The University of Louisville Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (DOVS) faculty, residents, fellows and postdoctoral fellows are exploring new frontiers in visual science research and delivering individualized state-of-the-art treatment for the entire spectrum of eye diseases. At the same, a new generation of researchers and eye care providers is being trained.

Most of the research occurs at the UofL Health – Eye Institute and is devoted to defining and treating ocular diseases, which include blinding eye diseases due to retinal photoreceptor or pigment epithelium degeneration, dry eye syndrome, ocular autoimmune inflammation and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Over 32,000 patients are treated annually at the UofL Health – Eye Institute, and 274 residents and fellows at the University of Louisville School of Medicine have trained here since 1943.

Our faculty are funded both from Federal sources (NIH) and through partnerships with biotechnology companies. Our research and clinical faculty collaborate to take findings from the laboratory bench to our clinic. Our faculty also are well known for their contributions to the scientific community, where they serve on editorial boards and a variety of federal and private study sections. Every day UofL Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences researchers are making new discoveries and breaking new ground to solve problems related to eye disease and its treatment.

About the UofL Health – Eye Institute

The UofL Health – Eye Institute opened in 1967 as the Kentucky Lions Eye Research Institute and was later renamed the Kentucky Lions Eye Center.  The institute is home to the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, Kentucky Lions Eye Bank, Rounsavall Eye Clinic and the WHAS-TV Pediatric Clinic. Inside the institute, the “Wall of Vision” is a tribute to the many philanthropic donors who have made the University of Louisville Health – Eye Institute and Kentucky Lions Eye Center the pinnacle of vision care and eye research in our region.

The UofL Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences currently has basic science research grants totaling $3.14 million from sources that include:

  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • S. Department of Defense (DOD)
  • Research to Prevent Blindness Foundation
  • Foundation Fighting Blindness
  • Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence
  • Robert W. Rounsavall, Jr. Family Foundation

The department has sub-awards from Sorbonne University in France and the University of Oklahoma.  It also has contracts with entities such as:

  • Sparing Vision
  • Lediant BioSciences
  • Nayan Therapeutics
  • WAVE Life Sciences
  • Precision Biosciences
  • Kentucky Network for Innovation and Commercialization (KYNETIC)
Joern B. Soltau, M.D.

Joern B. Soltau, M.D.
Chair

UofL Health Logo

Harry H. “Butch” Schulman, MBA, Lt. Col. USAF Retired
Vice Chairman and Executive Director

Services

Whether you need routine eye care, glasses, contact lenses, school vision exams or specialized treatment for complicated eye diseases or conditions, the only ophthalmology practice in Louisville you need is UofL Physicians – Eye Specialists, located at the UofL Health – Eye Institute as well as several convenient locations throughout the region.  Some of the key services and treatment options we provide patients include:

  • Cornea and External Disease
  • Refractive Surgery (Laser Vision Correction)
  • Contact Lenses
  • Advanced Cataract Surgery
  • Glaucoma
  • Retina and Vitreous
  • Electrophysiology
  • Uveitis
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Oculofacial and Plastic Surgery
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Optical Shop
  • Ocular Prosthetics

Our eye care specialists, including ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians, are nationally renowned experts in their fields. Many of our eye doctors in Louisville have been repeatedly chosen as Best Doctors in America, an honor bestowed by their national peers, recognizing them as being among the top three to five percent of physicians in their area.

UofL Physicians – Eye Specialists offers comprehensive eye care to patients in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area, and patients come from all over Kentucky and neighboring states such as Tennessee and Ohio for specialized eye care. We host the largest multispecialty team of Ophthalmologists in Louisville, treating a broad range of eye disorders, from common eye problems such as lazy eye, cataracts, glaucoma and low vision, to the most complicated eye diseases, offering medical and surgical treatment for eye conditions including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, uveitis, retinal detachment, hereditary retinal disease, thyroid eye disease, eye disease requiring corneal transplantation and retinopathy of prematurity. We also offer LASIK vision correction and many cosmetic eye treatments including eyelid and brow lifts, and Botox therapy.

Korrect Optical, located in the lobby of the Kentucky Lions Eye Center in Louisville, offers a wide selection of adult and children’s frames from designers including Coach, Ray-Ban, Giorgio Armani and Polo Ralph Lauren. Our on-site optician fills prescriptions quickly and is available to fit your glasses. Contact lenses are also available through our optical shop. Korrect Optical may be reached at 502-447-3083.

Diseases & Conditions

Conditions of the eye/eye diseases we specialize in:

  • Refractive errors appropriate for LASIK vision correction
  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Glaucoma
  • Cataract
  • Uveitis
  • Lazy eye or amblyopia
  • Squint or strabismus
  • Thyroid Eye Disease
  • Facial trauma
  • Eyelid deformity
  • Tear duct disorders
  • Retinal detachment repair
  • Macular hole repair
  • Corneal transplantation
  • Low vision rehabilitation
  • Contact Lenses
  • Melanoma of the eye
  • Drooping upper eyelids and brows
  • Skin cancer of eyelids and face
  • Orbital tumors

Some of the most common symptoms of eye problems are:

  • Blurred vision
  • Halos
  • Floaters
  • Red or pink eyes
  • Crossed or misaligned eyes
  • Double vision
  • Night vision problems
  • Swollen eye
  • Tearing

Treatments & Services

Retina and Uveitis

The majority of UofL Physicians – Eye Specialists’ retina doctors have been repeatedly selected as Best Doctors in America and specialize in diseases affecting the retina, the part of the eye responsible for detecting light, offering ophthalmology services including diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, uveitis and retinitis pigmentosa (one of the most common forms of inherited eye disease), as well as many other complicated conditions.

Diabetes

Diabetic eye disease can affect people of all ages and is the leading cause of blindness in patients between the ages of 20 and 55. Diabetic eye disease occurs when blood vessels in the retina of the eye are damaged by poor control of diabetes. Vision loss from diabetes is preventable and treatable; if you have diabetes, it is important to see a trained retina specialist to receive the most appropriate care.

Age-related macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness after age 55. It affects an estimated 15 million Americans and causes progressive loss of central vision. UofL Physicians – Eye Specialists was the first in the Louisville region to perform genomic testing to diagnose and manage patients with macular degeneration. Our doctors, as clinician-scientists, have access to the most novel and effective treatments possible for this and other vision-stealing retinal diseases.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, refers to a group of inherited retinal diseases that cause the retina to degenerate, leading to vision loss and eventual blindness. Our doctors are on the forefront of the discovery of new treatments for these diseases, including the use of stem cells for the re-growth of damaged retina. We were the first in the United States to investigate retinal transplantation as a potential treatment for retinitis pigmentosa. Our patients benefit from our doctors’ advanced knowledge of these conditions and access, when appropriate, to new treatments through clinical trials.

Uveitis

New treatments for uveitis, or inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, are effective in reducing inflammation and preserving vision. Our doctors are experienced in use of the most modern medications to treat intraocular inflammation, and pioneered vitreous surgery as a treatment option in the most stubborn cases.

Glaucoma and Cataract

It is estimated that more than 3 million Americans have glaucoma, and as many as half of those who have it may not know that they have the disease. Glaucoma initially causes no symptoms. This is why it is so important to have regular eye exams, especially when there is a family history of glaucoma. Glaucoma occurs when elevated pressure in the eye leads to damage to the optic nerve, causing loss of peripheral vision. Our glaucoma doctors offer the most comprehensive and leading-edge ophthalmology services for our glaucoma patients, carefully monitoring pressure in the eyes, managing it with medicines when possible and performing surgery when necessary to relieve the pressure.

An estimated 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts, but it is the most curable vision-threatening condition. Our cataract experts offer the latest surgical treatments for cataracts, including lens implantation; if surgery can be delayed with the use of vision aids, that option is explored as well.

LASIK Vision Correction

LASIK surgery corrects vision problems by re-shaping the cornea. Our refractive surgeon is a cornea specialist; he completed advanced training in corneal diseases at the world-renowned University of Rochester. We offer competitively priced LASIK vision correction services in Louisville and many discounts and payment plans are available.  Procedures are performed in comfort at our Laser Eye Center located at UofL Health – Medical Center East, 3920 Dutchmans Lane in St. Matthews.

Cornea and External Disease

Our cornea and external disease specialist offers the newest treatments for diseases and conditions affecting the cornea and vision, including refractive surgery (both LASIK and lens implantation), DSEK or Descemet’s Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty, and corneal transplantation. UofL Physicians – Eye Specialists was the first in Kentucky to implant an artificial cornea, or keratoprosthesis, for the treatment of corneal disease.

Oculofacial Plastic Surgery

Patients in Louisville and Southern Indiana have many reasons for pursuing surgery of the face and eyes, including facial trauma, drooping eyelids and eyelid abnormalities. At UofL Physicians – Eye Specialists, we offer rhinoplasty (nose surgery), blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow and forehead lifts, facelifts and Botox injections. In addition, our highly regarded oculoplastic surgeon performs reconstructive surgery after facial trauma, and for thyroid eye disease patients whose eyes do not respond to medical treatment.

Melanoma of the Eye

Melanoma is a cancer of the pigmented cells of the body (melanocytes). It most commonly occurs in the skin but can develop in parts of the eye. Also known as ocular melanoma, melanoma of the eye occurs in six people per million, per year. It is more common in Caucasians or people with blue or green eyes. The cause of melanoma of the eye is unknown.

Low Vision Rehabilitation Center

Low vision is defined as visual impairment that cannot be corrected with glasses or other common visual aids. Our Low Vision Rehabilitation Center in Louisville offers optometric specialists and occupational therapists that are trained to help patients with low vision determine the extent of their useful vision and how to best manage it through lifestyle adjustments and the use of various tools and therapies.

Optical Shop

Korrect Optical, located in the lobby of the Kentucky Lions Eye Center in Louisville, offers a wide selection of adult and children’s frames from designers including Coach, Ray-Ban, Giorgio Armani and Polo Ralph Lauren. Our on-site optician fills prescriptions quickly and is available to fit your glasses. Contact lenses are also available through our optical shop. Korrect Optical may be reached at 502-447-3083.

Contact Lens Center

The UofL Physicians – Eye Specialists Contact Lens Center offers a broad assortment of lenses to meet your specific needs. Our contact lens specialist will see patients to fit contact lenses during a regular eye exam, or as a separate appointment, especially for those who require specialty lenses.

Contact Us

UofL Health – Eye Institute
Kentucky Lions Eye Center
301 East Muhammad Ali Boulevard
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 588-0550

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