Pitt Ophthalmology/UPMCVisionInstitute

11/21/2025

If your vision is less than perfect, you may wear glasses or contact lenses to help you see more clearly. But for many people, vision correction (refractive) surgery is an option, too. Refractive surgery adjusts where light focuses in the back of your eye, so it more precisely hits your retina.

Learn about the types of Refractive Surgery at the UPMC Vision Institute: https://www.ophthalmology.pitt.edu/patient-care/refractive-surgery-vision-correction-surgery

11/19/2025

Our eyes are extraordinary. They allow us to take in the beauty of the world around us, learn through reading and observation, and share our thoughts, emotions, and creativity through visual expression and art.

We’re excited to announce that Webvision -- The Organization of the Retina and Visual System, a renowned online book and reference for scientists, clinicians, and students -- has officially migrated from the University of Utah’s Moran Eye Center to the University of Pittsburgh.

Webvision serves as a comprehensive, open-access resource that brings together foundational and cutting-edge knowledge about how the retina and visual pathways function. It continues to be guided by its distinguished editors Helga Kolb, PhD, Ralph Nelson, PhD, Eduardo Fernandez, MD, PhD, and Bryan Jones, PhD, whose commitment to vision science education have made Webvision a cornerstone for the field.

Explore this invaluable resource and learn more about the intricate systems that make sight possible: https://www.webvision.pitt.edu/

11/14/2025

👁️ A Global Mission to Restore Vision 🌍
Watch it now — the short documentary “A Global Mission to Restore Vision” follows the groundbreaking work of Dr. José-Alain Sahel and the team behind the PRIMA retinal implant, a wireless device that’s helping restore central vision in people with advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

This landmark clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, marks a major step forward in the fight against geographic atrophy (GA) — the leading cause of irreversible blindness in older adults worldwide.
www.ophthalmology.pitt.edu

🎥 Don’t miss this incredible story of innovation, hope, and the power of science to restore sight.

11/13/2025

🧬💙 Happy Genetic Counselors Appreciation Day!

Today we’re celebrating the incredible genetic counseling team at the UPMC Vision Institute — a dream team who not only support patients every day but also help advance the field through education and research.

As adjunct faculty with Pitt Public Health’s Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program, they recently organized the GC BRIDGED 2025 Conference, bringing together ophthalmic genetic counselors from across the country at the UPMC Mercy Pavilion.

Their impact reaches far beyond the clinic. Last year, sisters Tammy Krents and Kimberley Bell became Pittsburgh’s first recipients of Luxturna, a groundbreaking gene therapy for inherited retinal disease — thanks to the work of our ocular genetics team including Michelle Alabek, Morgan Brzozowski, Hannah Scanga, and Kelly Tripi.

💡 From connecting patients with life-changing treatments to shaping the next generation of genetic counselors — this team truly embodies the power of genetics in vision care.
Read here: https://www.health.pitt.edu/news/how-pitt-s-genetic-counseling-program-faculty-makes-vision-restoration-possible

Participants in the GC BRIDGED 2025 Conference for ophthalmic genetic counselors gathered on the steps of the UPMC Mercy Pavilion, home of the UPMC Vision Institute, in October. Photo credit: Will Smith Sisters Tammy Krents and Kimberley Bell both inherited a genetic disorder that causes progressive...

11/11/2025

🏅 Pitt School of Medicine ranks #12 in the world!
CEOWORLD Magazine’s 2025 global rankings highlight the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s unwavering commitment to excellence in education, research, and clinical innovation.

At the UPMC Vision Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, that commitment shines through in how we train the next generation of leaders in eye care and vision science — from medical and technical education to advanced clinical research.
www.ophthalmology.pitt.edu/education
✨ Proud to be part of a community that’s shaping the future of medicine and vision health.

11/06/2025

✨ Full-circle moment for Dr. Ellen Butts, OD!
Dr. Butts has dreamed of working at UPMC since she was 12 years old — and today, she’s living that dream as Division Chief of the Optometry Service. 👏
Her journey began after receiving care at UPMC Children’s Hospital in 2001, which first sparked her interest in health care. Later, a Reader’s Digest article featuring a retinal photo inspired her to pursue eye care, showing how much our eyes can reveal about overall health. 👁️💙
Read more about Dr. Butts’ inspiring story here: https://eyeandear.org/2025/10/ellen-butts-is-living-her-childhood-dream/

Ellen Butts, OD, has wanted to work at UPMC since she was 12 years old. Now she is Division Chief of the Optometry Service, living out her dream. The care [...]Read More... from Ellen Butts is Living Her Childhood Dream

11/04/2025

Some amazing highlights from Mission of Mercy! 👓💜

On October 24–25, Pittsburgh’s eye care community came together to support our neighbors in need — and the impact was incredible. We prescribed and ordered 645 pairs of glasses, diagnosed degenerative eye diseases, and connected patients with follow-up care at our upcoming Community Vision Day on December 6.

In total, we served 390 Pittsburghers on Friday and 388 on Saturday — but behind every number is an individual whose life was changed through restored vision and compassionate care. 💫

10/30/2025

This week’s 2025 Fox Center Conference was a remarkable gathering of innovation, collaboration, and discovery in the field of vision science. 👁️✨

From groundbreaking presentations to thought-provoking discussions, researchers, clinicians, and trainees came together to explore the future of restoring and preserving sight.

The Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration (Fox Center)—a partnership between UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh—is proud to be the nation’s first comprehensive, multidisciplinary program dedicated to ocular regenerative medicine.

Through cutting-edge research, clinical advancements, and collaboration across scientific disciplines, the Fox Center continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible for patients living with vision loss.
Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh

10/28/2025

The Global Innovation Summit visited the University of Pittsburgh last week and made a stop at the UPMC Vision Institute! 👁️✨

During their visit, guests experienced hands-on demonstrations of our StreetLab and Driving Simulator, as well as cutting-edge research from the Xing Chen Lab.

We’re proud to showcase how innovation in vision science and technology is transforming the future of patient care and research. 💡🔬

10/23/2025

More exciting news for Dr. José-Alain Sahel and the UPMC Vision Institute!

The groundbreaking PRIMA retinal implant study — co-led by Dr. Sahel — continues to gain national recognition, recently featured across multiple media outlets and highlighted in a special edition of “In the News – UPMC and Pitt Health Sciences.”
See where it's featured here: www.ophthalmology.pitt.edu/news

This achievement marks another major step forward in advancing vision restoration and innovation in ophthalmology.

10/22/2025

✨ Celebrating Innovation ✨

On September 15, the Eye & Ear Foundation gathered with Bruce and Barbara Wiegand, Department leaders, and this year’s awardees to recognize groundbreaking work at the 2025 Wiegand Entrepreneurial Award Reception in Pittsburgh.

These unique awards support companies born from University of Pittsburgh and UPMC teams—driving translational research and accelerating impact in ophthalmology and otolaryngology-head & neck surgery.

👏 Learn more about this year’s pioneering recipients and the vision behind the Wiegand Awards:

On Monday, September 15, the Eye & Ear Foundation hosted a distinguished reception in Pittsburgh to honor the recipients of the Bruce and Barbara Wiegand Entrepreneurial Research Awards. The event [...]Read More... from Celebrating Innovation: The 2025 Wiegand Entrepreneurial Award Reception

10/20/2025

Read more here: https://eyeandear.org/2025/08/gene-therapy-trial-cures-wet-amd-for-patient/