Departments

At Yale, our ophthalmologists offer patients a unique combination of world-class clinical care and cutting-edge research. We provide comprehensive eye care, from routine exams to diagnosis and treatment of the most complex and challenging eye conditions and diseases. Our patients have access to world-renowned subspecialty expertise both within ophthalmology and other areas of medicine.

Patients with diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels in the retina—the back layer of the eye that is sensitive to light. Damage to the retina and vitreous, the gel inside the eye, can lead to impaired vision and blindness. This disorder causes most cases of blindness in Americans aged 25 to 70. And about 85% of people with diabetes will experience some degree of vision loss because of their disease. Ophthalmologists in our section are experts in all aspects of diabetic eye care. They are highly skilled at surgeries to repair and reverse damage caused by diabetic retinopathy. Our physicians also treat disorders of and injuries to the vitreous and the retina, including retinal detachment.

Shoulder injuries are common in an active population, as well as in middle-aged and older adults. Structural injuries can range from labral tears, which can cause shoulder instability, to muscle and tendon injuries, such as a rotator cuff tear, resulting in pain and weakness. Traditional, or open, surgery entails repair of the injuries through large skin incisions. Unfortunately, this causes structural damage to the skin and underlying musculature. Advancements in video technology and surgical instrumentation has allowed the surgical procedures to be undertaken through minimally invasive techniques (non-muscle damaging) through “keyhole,” or arthroscopic surgery. While the repaired structures still need time to allow for biological healing, this minimally invasive technique allows for decreased post-surgical pain, which results in a faster recovery and return back to activities of daily living. To find out more about this program, please fill out a brief survey . The Sports Medicine and shoulder surgeons at Yale Medicine are proficient in shoulder arthroscopy and typically utilize arthroscopic techniques for the majority of shoulder surgeries. Open surgery is reserved for specialized indications, such as shoulder replacements and other unique situations. Prior to surgery, our board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons collaborate with our highly experienced musculoskeletal radiologists, who utilize high-resolution MRI imaging in order to ensure the most accurate structural diagnosis. This allows for a highly individualized and tailored surgical plan. If surgery is necessary, most cases are performed on an outpatient basis at the McGivney Advanced Surgery Center or Greenwich Hospital. At these facilities, patients receive concierge-style care, which allows for as stress-free a surgical experience as possible. Patients are cared for by board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons and anesthesiologists, physician assistants, as well as highly trained nurses. The facilities at the McGivney Advanced Surgery Center in New Haven and Greenwich Hospital allow our surgeons to provide state-of-the-art, cutting-edge surgical treatments in order to give patients the best potential for maximal recovery. After surgery, our team also works closely with affiliated physical therapists who are well-versed in managing patients in their recovery phase of healing. This collaboration ensures individualized treatment plans, aimed to optimize recovery and return to function.

Macular degeneration is a leading cause of visual impairment in people over 65 and can lead to blindness. One in three people will eventually suffer some degree of macular degeneration, which is caused by abnormal blood vessels under the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye. We treat both the more common “dry” as well as the more dangerous “wet” forms of macular degeneration. While there is currently no cure for this disease, we offer the latest treatments to reduce the risk of vision loss and blindness. These include anti-VEGF drugs—which attack proteins that create the abnormal blood vessels that cause macular degeneration—and photodynamic therapy, in which patients ingest medication that is then activated with a laser. Patients receive not only compassionate, comprehensive care, but also benefit from the latest treatments, as our specialists are actively involved in research to advance care and understanding of the disease.

Disorders of the retina and vitreous, the gel-like substance that helps maintain the shape of the eye, are the leading causes of blindness in infancy, young adulthood, and older age. We specialize in the evaluation and treatment of vitreoretinal disease and retinal detachment. Our specialists offer cutting-edge treatments, including laser treatment for retinal disorders and photodynamic therapy for macular degeneration. Our surgical expertise includes surgical repair of macular holes, removal of lens fragments, and surgery for endophthalmitis, an inflammation of the eye that sometimes occurs as a complication following cataract surgery. Conditions we treat include: Cystoid macular edema Diabetic retinopathy Macular degeneration Pars planitis Retinal degeneration and disease Retinopathy of prematurity Sickle cell retinopathy Inflammatory conditions, such as uveitis Intraocular infections and tumors Ocular trauma Retinitis pigmentosa and other inherited retinal dystrophies

About Us At Yale Medicine, our cardiac surgery team consists of internationally recognized heart surgeons who provide personalized, compassionate care for adult and pediatric patients. We understand the challenges of living with a heart condition and are committed to partnering with patients and their families to find the best treatment plan and offer ongoing support after surgery. Our team includes highly experienced, board-certified cardiac surgeons along with an expert group of cardiologists, cardiac-focused nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Our cardiac surgeons collaborate with Yale's cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and internists to manage heart-related issues such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart valve conditions, and heart rhythm disorders. Our surgeons perform the latest, most advanced techniques in minimally invasive and traditional surgeries to treat a full range of cardiac diseases and conditions, including: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) Valve repair and replacement (aortic and mitral) Aneurysm repair (aortic, thoracic aortic, left ventricular) Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), including hybrid ablation heart failure and artificial heart or ventricular assist devices Heart failure, including artificial heart or ventricular assist devices Heart transplantation Congenital heart diseases in children and adults

We cover all of the components critical to successfully managing patients with brain tumors. This includes comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis, genomic profiling of the tumor, leading-edge treatment options, follow-up, and psychosocial support. We welcome newly diagnosed patients as well as those who have already received extensive treatment elsewhere, along with patients in need of second surgeries or follow-up biopsies. We work closely with other Yale Medicine brain tumor doctors to provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach that is patient-focused. Using advanced microsurgical techniques, including intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring and awake craniotomy (when appropriate), our brain tumor surgeons strive to achieve the maximum extent of tumor removal while preserving neurological function. Often, what is often deemed "inoperable" by some surgeons is considered operable at Yale with successful outcomes. We are the only hospital in the region to have MRI and angiography capabilities in our operating room. Yale New Haven Hospital also banks all tumor samples and performs genomic profiling to better understand tumor mutations. We use this information to help direct postsurgical therapy. Our state-of-the-art neurosurgical operating rooms in Smilow Cancer Hospital are the only in the regionto offer intraoperative MRI, intraoperative angiography, stereotactic surgical guidance, and operative brain mapping to precisely pinpoint brain tumors during surgery.These technologies, combined with our surgical expertise allow for the best in surgical care for patients. A team of experts dedicated to caring for patients with brain tumors, including specialized brain tumor surgeons, radiation oncologists, neuroradiologists, medical neuro-oncologists, neuropathologists, and other specialists meets weekly to arrive at the most advanced and appropriate treatment plan for each individual. Yale is one of the few centers capable of offering even more personalized and precise oncologic care, when appropriate, based on the genetic makeup of the individual’s tumor. Inquiries from referring physicians or directly from patients or their families are welcome. All inquiries are handled expeditiously by our team of experienced patient coordinators. Their role includes ensuring that appropriate appointments are made in a timely fashion, and coordinating with the various medical specialists involved in each treatment plan. New patients with brain tumors are usually seen within two or three days. Our patient coordinators also act as patient advocates, communicating with the various medical specialists contributing to the treatment plan. Through Yale’s strong tradition of and commitment to research, practitioners are well acquainted with the most advanced treatment methods and have access to clinical trials. Patients also benefit from the specialized resources at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital, such as an advance

Children are susceptible to all eye diseases that occur in adults, as well as additional diseases. We promote the science and art of pediatric eye care to improve the visual health of children. Our expertise includes evaluating and treating amblyopia, strabismus, double vision, and other ocular motility disorders that affect the muscles that control eye movement in children and adults. We focus on children’s eye health through prevention. We also provide care for adult patients with newly developed eye muscle problems related to illness, head trauma, or residual problems from childhood strabismus. We are the only pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus group in southern New England located within an academic medical center, providing our patients access to cutting-edge care and research to improve the outcomes of pediatric eye disease.

Aging almost always means cataracts—a clouding of the lens of the eye that results in impaired vision. Luckily, surgeons can remove most cataracts in a relatively simple outpatient operation. We offer patients outpatient surgery, anesthesia eye drops, and the latest in imaging, assessment, and diagnostic tools. Our doctors are deeply committed to restoring as much sight as possible with minimal discomfort. Our ophthalmologists excel at all forms of cataract surgery, and use innovative techniques, including small-incision procedures that require no suturing, resulting in faster recovery and better vision. We specialize in cataract removal for patients with complex eye conditions, including corneal disease, glaucoma, and small pupils. Experts in a wide range of eye surgeries, our specialists routinely combine cataract removal with other procedures to minimize time in the surgical suite and speed recovery.

Our specialists fit and provide contact lenses. Whether the needs are straightforward or specialized, our doctors and staff will find the right contact lenses for our patients. We offer the latest materials and designs, customizable to accommodate a wide variety of problems, including astigmatism, corneal transplants, dry eye, and corneal scars or irregularities after trauma. We fit contact lenses made from a wide selection of materials and to diverse specifications. With the aid of state-of the art technology, we are able to fit the following lenses: Silicone hydrogel Toric Multifocal Gas-permeable (including specialty designs) Hybrid (gas-permeable in the center with a soft outer portion) Scleral

Conditions of the eyelid, tear drain system, and orbit—the tissue and bone surrounding the eye—can be painful, debilitating, and vision-impairing. Yale ophthalmologists provide first-class care for patients with these issues collectively known as oculoplastic and orbital conditions. We have the expertise and experience to treat a wide range of eyelid problems, including drooping eye, eyelids turned in and out, and misdirected eyelashes. We also see patients with eyelid growths and inflammations such as infections, styes, benign growths, and minor skin cancers. In addition, our physicians diagnose and treat conditions and diseases of the tear duct and drain systems, as well as trauma, tumors, and loss of an eye.

Yale ophthalmologists are committed to addressing the most complex eye problems with vision-saving care. We provide a complete range of services that address minor problems like pink eye to major diseases and conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. We provide medical and surgical care for retinal disease, strabismus, and uveitis, as well as reconstructive and aesthetic ophthalmic plastic surgery and pediatric ophthalmology. Our patient-friendly clinic includes on-site services such as corneal topography, electrophysiologic testing, fluorescein angiography, fundus photography, lasers, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and visual fields. Our practice includes not only highly esteemed physicians, but also world-renowned researchers, which means our patients have access to the latest treatments and advances. Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Comprehensive eye care Cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery Diabetic eye care Glaucoma Neuro-ophthalmology Ocular immunology/uveitis Ocular oncology Optometry and contact lenses Orbital and reconstructive ophthalmic plastic surgery Pediatric ophthalmology Retina, macula, and vitreous diseases New injectable treatments for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy to slow or halt vision loss Complex retina surgeries; specialized retina evaluation and care, including laser treatment for premature newborns; medical and surgical care of diabetic retinopathy and macular diseases Cataract surgery with optional premium lenses; donor and artificial corneal transplants Specialty fitting of contact lenses for aphakic adult and pediatric patients, corneal transplant patients, and keratoconus patients Complete spectrum of orbital and reconstructive ophthalmic plastic surgery and cosmetic eye surgery