CU Ophthalmology

Congratulations to Niranjan Manoharan, MD, on being selected as a 2026 SPARK Award recipient!

As part of the ninth annual SPARK cohort, Dr. Manoharan is among nine faculty teams receiving funding to advance innovative technologies in medicine and patient care.

We're proud to celebrate this recognition and see our department represented among this year's awardees! 👏👁️

A potentially blinding eye infection associated with injection drug use is becoming an increasing concern for ophthalmologists.

Research led by Jared Sokol, MD, examines injection drug use-associated endogenous endophthalmitis (IDU-EE), including treatment outcomes and the important role of connecting patients with addiction care.

The study found a more than 106% increase in cases at Massachusetts Eye and Ear over two study periods, with particularly concerning visual outcomes among patients who injected fentanyl.

As Dr. Sokol says, “In ophthalmology, we don’t just treat the eyes. We think about the whole patient.” 👁️

Read more:

Research: Eye Infection from Injection Drug Use Is Rising CU Anschutz ophthalmologist Jared Sokol, MD, MBA, led a new study on injection drug use-associated endogenous endophthalmitis.

Congratulations to Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, DipABO on being named a 2026 Theia Award winner! 👏💙

Presented by Women In Optometry, the Theia Awards recognize women making exceptional contributions to the profession.

Dr. Koetting is passionate about mentoring the next generation of eye care professionals, sharing:

"None of us get where we are by going alone... our profession is strongest when we lift each other up and pay that investment forward."

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! ✨

Congratulations to our physicians recognized in 5280 Magazine's Top Doctors list!

The Top Doctors list is based on the Castle Connolly Top Doctors peer nomination and research process, recognizing physicians for excellence in patient care and clinical expertise.

We're proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition and thank our CU Anschutz ophthalmology faculty for their commitment to improving the lives of patients every day. 💙

Please join us in celebrating Ram H. Nagaraj, PhD, as he retires after an extraordinary career in academic medicine.

During his 12 years with the University of Colorado Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Nagaraj advanced innovative vision research, mentored the next generation of scientists, and helped transform discoveries into potential therapies for blinding eye diseases.

While retiring from his faculty role, he plans to remain engaged as Professor Emeritus, continuing to collaborate on research and support scientific innovation.

Thank you, Dr. Nagaraj, for your dedication, mentorship, and lasting contributions to our department. Wishing you a wonderful retirement! 💙

What does it take to become an ophthalmic surgeon?

Long before residents enter the operating room, they're practicing in the department's wet lab—developing surgical techniques, building confidence, and learning alongside experienced faculty mentors.

Learn how the wet lab is helping train the next generation of ophthalmologists. 👁️

https://bit.ly/3Ry0u46

Congratulations to Riaz Qureshi, PhD, MS, on his appointment as Director of Medical Student Research!

In this new leadership role, Dr. Qureshi will help expand research opportunities for medical students, strengthen mentorship, and support the next generation of physician-scientists.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Qureshi on this exciting appointment! 👏

Congratulations to our faculty members on their recent promotions! 👏

These promotions reflect their dedication to advancing patient care, education, research, and service while helping shape the future of ophthalmology.

We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved achievement. Please join us in congratulating our newly promoted faculty! 🤩