analysis of patients with corneal abnormalities as well as with the use of topography with refractive problems.

Dr. Junping Li is a full-time faculty member at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, Virginia.  Dr. Li is one of the few full-time faculty members in the VA Medical System.  He collaborates with the residents on the surgical and medical management of the large VA population in addition to helping the residents with cataract, glaucoma, and other routine surgeries.

Dr. Marc Shields, a part-time faculty member, directs the Oculoplastics, Orbital and Reconstructive Surgery Service. The Oculoplastics Clinic occurs twice a month on Wednesday. The resident gains experience in evaluating and managing lid tumors, lid malpositions, lacrimal problems, orbital tumors, orbital inflammatory diseases, and trauma of the lids, orbit and lacrimal system.

Dr. Bruce Carter, a part-time faculty member, directs the Pediatric Ophthalmology Service.  Dr. Carter spends one full day a week with the residents in the operating room and the clinic and maintains a strong commitment to clinical teaching.

The Contact Lens Service is under the supervision of Dr. Ashley Schauer and other members of the part-time faculty. Two contact lens technicians assist in lens fitting. An extensive collection of gas permeable hard lens fitting sets, as well as multiple brands of soft lenses, is kept in inventory. The residents have a substantial opportunity to become proficient in contact lens fitting.

A Low Vision Clinic occurs one Friday afternoon a month at the Northridge Office. Dr. Stephen Record, a part-time optometrist who is the state's Low Vision Examiner, directs the Low Vision Clinic. The resident on the Anterior Segment Service rotates in the Low Vision Clinic.

The General Ophthalmology Service is staffed by the residents, with supervision provided by Dr. Laura Cook and other members of the full-time and part-time faculty. Since the subspecialty services see patients primarily by physician referral, the general eye service provides primary eye care to the Medical Center campus. Surgical cases scheduled through the general eye service are the responsibility of the third year resident staff under the supervision of faculty members.