Congratulations to Dr. Petr Baranov on a new Scientific Reports publication and two bioRxiv preprints advancing retinal regeneration, single-cell transcriptomics, and neurodevelopment research! Thank you for your continued contributions to scientific discovery! 👏🔬📚 #VisionResearch #Neuroscience

Meet Dr. Dimitrios Stavropoulos, the newest member of our research team! 🔬👁️ Since 2023 he's been in Dr. Kun-Che Chang's lab and the ARPA-H THEA project, working on optic nerve regeneration and vision restoration, aiming to one day treat glaucoma and other irreversible conditions.

Sip of Science was a success! 🍻🔬 Thank you to our presenters Maysam Chamanzar, PhD, Zeila Hobson, and BWJones, PhD, for sharing their research with the community. Thanks also to Avenu Workspaces for sponsoring with us and Trace Brewing for hosting. See you at the next one!

When a 72-year-old resident visited our mobile clinic, she shared she hadn’t seen an eye doctor in years, despite living w/ cataracts & glaucoma. Access matters. And sometimes, it starts with simply being nearby. https://eyeandear.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026_June_Magazine2_Waxman.pdf

Relocating a research lab means more than moving equipment—it’s about people, collaboration, and continuing discovery. In Nature Methods, Dr. Bryan William Jones shares his move to Pitt and his work on how the retina’s ~200 cell types connect. Read more at www.ophthalmology.pitt.edu/news

News | Department of Ophthalmology

ophthalmology.pitt.edu

Congratulations to Netramind Innovations, Inc. on participating in the second annual Startup Signing Day at the University of Pittsburgh! Read more here:https://ow.ly/41Ww50YWFX5

Pitt Innovators Signal Their Commitment to Compete in the Market at Second Annual Startup Signing Day - Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Roc the Panther prowled the sidelines as the anticipation grew inside the Petersen Events Center while the starting lineup was announced. But the five all-stars who donned their Pitt caps …

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Join us a week from today for our (free!) webinar. An audience Q&A will follow the presentation. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OQC4e1KkQgCc2vIASiFudA#/ #webinar #LunchAndLearn #ophthalmology #OpticNeuritis

On Tuesday, Dr. Steven Chinn and Dr. Matthew Spector presented on neck cancer at CEORL HNS 2026 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Their presentations highlighted ongoing advances in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer, contributing to important international conversations in the field.

José‑Alain Sahel, MD, will give the Proctor Medal Lecture: “Shooting in the Dark: A Translational Odyssey.” Dr. Sahel is Chair of UPMC Ophthalmology & a leader in vision research. https://www.arvo.org/annual-meeting/award-lectures #ARVO2026

The Pitt Department of Ophthalmology is heading to ARVO 2026! 👁️ From groundbreaking discoveries to meaningful collaborations, ARVO is an opportunity to highlight our work. Stay tuned as we share updates, insights, and moments from ARVO 2026!

Xin (Daniel) Gao, PhD, is lead author of a published study about treatment for Zellweger spectrum disorder: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-026-01651-5 Read more: https://www.broadinstitute.org/news/base-editing-repairs-mutation-and-liver-function-mouse-model-zellweger-spectrum-disorder

As a course faculty member, Matt Spector, MD, FACS, presented at the Advances and Best Practices in Nerve Management: Maxillofacial Reconstructive Surgery program in Tempe, AZ this month.

🎉 Congratulations Dr. Williams! Dr. Williams’ research was featured in the April 2026 edition of the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeNet Magazine. https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/ehr-portal-messaging-reengages-patients?april-2026 📄 See the attached PDF for the article excerpt (page 2).

Be part of something bigger - volunteer with the Special Olympics! 👁️💙 This opportunity supports athletes through vision care that can make a real difference on and off the field. Use the link to register: https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/united-states/pennsylvania

Home  · Special Olympics International

portals.specialolympics.org

🔬 Speaker Highlight: Sip of Science We’re excited to spotlight one of our featured speakers for our upcoming Sip of Science event—Xing Chen, PhD! Dr. Chen is a tenure‑track Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology whose work focuses on brain‑computer interfaces, visual neuroscience, and blindness.

A clearer path to the Olympic Trials—literally. Read about how SMILE, a minimally invasive laser surgery helped Elsa correct her vision. https://eyeandear.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Hampton-runner-sees-clearer-path-to-Olympic-trials-via-new-laser-surgery-at-UPMC-Vision-Institute.pdf

News | Department of Ophthalmology

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🍻 Sip of Science is back—and you’re invited! 🧠🔬 Curious minds, cold drinks, and cutting-edge research come together at Trace Brewing on April 28, 2026. Pitt OPH is excited to co-sponsor this fan-favorite event with Avenu Workspaces, turning a night out into a front-row seat to incredible science.

Big news for vision research at Pitt 👁️🔬 The University of Pittsburgh and the Eye and Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh have been awarded a $2,182,900 multiyear grant from the Gilbert Family Foundation to support the Vision Restoration Initiative (VRI) at Pitt Ophthalmology. www.ophthalmology.pitt.edu

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The UPMC Vision Institute The UPMC Vision Institute harnesses the clinical and research expertise of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology. Learn more Is Refractive Eye Surgery Right for You? For many people with less than perfect vision, vision correction (refractive) su…

ophthalmology.pitt.edu

A tiny retinal implant is helping restore meaningful vision for people living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). 👁️ The groundbreaking study, led by vision scientist and ophthalmology chair José-Alain Sahel at the University of Pittsburgh www.ophthalmology.pitt.edu

Home | Department of Ophthalmology

The UPMC Vision Institute The UPMC Vision Institute harnesses the clinical and research expertise of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology. Learn more Is Refractive Eye Surgery Right for You? For many people with less than perfect vision, vision correction (refractive) su…

ophthalmology.pitt.edu

Congratulations Anthony St. Leger! His latest research has been accepted for publication & will appear in Cell Reports today. The study showcases an innovative approach in which his team engineered an eye‑colonizing bacterium to deliver a regulatory cytokine that accelerates corneal wound healing.

A tiny retinal chip called PRIMA is giving people with advanced eye disease a chance to see again. Paired with special glasses, it works like a mini solar panel to replace damaged light‑sensing cells. Incredible tech. https://www.wtae.com/article/prima-vision-degenerative-eye-disease/70430239

New technology helping to restore vision

Paired with external glasses, a tiny chip that is surgically placed under the retina is helping people who are legally blind see again.

wtae.com

From photoreceptors to visual processing — #Webvision is your open-access deep dive into how we see. Now hosted at our Department, continuing its mission to make vision science accessible to all. Start exploring → www.webvision.pitt.edu #Ophthalmology #Neuroscience

👁️ Community Vision Day is back! This past weekend, the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology came together for another successful Community Vision Day, providing free eye exams and essential healthcare services to both insured and uninsured community members.

Congratulations to Jay Chhablani, MD, on co-authoring the recent publication, "Peripapillary Intervortex Venous Anastomoses in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy." 👏 Read it here on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41609874/

Peripapillary intervortex venous anastomoses in central serous chorioretinopathy - PubMed

Semiquantitative analysis of intervortex venous anastomoses in peripapillary area based on en face OCTA showed their variable prevalence in eyes with CSCR, which correlates with clinical classifications of CSCR.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Please join us in welcoming Petr Baranov to the University of Pittsburgh Department of Ophthalmology! 👁️✨ Dr. Baranov previously served as an Assistant Professor at Harvard University. His early work sparked a lasting interest in cell regeneration.

Sip of Science is back! Curious minds, cold drinks, and cutting-edge research come together at Trace Brewing on April 28. Meet the minds behind the discoveries: • Xing Chen, PhD – Ophthalmology • Robert Gaunt, PhD – Rehab Neural Engineering Labs • Jorge Gonzalez-Martinez, MD, PhD – Neurology

Thinking about ditching glasses, contacts? Refractive surgery isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some procedures reshape the cornea, while others place a lens inside the eye similar to a contact lens. Laser & non-laser options are available, and your eye doctor can help determine what’s best for your vision.

Inside your retina, tiny support cells called amacrine cells help fine-tune how you see. 👁️ They shape and time visual signals before they’re sent to the brain—supporting motion, contrast, and detail. Learn more at webvision.pitt.edu

The EyeVan brings eye exams to local communities, helping catch vision issues early and remove barriers to care. Support access, prevention, and healthier futures. 💙 Follow the @EyeVan on Facebook and Instagram #EyeVan #VisionCare #CommunityHealth #MobileClinic #UPMC #Pittsburgh

Seeing the world differently doesn’t mean seeing it alone. 👁️✨ Our Low Vision Service supports people with vision challenges—from blurred sight to light sensitivity—caused by injury, illness, or aging. 💙 https://ow.ly/OJNO50Y4ZeA