CU Ophthalmology

10/08/2026

Don't "leaf" your vision behind.

Roughly 77% of all vision impairment and blindness cases are preventable or treatable through early detection, simple glasses, or surgeries like cataract removal. Celebrate by prioritizing your eye health and scheduling a professional eye exam today!

10/07/2026

We've all heard about blue light... but how much of it is fact vs. fiction? 👀 Optometry Section Chief, Melanie Akau, OD, breaks down what you really need to know about blue light and your eyes.

10/05/2026

Meet Kevin Shan, MD! 👋
“As a classically trained pianist and competitive tennis player, I love the precision and technical challenge of ophthalmology. And there’s nothing more rewarding than helping others preserve or restore their ability to see the people and world around them.” 👁️
Dr. Shan is excited to explore everything ophthalmology has to offer and is especially interested in vitreoretinal surgery. Long-term, he hopes to combine patient care with his passions for teaching, mentorship, research, and expanding access to eye care.
Fun fact: Outside the hospital, you'll usually find him playing tennis or pickleball, hiking through national parks, skiing, spending time with family and friends, or enjoying good food!⛰️

10/01/2026

A new study is looking at eye health in older adults living with well-controlled HIV. 👁️

Researchers compared adults age 60 and older living with HIV with similar adults without HIV and found that dry eye was more common among those living with HIV.

Clinical signs of dry eye were found in 63% of participants with HIV, compared with 51% of those without HIV.

Researchers say more studies are needed to understand why, but the findings highlight the importance of routine eye care for people aging with HIV.

Read the full story below!

Study led by a CU Anschutz faculty member suggests adults aging with well-controlled HIV have a higher prevalence of some eye conditions, namely dry eye.

09/28/2026

What role might menopausal hormone therapy play in the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? 👁️

Retina specialist Talisa E. de Carlo Forest, MD, discusses this question on the JVRD Author’s Forum podcast, exploring research on menopausal hormone therapy use and progression from intermediate to advanced AMD.

The study found no association between a history of hormone therapy use and an increased risk of AMD progression.

Dr. Forest also discusses the importance of studying sex-specific factors in AMD and the questions that remain about the relationship between hormones and eye health.

Listen to the episode to learn more. ✨

https://bit.ly/3Vksaer

09/23/2026

Finding the right patients for clinical trials can be a major challenge, especially in ophthalmology.

Niranjan Manoharan, MD, and his team developed an AI tool that uses clinical data and retinal imaging to help identify patients who may qualify for clinical trials. 👁️

The team recently recruited five patients for a geographic atrophy study in just a few weeks using the new tool.

The technology could help researchers recruit trials more quickly and move potential treatments toward patients sooner. 🔬

Read the full story below!

Niranjan Manoharan, MD, is part of a team that has developed an AI tool to solve a major challenge for ophthalmology researchers: recruiting enough patients for clinical trials.

09/21/2026

Meet Haider Sarwar, MD! 👋👁️

Haider chose ophthalmology for the opportunity to combine medicine, surgery, and advocacy to help patients and communities.

He’s currently interested in retina and plastics and hopes to become an educator someday because he loves teaching! 😊

Born in London and raised partly in Naperville, Illinois, Haider is now calling Colorado home. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, hiking, trying new restaurants, movies, gaming, and getting plenty of sleep. 😴

We’re happy to have Haider as part of our ophthalmology community! 💙

09/19/2026

Could menopausal hormone therapy affect the risk or progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? 👁️

A recent study from CU Anschutz examined data from the Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center’s AMD registry and found no association between menopausal hormone therapy use and an increased risk of AMD progression.

Researchers say there’s still more to understand about the relationship between hormones and eye health, including whether the type, dose, or duration of hormone therapy may play a role. 👀

Read the full story:

Researchers at CU Anschutz investigate what menopausal hormone therapy might mean for age-related macular degeneration, which disproportionately affects women.

09/18/2026

September is Sports Eye Safety Month!

We sat down with Richard Davidson, MD, to talk about some of the most common eye injuries he sees after a hit to the eye, from bleeding and corneal abrasions to, in rare cases, injuries that require surgery. 👀

09/15/2026

Last week, our CU Anschutz Department of Ophthalmology hosted its 30th Annual Symposium!

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a memorable day. ✨