A message from the Chairman

I am delighted to welcome you to the web site of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago. For 150 years, our Department has used the most innovative methods available to diagnose, treat and understand eye diseases. From the formation of one of the first glaucoma clinics in 1937 to today’s research investigations into the development of a retinal bypass nanodevice, whole eye transplantation, and other future biotechnologies, our physicians and scientists continue to break new ground.

Individuals of all ages visit our main location in the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, on the UIC Medical Center Campus, and at our satellite office, the Millennium Park Eye Center, on Michigan Avenue. Our patient care services range from general eye exams to the diagnosis and treatment of complex vision disorders. Selected every year as Top and Best doctors, our ophthalmology physicians are recognized as experts by their peers, who refer their most difficult and complicated cases to our subspeciality services in retina, uveitis, cornea, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, oculoplastics, and pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus. Our continued pursuit of excellence has helped to build one of the best Cornea Services in the country; our Retina Service is quickly becoming recognized as the best in the Midwest; and, plans for growing our Glaucoma Service will soon establish its position as a national leader.

Our vision research program is rich and clinically integrated, with one-third of our full-time ophthalmology faculty holding PhDs in the basic sciences. With 13 research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, including 12 by the National Eye Institute, we are well positioned for strategic expansion of our research program to include translational research in retinal diseases, glaucoma and drug delivery systems.

Innovation in the area of ophthalmologic education is underway at every level, from education of residents and fellows to faculty development. Our continuing medical education program includes the acclaimed Illinois Eye Review, which offers a unique combination of factual, comprehensive and applied coverage of ophthalmology topics.

The need to prevent blindness confronts countless patients, physicians and scientists around the world and is felt acutely, every day, in our clinic services. We are dedicated to bringing patient care to the highest level and providing the best treatments for patients with vision loss through our commitment to outstanding care, education and research in ophthalmology.



Dimitri Azar M.D.
B.A. Field Endowed Chair of Ophthalmologic Research
Professor and Department Head