Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology Services

The Department of Ophthalmology at UI Health provides comprehensive care for all types of eye conditions and diseases. Our dedicated ophthalmology services are staffed by nationally recognized experts who specialize in treating a variety of eye conditions.

To request an appointment, please call 312.996.EYES (3937)

General Eye Clinic

The General Eye Clinic (GEC) is the heart of our department and serves as the first point of contact for many of our patients. Our dedicated ophthalmologists and resident physicians provide a wide spectrum of care — ranging from managing common eye diseases and delivering routine eye exams to performing complex medical and surgical cases, including cataract, glaucoma, and retinal procedures. Special emphasis is placed on providing strong continuity of patient care. The GEC accepts emergent referrals from outside providers throughout the region and treats immediate eye care issues on a walk-in basis.

We provide routine and immediate eye care. We welcome same-day appointments as available. It is recommended that adults receive a comprehensive eye exam every four years and children every two years.

Comprehensive Ophthalmology Faculty Practice (COFP)

The Comprehensive Ophthalmology Faculty Practice (COFP) is a premier ophthalmology practice run by recognized board-certified ophthalmologists. The clinic provides comprehensive eye exams, eyeglass prescriptions, and contact lens fitting. More extensive services include state-of-the-art cataract surgery, femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, premium intraocular lenses, and the management of common and complex eye diseases. Same-day or next-day appointments are available.

Contact Lens Service

Our Contact Lens Service offers eye examinations and primarily provides care to patients requiring medically necessary contact lenses. Our physicians are known nationally for their clinical and research expertise and their ability to help patients with various complex corneal diseases. Our physicians have extensive experience with all types of medically necessary contact lenses, including scleral, hybrid, and rigid contact lenses, and customized soft contact lenses. In addition, UI Health is the only Chicago-area provider to offer BostonSight PROSE treatment for patients with severely compromised ocular function as a result of complex corneal disease.

Cornea Service

The Cornea and External Disease Service manages patients with diseases of the front of the eye, including corneal and conjunctival infections; keratoconus; cataracts; tumors of the iris and conjunctiva; blepharitis; dry eye; corneal scarring; complications of trauma and ocular surgery; and hereditary corneal diseases, like Fuchs’ Dystrophy. The service has extensive expertise in all forms of partial thickness corneal transplantation, including DMEK, DSAEK/ DSEK, and DALK, in addition to traditional penetrating keratoplasty. Those not eligible for human corneal transplantation may qualify for our Artificial Cornea Program, the largest program of its kind in the Midwest for implanting keratoprostheses. The service also provides access to state-of-the-art imaging technology to quickly and accurately diagnose a wide spectrum of diseases. Cornea specialists also work with the Contact Lens Service to offer advanced contact lens therapies, including the PROSE lens, and offer the opportunity to participate in the latest clinical trials for dry-eye diseases, corneal transplantation, and corneal infections.

Dry Eye and Ocular GVHD Clinic

In the Dry Eye and ocular GVHD Clinic, we use state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment to assess the severity and type of dry eye. We use customized treatments to treat dry eye and ocular GVHD. We have established a unique translational research program that makes feasible the discovery and development of novel treatments for Dry Eye and ocular GVHD. This program comprises of a highly specialized ocular GVHD clinic for patient care, an advanced translational molecular biology laboratory for uncovering disease mechanisms, dedicated clinical trial center for developing new therapies and a highly motivated team who seamlessly connect these components. The clinical practice and basic laboratory research are highly integrated around the focus area of dry eye and ocular GVHD, which has allowed us to investigate the biological basis of clinical observations in dry eye and ocular GVHD.

Glaucoma Service

The Glaucoma Service at UI Health is a nationally recognized center for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma in adults and children. Our service offers comprehensive care and management of all forms of glaucoma, including specialized diagnostic testing, and we are leaders in the latest laser and surgical procedures to treat all forms of the disease. Our specialists are actively involved in glaucoma research, and we are a site for testing investigational new drugs to treat glaucoma.

Eye Surgery

UI Health offers surgical options ranging from laser vision correction, artificial lens surgery for cataracts, glaucoma procedures, and surgery to address vision-threatening diseases.

Illinois Center for Thyroid Eye Disease

The Illinois Center for Thyroid Eye Disease provides multi-specialty coordinated care for patients with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). TED is an autoimmune disease that causes changes in the appearance of the eyes and eyelids and symptomatic pain, tearing, double vision and in rare cases, vision loss.

Low Vision Service

In this clinic, a low vision optometrist and a certified low vision therapist work as a team to provide a clinical examination and visual skills assessment. Patients with low vision are introduced to technology and techniques to enhance their remaining sight and facilitate their independence. Therapy may employ the use of special optical and electronic devices, ergonomic equipment, and new visual skills to address routine daily tasks like reading, writing, managing medication, cooking, locating, and reading signs. Referrals are made to other specialists or community organizations to help address patient needs.

Neuro-Ophthalmology Service

The Neuro-Ophthalmology Service offers expert evaluations and treatment for neuro-ophthalmologic conditions and visual or oculomotor complications of stroke, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological diseases. The service facilitates and interprets a wide range of diagnostic testing relevant to the diagnosis and management of neuro-ophthalmic diseases, including Goldmann and Humphrey perimetry, infrared pupillometry, optical coherence tomography, electroretinography, lumbar punctures, and MRI. The service works closely with doctors in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Radiation Oncology, and Rheumatology to provide interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art treatments.

Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgery Service

The Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgery Service provides assessment and cosmetic and reconstructive surgical treatments for conditions of the eyelids, orbit, face, lacrimal system, and other areas around the eyes.

Pediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Service

The Pediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus Service offers general pediatric eye care for newborns and children up to 18 years of age and treats rare and unusual children’s eye disorders, including glaucoma and genetic, neurocutaneous, and neuro-ophthalmologic disorders. The doctors in this service specialize in strabismus (eye-alignment disorders) in adults and children.

Retina Service

The Retina Service specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of patients with vascular and vitreoretinal disorders, including macular degeneration, vein occlusion, sickle cell eye disease, ocular complications of diabetes, retinal detachment, vitreomacular adhesion, retinopathy of prematurity, retinitis pigmentosa, intraocular tumors, and severe eye trauma.

Uveitis Service

The Uveitis Service treats patients with inflammation of the uveal tract: the middle vascular layers of the eye critical to its normal function. Patients are referred to this service for the diagnosis and management of infectious and non-infectious ocular inflammatory conditions such as scleritis and anterior, intermediate, posterior and panuveitis.

To request an appointment, please call 312.996.EYES (3937)