WashU Medicine Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

08/17/2026

Carla Siegfried, MD, delivered the 2026 Robert Miller Memorial Lecture during Northwestern University’s Annual Paul Knepper Northwestern Ophthalmology and Vision Research Day.

Her lecture, “From Bedside to Bench… The Story of Oxygen and Insights into Glaucoma (and Cataract),” explored how decades of clinical observations and research have deepened our understanding of glaucoma and cataract development through the study of oxygen levels within the eye.

Carla Siegfried, MD, delivered the 2026 Robert Miller Memorial Lecture at Northwestern University, highlighting research advancing glaucoma and cataract care.

08/13/2026

Meet the person behind the white coat! 🩺✨

Our spotlight series goes beyond the white coat to introduce you to the people who make a difference in medicine—their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making every day.

Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Julia Fleecs, MD!

This spotlight series highlights the individuals behind the white coats, their journeys, passions, and the impact they’re making in the field of medicine. Today, we highlight Julia Fleecs, MD. Incoming Resident: Julia Fleecs, MD Where are you from? Glidden, Iowa Where did you attend Medical School...

08/07/2026

WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences proudly celebrated its 2026 graduating residents, fellows, optometry residents, and the faculty members who have helped shape their journey during the 2026 graduation awards ceremony.

The annual celebration recognized outstanding achievements in education, research, patient care, and mentorship while honoring the department's newest graduates as they embark on the next chapter of their careers.

WashU Medicine Ophthalmology celebrated the Class of 2026 during its annual Graduation Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding residents, fellows, faculty, and medical students.

08/05/2026

Congratulations to our WashU Medicine clinicians and the care teams at Barnes-Jewish Hospital on this awesome accomplishment!

#1 in St. Louis. #1 in Missouri.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital, with care provided by WashU Medicine Physicians, is honored to once again be ranked as the #1 hospital in St. Louis and Missouri on U.S. News and World Report's 2026–2027 Best Hospitals list.

Barnes-Jewish ranked nationally in 10 specialties, including cancer; diabetes and endocrinology; rheumatology; gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery; geriatrics; neurology and neurosurgery; obstetrics and gynecology; orthopedics; pulmonology and lung surgery; and urology. Barnes-Jewish was also ranked #1 in both St. Louis and Missouri for cancer and orthopedic care and rated as high performing in 17 procedures and conditions.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital joins other BJC HealthCare hospitals in the St. Louis regional rankings, including Missouri Baptist Medical Center at #2, Christian Hospital at #6, and Memorial Hospital Belleville and Memorial Hospital Shiloh at #7.

Additionally, Barnes-Jewish was recognized as a “Best Regional Hospital for Community Access,” an honor given to fewer than 100 hospitals nationwide for their success in caring for patients in historically underserved communities.

Thank you to our clinical teams for their expertise, compassion, and dedication to excellence—we are incredibly proud of the exceptional care you provide!

See the complete list of BJC Health honors here: https://heyor.ca/92NALM

08/04/2026

We're proud to celebrate an incredible achievement! 🎉

Thirty faculty physicians from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences have been named 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors! An honor awarded through peer nominations and a rigorous, physician-led selection process that recognizes excellence in patient care.

This recognition reflects our faculty's dedication to providing compassionate, world-class eye care while advancing ophthalmology through research, education, and innovation.

The WashU Medicine Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences celebrates its faculty physicians recognized as 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctors®.

08/03/2026

Lawrence Tychsen, MD, shared his latest research at the annual meeting of the American Ophthalmological Society in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

His presentation highlighted how refractive surgery can improve vision for children with neurobehavioral disorders who are unable to successfully wear glasses or contact lenses. This work has the potential to expand access to effective vision care for children with unique needs.

Lawrence Tychsen, MD, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences presented research at the American Ophthalmological Society meeting on how refractive surgery can improve vision and quality of life for children with neurobehavioral disorders.

07/31/2026

From first introductions over ice cream at Clementine's Ice Cream in 2024 to PGY-3s two years later.

It’s been incredible to watch our Class of 2028 grow as physicians, teammates, and friends.

07/27/2026

Yu Jiang, PhD, Cecilia S. Lee, MD, MS, and colleagues from WashU Medicine, John F. Hardesty, MD, Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, recently co-authored a study exploring how advanced retinal imaging may help detect changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, "Quantitative Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Indicators of Neurovascular Dysfunction in Alzheimer Disease," highlights the growing connection between eye health and brain health, offering promising insights that could support earlier detection and a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researchers from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences published a study examining how retinal imaging may help detect and monitor Alzheimer's disease through noninvasive eye-based biomarkers.

07/24/2026

Researchers from WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, have published a collaborative study in Scientific Reports that provides new insights into how inherited retinal diseases disrupt the organization of the retina and its blood vessels.

The study, titled “Altered retinal cellular architecture and neurovasculature in CRX-associated retinopathy mouse models,” highlights a collaboration between the Chen Lab and the Apte Lab.

Researchers from the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences published a Scientific Reports study revealing how CRX gene mutations disrupt retinal structure and blood vessels in inherited retinal diseases.

07/22/2026

Congratulations to Mae Gordon, PhD, and colleagues on their recent publication in JAMA Ophthalmology.

The study examined the relationship between primary open-angle glaucoma and patients' mental health, highlighting the importance of considering both vision and overall well-being in glaucoma care.

Mae Gordon, MD, of the WashU Medicine John F. Hardesty, MD Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences published research in JAMA Ophthalmology examining the relationship between primary open-angle glaucoma diagnosis and mental health status.