Eye Center

When it comes to diseases that affect the eye, the earlier a condition is detected, the easier it is to manage. Accomplishing this takes medical expertise and the latest diagnostic tools. You’ll find that and more at the NYU Langone Eye Center.

Our ophthalmologists care for adults and children. We manage all conditions that affect the eye, including glaucoma, cataract, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. We also specialize in oculoplastic surgery, which is used to treat people with conditions that affect the eyelid and tear duct.

Leaders in Eye Care

Our practice is led by Dr. Kathryn Colby, whose research has led to significant advances in treating complex diseases of the cornea and ocular surface.

Our team of ophthalmologists performs the latest surgical techniques, including minimally invasive glaucoma and vitreoretinal surgery, endoscopic orbital and skull base surgery, and cornea transplant. We also perform hyperspectral imaging, which allows us to look at the chemical makeup of the retina and detect any irregularities that could signal disease.

Pioneering Treatment for Fuchs Dystrophy

We are leaders in diagnosing and treating Fuchs dystrophy, a condition that ultimately leads to vision loss and is the most common reason for a corneal transplant in the United States. For people with this condition, the cells in the cornea’s endothelial layer gradually die off. These cells normally pump fluid out of the cornea to keep it clear. When these cells die, fluid builds up and the cornea thickens and swells, leading to cloudy or hazy vision, eye glare, and eye pain.

Our experts pioneered a minimally invasive surgical treatment for Fuchs dystrophy, called Descemet stripping only (DSO). This treatment involves removing the affected central corneal endothelial cells, which allows healthier peripheral cells to migrate in. Rather than relying on a donor cornea, DSO allows a person’s own cells to rejuvenate their cornea. The selective removal of damaged tissue can effectively restore corneal function while eliminating the risks associated with corneal transplant, which include tissue rejection and blindness.

As leaders in this area, our team conducts research on DSO as an alternative to corneal replacement through a multicenter, multinational clinical trial.

Innovation through Research

Experts at the Eye Center’s ocular imaging laboratory develop and study advanced diagnostic imaging technologies. At the Eye Center’s Ophthalmic Imaging Research Laboratory, we study conditions that affect the retina, including macular degeneration. Our research is leading to new treatments for glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and a host of other conditions.