Tackling hereditary vision disorders
The Emory Eye Center has brought together ophthalmologists from diverse backgrounds to establish one of the largest ophthalmic genetics teams in the country. The Ophthalmic Genetics Service is well-equipped to provide a full evaluation of hereditary eye diseases. Our clinicians partner with Emory’s medical geneticists to ensure a complete evaluation of genetic diseases. In addition, the clinicians in this section work closely with residents and fellows to review the fundamentals of the clinical approach to these conditions.
Diagnostic focus
Clinicians in the Ophthalmic Genetics Service perform detailed assessments of their patients' ocular structures and visual function using state-of-the-art technologies. They also facilitate diagnostic genetic testing to reach both a clinical and genetic diagnosis. Diagnostic testing modalities include:
Ocular structure:
- Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography
- Swept source OCT
- Standard and ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence imaging
- Adaptive optics imaging
- B-scan ultrasonography with phased array probe technology
Visual function:
- Electrophysiology
(full-field electroretinography, multifocal ERG, electrooculography, visual evoked potentials) - Semiautomated kinetic perimetry
- Manual Goldmann kinetic perimetry
- Full-field stimulus testing
- Dark adaptometry
- Mesopic and scotopic microperimetry
- Flood illuminated adaptive optics fundus imaging
- Mobility testing
Translating scientific discovery to clinical care
The Ophthalmic Genetics section is an innovator in precision ophthalmology. Our clinician-investigators have experience studying both medical and surgical therapeutic candidates, ranging from pre-clinical studies to phase III clinical trials. Our team combines the expertise of numerous physicians, genetics specialists, clinical trial coordinators, and researchers. Our work is widely presented and published in the scientific literature.
The Ophthalmic Genetics Service works closely with the Emory Eye Center's Clinical Trials Program as well as the Atlanta Vision Research Community, a network of scientists, researchers, and clinicians from Metro Atlanta universities and hospitals. Together, these collaborations facilitate translation of novel therapeutic candidates from the research laboratory to clinical studies. They have also stimulated the flow of new data, questions, and perspectives for further study in the laboratory.