The Ophthalmology Scientific Advisory Council (SAC) advises MERIT on cutting edge technology and treatments to keep our firm aligned with market needs and assist with fulfilling our mission of driving innovation in life sciences.
Ophthalmology Scientific Advisory Council
Robert L. Avery, MD
Robert L. Avery, MD, is the founder and CEO of California Retina Consultants, Santa Barbara CA. He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University and took his ophthalmology training there at the Wilmer Eye Institute. He completed a vitreoretinal fellowship at Duke University under Dr. Robert Machemer, Brooks McCuen, and Gene de Juan. Dr. Avery returned to Johns Hopkins as Assistant Chief of Service and head of the trauma unit. He later went on to found California Retina Consultants, which grew into one of the largest retina practices in California and recently merged with several other national practices to form Retina Consultants of America.
During the growth and expansion of CRC, Dr. Avery continued clinical and basic science research, especially in the field of angiogenesis and VEGF. He and his colleges at CRC had a role in pioneering the clinical use of anti-VEGF agents for retinal diseases. He founded the California Retina Research Foundation, which currently has over 50 active clinical research trials ongoing.
Dr. Avery has received numerous honors and awards, including Senior honor awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists, where he also has served on the board of directors. He was the first recipient of the Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Award. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Retina Society, the Macula Society, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Vit-Buckle Society, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He is a member of the Medical Leadership Board of Retina Consultants of America.
Dr. Avery is the co-editor of Retina Today, and he has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles on retinal diseases. His interests include the development of improved retinal drugs and their delivery, and he holds patents in retinal drug delivery. He is a partner in two ophthalmology venture capital companies, and he is on the board of several start-up companies developing ocular drugs and improving their delivery
During the growth and expansion of CRC, Dr. Avery continued clinical and basic science research, especially in the field of angiogenesis and VEGF. He and his colleges at CRC had a role in pioneering the clinical use of anti-VEGF agents for retinal diseases. He founded the California Retina Research Foundation, which currently has over 50 active clinical research trials ongoing.
Dr. Avery has received numerous honors and awards, including Senior honor awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists, where he also has served on the board of directors. He was the first recipient of the Ronald G. Michels Fellowship Award. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Retina Society, the Macula Society, the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Vit-Buckle Society, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He is a member of the Medical Leadership Board of Retina Consultants of America.
Dr. Avery is the co-editor of Retina Today, and he has published over 90 peer-reviewed articles on retinal diseases. His interests include the development of improved retinal drugs and their delivery, and he holds patents in retinal drug delivery. He is a partner in two ophthalmology venture capital companies, and he is on the board of several start-up companies developing ocular drugs and improving their delivery
David S. Boyer, MD
Dr. David Boyer is a world-renowned clinician, surgeon, and educator and senior partner at the Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group in Southern California. He completed sub-specialty training in medical and surgical diseases of the retina, vitreous, and macula, and is board certified in ophthalmology.
Dr. Boyer has an impressive research background and is currently an investigator for various clinical trials. His areas of expertise as a leading retinal clinical researcher include new treatments in macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. He is a published author and avid lecturer. He lectures nationally and internationally on retinal research and the innovative approach to the treatment of retinal diseases.
He holds an MD from the Chicago Medical School, finished his residency at the Los Angeles County - USC County Medical Center, and completed his retinal surgery fellowship at the world-renowned Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He is currently an Adjunct Clinical Professor at USC/Keck School of Medicine.
Dr. Boyer has an impressive research background and is currently an investigator for various clinical trials. His areas of expertise as a leading retinal clinical researcher include new treatments in macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. He is a published author and avid lecturer. He lectures nationally and internationally on retinal research and the innovative approach to the treatment of retinal diseases.
He holds an MD from the Chicago Medical School, finished his residency at the Los Angeles County - USC County Medical Center, and completed his retinal surgery fellowship at the world-renowned Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He is currently an Adjunct Clinical Professor at USC/Keck School of Medicine.
David Brown, MD, FACS
David M. Brown MD, FACS is Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine and vice-chair for research at the Blanton Eye Institute, Houston Methodist Hospital. Dr. Brown is the director of research at Retina Consultants of Texas and he chairs the Medical Leadership Board of Retina Consultants of America and serves on the RCA board of directors. Dr. Brown graduated from Baylor College of Medicine with highest honors and completed ophthalmology and retina training at the University of Iowa where he was a Thomas Heed Fellow, a Hermann Knapp Fellow, and was awarded the Ron Michels Fellowship award presented to the top retinal surgery fellow in the US in 1994. Dr. Brown is an elected member of the Macula Society, the Retina Society, and the Club Jules Gonin and his honors include the American Academy of Ophthalmology Honor Award (2000), the American Society of Retina Specialists Honor Award (2008), the ASRS Senior Honor Award (2010), the AAO Senior Honor Award (2014), Retina Hall of Fame inaugural inductee (2017), and continuous election as one of the “Best Doctors in America” 2007-2022 and "Texas Super Docs" from 2009-2022.
Dr Brown’s research and clinical interests are focused on macular surgery, age-related macular degeneration, gene therapy, retinal vascular disease, and diabetic retinopathy. He has published and written over 400 national meeting presentations, abstracts, and scientific papers including many of the primary papers establishing the use of anti-VEGF agents for AMD, retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Brown also serves as the consultant retina specialist for NASA for all ongoing and long-term space flight astronauts.
Dr Brown’s research and clinical interests are focused on macular surgery, age-related macular degeneration, gene therapy, retinal vascular disease, and diabetic retinopathy. He has published and written over 400 national meeting presentations, abstracts, and scientific papers including many of the primary papers establishing the use of anti-VEGF agents for AMD, retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Brown also serves as the consultant retina specialist for NASA for all ongoing and long-term space flight astronauts.
Antonio Capone Jr., MD
Dr. Capone is an internationally recognized clinician, surgeon, and educator specializing in pediatric vitreoretinal diseases, complicated retinal detachment, ocular oncology, and macular disease. Born in Rhode Island, Dr. Capone obtained his undergraduate and medical school training at Brown University. He completed an ophthalmology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Eye & Ear Hospital before a vitreoretinal fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Upon completing his training, he joined the Emory faculty and rose to tenured Associate Professor. He is a partner at Associated Retinal Consultants (ARC) in Royal Oak, MI, a Professor of Ophthalmology at Oakland University William Beaumont Hospital School of Medicine, and Chief Clinical Officer for EyeCare Partners. He is also President of the Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation, immediate past Co-President of ARC, and was the founding Chairman of EyeCare Partners’ Medical Executive Board.
Dr. Capone has authored or co-authored over 300 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, book chapters, and publications from clinical trials. He is a scientific reviewer for the leading journals within ophthalmology and retina and an editorial board member of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. As an innovator, Dr. Capone has several co-assigned patents, has engaged in surgical instrument design and software and biopharmaceutical start-ups, and serves on several scientific advisory boards. He has been dedicated to medical education at all levels throughout his career and has served as Director of the Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery at Emory University and ARC. He has trained or hosted as visiting scholars, most of the current domestic and international thought leaders in pediatric retinal diseases and surgery. He is a member of numerous professional organizations (AAO, ARVO, Retina Society, Macula Society, ASRS), served on the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) Board of Directors for over a decade, and is currently Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Retina Society.
Dr. Capone is consistently named among the “Best Doctors in America”, has been recognized by the AAO and the ASRS with Honor Awards and Senior Honor Awards, has received the AMA’s Physician’s Recognition Award, the AAO’s Senior Achievement Award, Special Recognition Award and Life Achievement Honor Award.
Dr. Capone has authored or co-authored over 300 publications in peer-reviewed medical journals, book chapters, and publications from clinical trials. He is a scientific reviewer for the leading journals within ophthalmology and retina and an editorial board member of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. As an innovator, Dr. Capone has several co-assigned patents, has engaged in surgical instrument design and software and biopharmaceutical start-ups, and serves on several scientific advisory boards. He has been dedicated to medical education at all levels throughout his career and has served as Director of the Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases and Surgery at Emory University and ARC. He has trained or hosted as visiting scholars, most of the current domestic and international thought leaders in pediatric retinal diseases and surgery. He is a member of numerous professional organizations (AAO, ARVO, Retina Society, Macula Society, ASRS), served on the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) Board of Directors for over a decade, and is currently Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Retina Society.
Dr. Capone is consistently named among the “Best Doctors in America”, has been recognized by the AAO and the ASRS with Honor Awards and Senior Honor Awards, has received the AMA’s Physician’s Recognition Award, the AAO’s Senior Achievement Award, Special Recognition Award and Life Achievement Honor Award.
Dean Eliott, MD
Dr. Eliott is a recognized leader in surgery for complex retinal conditions, retinal research, and fellowship education. He is sought by colleagues for difficult surgical cases, including retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, ocular trauma, and other complex vitreoretinal surgical problems. As a clinical innovator and researcher, Dr. Eliott was among the first surgeons to perform clinical trials in intravitreal sustained drug delivery, epiretinal prosthesis implantation, subretinal stem cell transplantation, and gene therapy for a variety of blinding retinal disorders. He discovered an innovative therapeutic approach to prevent intraocular scarring and blindness after retinal detachment surgery, and was co-founder of Helio Vision, Inc., which was acquired by Aldeyra Therapeutics. He is co-founder and scientific advisor for several additional early-stage companies.
Dr. Eliott has received numerous teaching awards, including the Crystal Apple Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists and the Lifetime Mentor Award from the Vit-Buckle Society. He is on the editorial board of several journals and has over 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. Dr. Eliott is a frequent speaker at national and international academic meetings, and he has had leadership positions in the Retina Society, the Macula Society, and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Dr. Eliott received his undergraduate degree with honors from Duke University, and he received his medical degree with honors from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the highly regarded Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He received his retina fellowship training at the Duke Eye Center of Duke University Medical Center, working with Dr. Robert Machemer, who is considered the father of modern vitreous surgery for performing the first vitrectomy.
Dr. Eliott then served as Chief Resident and retina faculty member at the Duke Eye Center. Following this, Dr. Eliott was the Director of the Retina Service, Associate Professor, and Retina Fellowship Director at the Kresge Eye Institute of Wayne State University School of Medicine. Subsequently, he was the Director of the Doheny Retina Institute, Professor, and Retina Fellowship Director at the Doheny Eye Institute of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Dr. Eliott has received numerous teaching awards, including the Crystal Apple Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists and the Lifetime Mentor Award from the Vit-Buckle Society. He is on the editorial board of several journals and has over 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks. Dr. Eliott is a frequent speaker at national and international academic meetings, and he has had leadership positions in the Retina Society, the Macula Society, and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Dr. Eliott received his undergraduate degree with honors from Duke University, and he received his medical degree with honors from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at the highly regarded Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins Hospital. He received his retina fellowship training at the Duke Eye Center of Duke University Medical Center, working with Dr. Robert Machemer, who is considered the father of modern vitreous surgery for performing the first vitrectomy.
Dr. Eliott then served as Chief Resident and retina faculty member at the Duke Eye Center. Following this, Dr. Eliott was the Director of the Retina Service, Associate Professor, and Retina Fellowship Director at the Kresge Eye Institute of Wayne State University School of Medicine. Subsequently, he was the Director of the Doheny Retina Institute, Professor, and Retina Fellowship Director at the Doheny Eye Institute of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.
Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhDVIEW BIO
Dr. Humayun is a worldwide recognized retinal specialist having devoted his career to clinical and scientific research in ophthalmology and bioengineering with over 250 publications and more than 125 issued patents.
Dr. Humayun has received several research awards, most notably the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2016 for his groundbreaking work on bioengineered implants, including the development of the Argus II. U.S. presidents present the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to recognize individuals, teams, divisions, and companies for innovations that contribute to the nation's economic, environmental, and social well-being.
He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, National Academies Institute of Medicine, National Academies of Engineering, American Society of Retinal Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Biomedical Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, The Macula Society, The Retina Society, Society for Neuroscience Board member, Board of Scientific Counselors for National Space Biomedical Research Institute.
Dr. Humayun received his B.S. from Georgetown University, his M.D. from Duke University, and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He finished his training by completing an Ophthalmology Residency at Duke and a Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He stayed on as faculty at Johns Hopkins until joining the USC Roski Eye Institute.
Dr. Humayun has received several research awards, most notably the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in 2016 for his groundbreaking work on bioengineered implants, including the development of the Argus II. U.S. presidents present the National Medal of Technology and Innovation to recognize individuals, teams, divisions, and companies for innovations that contribute to the nation's economic, environmental, and social well-being.
He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Medical Association, National Academies Institute of Medicine, National Academies of Engineering, American Society of Retinal Specialists, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Biomedical Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, The Macula Society, The Retina Society, Society for Neuroscience Board member, Board of Scientific Counselors for National Space Biomedical Research Institute.
Dr. Humayun received his B.S. from Georgetown University, his M.D. from Duke University, and his Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He finished his training by completing an Ophthalmology Residency at Duke and a Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He stayed on as faculty at Johns Hopkins until joining the USC Roski Eye Institute.
Arshad M. Khanani, MD, MA, FASRS
Dr. Khanani is a Managing Partner, Director of Clinical Research, and Director of Fellowship at Sierra Eye Associates and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.
Dr. Khanani founded the clinical research department at Sierra Eye Associates, which is now one of the leading clinical research centers in the country. He has served as a principal investigator for over 120 clinical trials and has been a top enroller in the country for multiple Phase 1-3 trials. In addition, Dr Khanani was the first to perform surgical procedures in multiple surgical clinical trials dealing with sustained delivery and gene therapy. He has over 100 scientific publications.
Dr. Khanani also serves as a lead PI for numerous clinical trials and is a member of national and international clinical trial steering committees and scientific advisory boards with the goal of bringing new treatment options to patients with retinal diseases. Dr. Khanani chaired the Phase 3 GATHER2 steering committee for Izervay, guiding the approval of Izervay for GA. Dr. Khanani is frequently invited as a guest speaker at national and international meetings.
Dr. Khanani is an elected member of the Macula Society, Retina Society, and has received numerous awards of distinction. In 2019, he received the Nevada Business Magazine Healthcare Heroes Physician of the Year award for his continued dedication to the field of ophthalmology. He received the Senior Honor Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and was also awarded the prestigious ASRS Presidents’ Young Investigator Award in 2021. In 2023, Dr. Khanani was invited to give the prestigious Ernst Bodenheimer Memorial Lecture at Wilmer Eye Institute – Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Khanani founded the clinical research department at Sierra Eye Associates, which is now one of the leading clinical research centers in the country. He has served as a principal investigator for over 120 clinical trials and has been a top enroller in the country for multiple Phase 1-3 trials. In addition, Dr Khanani was the first to perform surgical procedures in multiple surgical clinical trials dealing with sustained delivery and gene therapy. He has over 100 scientific publications.
Dr. Khanani also serves as a lead PI for numerous clinical trials and is a member of national and international clinical trial steering committees and scientific advisory boards with the goal of bringing new treatment options to patients with retinal diseases. Dr. Khanani chaired the Phase 3 GATHER2 steering committee for Izervay, guiding the approval of Izervay for GA. Dr. Khanani is frequently invited as a guest speaker at national and international meetings.
Dr. Khanani is an elected member of the Macula Society, Retina Society, and has received numerous awards of distinction. In 2019, he received the Nevada Business Magazine Healthcare Heroes Physician of the Year award for his continued dedication to the field of ophthalmology. He received the Senior Honor Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and was also awarded the prestigious ASRS Presidents’ Young Investigator Award in 2021. In 2023, Dr. Khanani was invited to give the prestigious Ernst Bodenheimer Memorial Lecture at Wilmer Eye Institute – Johns Hopkins University.
Theodore Leng, MD, MS
Dr. Leng is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Stanford Medicine where he serves as both the Director of Clinical and Translational Research and of Ophthalmic Diagnostics. He is also the Associate Editor of the peer-reviewed journal, Ophthalmic Surgery Lasers & Imaging Retina.
Dr. Leng’s research focuses on cellular, biologic, and laser-based therapies for macular degeneration. He is also a KOL in artificial intelligence and data science. Dr. Leng has published over 200 hundred peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, book chapters and abstracts.
He is frequently invited to speak at national and international meetings.
Dr. Leng is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society of Retina Specialists. He is also a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Retina Society, the Macula Society, the Vit-Buckle Society, and is a founding board member of the Digital Ophthalmic Society.
Theodore Leng, MD, MS, FACS received his AB in Philosophy and BS in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and his Master of Science in Biological Sciences from Stanford University. After completing his medical degree at Stanford and spent a year as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Training Fellow, Dr. Leng completed ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He finished his fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at Stanford, where he was awarded a Heed Fellowship.
Dr. Leng is a cofounder of a Y Combinator-backed company and is part of the StartX community and the larger Silicon Valley ecosystem. He has applied AI, web3, and real-world evidence generation to further bioscience research, development programs and clinical care.
Dr. Leng’s research focuses on cellular, biologic, and laser-based therapies for macular degeneration. He is also a KOL in artificial intelligence and data science. Dr. Leng has published over 200 hundred peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, book chapters and abstracts.
He is frequently invited to speak at national and international meetings.
Dr. Leng is a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Society of Retina Specialists. He is also a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Retina Society, the Macula Society, the Vit-Buckle Society, and is a founding board member of the Digital Ophthalmic Society.
Theodore Leng, MD, MS, FACS received his AB in Philosophy and BS in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and his Master of Science in Biological Sciences from Stanford University. After completing his medical degree at Stanford and spent a year as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Training Fellow, Dr. Leng completed ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. He finished his fellowship in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery at Stanford, where he was awarded a Heed Fellowship.
Dr. Leng is a cofounder of a Y Combinator-backed company and is part of the StartX community and the larger Silicon Valley ecosystem. He has applied AI, web3, and real-world evidence generation to further bioscience research, development programs and clinical care.
Richard L. Lindstrom, MD
Richard L. Lindstrom MD is Founder and Attending Surgeon Emeritus at Minnesota Eye Consultants, Senior Lecturer and Trustee Emeritus of the University of Minnesota Foundation and Visiting Professor at the UC Irvine Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. He is a board-certified ophthalmologist and internationally recognized leader in cornea, cataract, refractive surgery, glaucoma, laser surgery, innovation, investment, and the business of ophthalmology. He has been at the forefront of ophthalmology's evolutionary changes throughout his 52-year career in medicine as a clinician, leader, researcher, teacher, inventor, writer, industry consultant and highly acclaimed physician and surgeon.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Lindstrom completed his B.S. and doctorate degree in medicine at The University of Minnesota in 1972. He then completed a one-year internal medicine internship at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Next, he completed a 3-year Residency in Ophthalmology and a 1-year Fellowship in Cornea/External Disease at the University of Minnesota and Affiliated Hospitals. He then extended his training with an Anterior Segment Surgery Fellowship at Mary Shiels Eye Hospital in Dallas, Texas for 6 months followed by a 6-month Heed Foundation Sponsored Fellowship in Glaucoma at The University of Utah Department of Ophthalmology in Salt Lake City, Utah. After two years of private practice in Dallas, Texas with William S. Harris MD at Ophthalmology Center, in 1980 Dr. Lindstrom returned to the University of Minnesota, where he spent ten years on the faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, the last two as a Full Professor and the Harold G. Scheie Research Chair. For ten years he also served as Chief of Ophthalmology at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital. He continues as a Senior Lecturer and Trustee Emeritus of the University of Minnesota Foundation.
Dr. Lindstrom entered private practice in 1989 and led the growth and expansion of Minnesota Eye Consultants, serving as Managing Partner for 15 years and Partner and Attending Surgeon for 32 years. In 2017 the practice was acquired by the Private Equity firm Unifeye Vision Partners (UVP) and Dr. Lindstrom was appointed to the UVP Board of Directors. He has served as Associate and Chief Global Medical Editor of the USA and International Editions of Ocular Surgery News for 40 years, whose written and digital editions reach over 80,000 ophthalmologists worldwide.
Dr. Lindstrom was elected President of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery for the 2007-2008 term and continues to serve on the ASCRS Executive Committee. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ASCRS Foundation for six years. He served as President of the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 1993-1994, was elected President of the International Intraocular Implant Club for 2002 to 2004 and was president of the International Refractive Surgery Club in 2006 2008.
Dr. Lindstrom has served as the Chairman and CEO of Lindstrom Restoration, a three-generation family Construction business founded by his father since 1990.His son Michael today is President and COO. He and his wife Jaci are active in philanthropy and have donated funds supporting the University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Minnesota Medical School Deans Scholar Fund, the Eye Bank Association of America, the University of Minnesota Tennis Team, SightPath Eye Bank, ASCRS, ECLA and many others.
Dr. Lindstrom has been awarded 45 patents in ophthalmology and has developed corneal preservation solutions, intraocular lenses, drugs and devices that are used daily in clinical practice globally. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Lindstrom Restoration, Minnesota Eye Consultants, UVP, Ocular Therapeutix, Lensar, Aurion, Surface Ophthalmics, Foresight#6, Equinox, Lentechs, Corneagen, Theroptix, TearClear, Sydnexis, LayerBio, TearOptix, Lightfield Medical, and Acquea. He is a member of the Investment Committee at Visionary Ventures and a Founder of Flying L Venture Partners.
Prior Board service for acquired companies includes Eyeonics, Encore, Harrow, WaveTec, Iantech, Advanced Vision Science, Midwest Surgical Services, Laserboyz, Citation Ventures, LVCI, TLCVision, Sightpath, Onpoint Medical Diagnostics, Vision 21, Occulogix, Interfeen, Acufocus, MyEyeStore, Kedallion, Combangio, MD Backline, and Wavetec. Current not for profit Board service includes The University of Minnesota Foundation, Inner City Tennis, The Holland Foundation, The Minnesota Eye Consultants Foundation, and The ASCRS Foundation.
A frequent lecturer throughout the world on cornea, cataract, glaucoma, laser surgery, refractive surgery, innovation and the business of ophthalmology, he has presented over 40 named lectures and keynote speeches before professional societies in the U.S. and abroad, including the Binkhorst, Kelman Innovator and Steinert Lecture at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, The American Academy of Ophthalmology Kelman, Barraquer and Lans Lectures, and The Cornea Society Castroviejo Lecture. He received the Glaucoma 360 Accelerator Award. He is a recipient of the Eye Bank Association of America Paton and NACT awards. Select International named lectures include the Blumenthal Memorial Lecture in Jerusalem, Israel, the Benedetto Strampelli Medal Lecture in Rome, Italy, the Bjerrum Medal Lecture in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UKISCRS Choyce Medal Lecture in London England, the Albrecht Von GRAFE-Vorlesung Innovator’s Lecture in Nuremberg, Germany, and The International Intraocular Implant Society Medal Lecture in Paris, France. In 2019 he was the first physician inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame. In 1998, the Eye and Contact Lens Association initiated the Richard L. Lindstrom MD Surgeon Lecture at its annual meeting. In 2021, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery initiated the Richard L. Lindstrom MD Symposium and Lindstrom Medal Lecture at its annual meeting each year on Sunday. In 2022, The Wyanoke Group initiated the annual Lindstrom Leadership Lecture at Hawaii Eye and Retina. The former participants in the Minnesota Eye Consultants Corneal Fellowship Program now number over 80 and are named Lindstrom Fellows.
Dr. Lindstrom serves on several journal editorial boards, including the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the Journal of Refractive Surgery. He is the Honorary Editor-in-Chief of the U.S./Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology. He has co-edited ten books, written many book chapters and published over 400 papers in peer reviewed journals. His professional affiliations are extensive and include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Refractive Surgery, the Cornea Society, The Eye Bank Association of America, The International Society for Refractive Surgery, The International Intraocular Implant Club, the Eye and Contact Lens Association, and the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology.
He is the recipient of numerous awards for distinguished service by national and international ophthalmology associations, including two Lifetime Achievement Awards from the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, The Harold S. Diehl and Trustees Society Award from his alma mater The University of Minnesota, and the Appleton Award from the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology. He has been elected repeatedly to Best Doctors in America. He was named the fourth most influential ophthalmologist in the world in the inaugural “The Ophthalmologist” power list in 2015 and has been renominated every year to date. Dr. Lindstrom lives in his hometown of Wayzata, Minnesota on the shores of Lake Minnetonka with his wife Jaci. Their two children and five grandchildren live nearby. He and his wife have a second home in Irvine, California. He enjoys an active life including tennis, golf, boating, upland bird hunting, walking the dog and reading historical fiction when time allows.
After graduating Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Lindstrom completed his B.S. and doctorate degree in medicine at The University of Minnesota in 1972. He then completed a one-year internal medicine internship at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Next, he completed a 3-year Residency in Ophthalmology and a 1-year Fellowship in Cornea/External Disease at the University of Minnesota and Affiliated Hospitals. He then extended his training with an Anterior Segment Surgery Fellowship at Mary Shiels Eye Hospital in Dallas, Texas for 6 months followed by a 6-month Heed Foundation Sponsored Fellowship in Glaucoma at The University of Utah Department of Ophthalmology in Salt Lake City, Utah. After two years of private practice in Dallas, Texas with William S. Harris MD at Ophthalmology Center, in 1980 Dr. Lindstrom returned to the University of Minnesota, where he spent ten years on the faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, the last two as a Full Professor and the Harold G. Scheie Research Chair. For ten years he also served as Chief of Ophthalmology at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital. He continues as a Senior Lecturer and Trustee Emeritus of the University of Minnesota Foundation.
Dr. Lindstrom entered private practice in 1989 and led the growth and expansion of Minnesota Eye Consultants, serving as Managing Partner for 15 years and Partner and Attending Surgeon for 32 years. In 2017 the practice was acquired by the Private Equity firm Unifeye Vision Partners (UVP) and Dr. Lindstrom was appointed to the UVP Board of Directors. He has served as Associate and Chief Global Medical Editor of the USA and International Editions of Ocular Surgery News for 40 years, whose written and digital editions reach over 80,000 ophthalmologists worldwide.
Dr. Lindstrom was elected President of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery for the 2007-2008 term and continues to serve on the ASCRS Executive Committee. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ASCRS Foundation for six years. He served as President of the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 1993-1994, was elected President of the International Intraocular Implant Club for 2002 to 2004 and was president of the International Refractive Surgery Club in 2006 2008.
Dr. Lindstrom has served as the Chairman and CEO of Lindstrom Restoration, a three-generation family Construction business founded by his father since 1990.His son Michael today is President and COO. He and his wife Jaci are active in philanthropy and have donated funds supporting the University of Minnesota Department of Ophthalmology, the University of Minnesota Medical School Deans Scholar Fund, the Eye Bank Association of America, the University of Minnesota Tennis Team, SightPath Eye Bank, ASCRS, ECLA and many others.
Dr. Lindstrom has been awarded 45 patents in ophthalmology and has developed corneal preservation solutions, intraocular lenses, drugs and devices that are used daily in clinical practice globally. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Lindstrom Restoration, Minnesota Eye Consultants, UVP, Ocular Therapeutix, Lensar, Aurion, Surface Ophthalmics, Foresight#6, Equinox, Lentechs, Corneagen, Theroptix, TearClear, Sydnexis, LayerBio, TearOptix, Lightfield Medical, and Acquea. He is a member of the Investment Committee at Visionary Ventures and a Founder of Flying L Venture Partners.
Prior Board service for acquired companies includes Eyeonics, Encore, Harrow, WaveTec, Iantech, Advanced Vision Science, Midwest Surgical Services, Laserboyz, Citation Ventures, LVCI, TLCVision, Sightpath, Onpoint Medical Diagnostics, Vision 21, Occulogix, Interfeen, Acufocus, MyEyeStore, Kedallion, Combangio, MD Backline, and Wavetec. Current not for profit Board service includes The University of Minnesota Foundation, Inner City Tennis, The Holland Foundation, The Minnesota Eye Consultants Foundation, and The ASCRS Foundation.
A frequent lecturer throughout the world on cornea, cataract, glaucoma, laser surgery, refractive surgery, innovation and the business of ophthalmology, he has presented over 40 named lectures and keynote speeches before professional societies in the U.S. and abroad, including the Binkhorst, Kelman Innovator and Steinert Lecture at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, The American Academy of Ophthalmology Kelman, Barraquer and Lans Lectures, and The Cornea Society Castroviejo Lecture. He received the Glaucoma 360 Accelerator Award. He is a recipient of the Eye Bank Association of America Paton and NACT awards. Select International named lectures include the Blumenthal Memorial Lecture in Jerusalem, Israel, the Benedetto Strampelli Medal Lecture in Rome, Italy, the Bjerrum Medal Lecture in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UKISCRS Choyce Medal Lecture in London England, the Albrecht Von GRAFE-Vorlesung Innovator’s Lecture in Nuremberg, Germany, and The International Intraocular Implant Society Medal Lecture in Paris, France. In 2019 he was the first physician inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame. In 1998, the Eye and Contact Lens Association initiated the Richard L. Lindstrom MD Surgeon Lecture at its annual meeting. In 2021, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery initiated the Richard L. Lindstrom MD Symposium and Lindstrom Medal Lecture at its annual meeting each year on Sunday. In 2022, The Wyanoke Group initiated the annual Lindstrom Leadership Lecture at Hawaii Eye and Retina. The former participants in the Minnesota Eye Consultants Corneal Fellowship Program now number over 80 and are named Lindstrom Fellows.
Dr. Lindstrom serves on several journal editorial boards, including the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the Journal of Refractive Surgery. He is the Honorary Editor-in-Chief of the U.S./Chinese Journal of Ophthalmology. He has co-edited ten books, written many book chapters and published over 400 papers in peer reviewed journals. His professional affiliations are extensive and include the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Refractive Surgery, the Cornea Society, The Eye Bank Association of America, The International Society for Refractive Surgery, The International Intraocular Implant Club, the Eye and Contact Lens Association, and the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology.
He is the recipient of numerous awards for distinguished service by national and international ophthalmology associations, including two Lifetime Achievement Awards from the International Society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, The Harold S. Diehl and Trustees Society Award from his alma mater The University of Minnesota, and the Appleton Award from the Minnesota Academy of Ophthalmology. He has been elected repeatedly to Best Doctors in America. He was named the fourth most influential ophthalmologist in the world in the inaugural “The Ophthalmologist” power list in 2015 and has been renominated every year to date. Dr. Lindstrom lives in his hometown of Wayzata, Minnesota on the shores of Lake Minnetonka with his wife Jaci. Their two children and five grandchildren live nearby. He and his wife have a second home in Irvine, California. He enjoys an active life including tennis, golf, boating, upland bird hunting, walking the dog and reading historical fiction when time allows.
Carl D. Regillo, MD, FACS, FASRS
Dr. Carl D. Regillo is the Director of the Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital and Professor of Ophthalmology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and performed both his ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at Wills Eye Hospital. He is the founder and former Director of the Wills Eye Clinical Retina Research Unit, former Chairman of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Retina Basic and Clinical Science Course, former Chairman of the Wills Eye Institutional Review Board, and prior Director of the Wills Eye Retina Fellowship.
He has authored over 300 publications along with over 50 book chapters and nine major books. He has been an investigator on numerous major clinical trials developing new treatments for retinal disorders such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He is routinely invited to lecture worldwide. He has served on the scientific editorial board for the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Review of Ophthalmology, Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, Retinal Physician, and Retina Today.
He is a recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement, Senior Achievement, Secretariat, and Lifetime Achievement Awards along with the American Society of Retina Specialists Honor, Senior Honor, Presidential, and Founders Awards. He was named one of the “150 Top Innovators in Retina” by Ocular Surgery News, selected a Charter Inductee of the Retina Hall of Fame in 2017, and on the Ophthalmology Power List of the top 100 most influential people in the world of ophthalmology. He has been annually through the years as a retina “Top Doctor” in the Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Life, Mainline Today, and South Jersey Magazine. He was also listed among the top 150 ophthalmologists in the US by Newsweek.
He has authored over 300 publications along with over 50 book chapters and nine major books. He has been an investigator on numerous major clinical trials developing new treatments for retinal disorders such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He is routinely invited to lecture worldwide. He has served on the scientific editorial board for the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Review of Ophthalmology, Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, Retinal Physician, and Retina Today.
He is a recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement, Senior Achievement, Secretariat, and Lifetime Achievement Awards along with the American Society of Retina Specialists Honor, Senior Honor, Presidential, and Founders Awards. He was named one of the “150 Top Innovators in Retina” by Ocular Surgery News, selected a Charter Inductee of the Retina Hall of Fame in 2017, and on the Ophthalmology Power List of the top 100 most influential people in the world of ophthalmology. He has been annually through the years as a retina “Top Doctor” in the Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Life, Mainline Today, and South Jersey Magazine. He was also listed among the top 150 ophthalmologists in the US by Newsweek.
Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD
Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, is Director of Research at Retina Consultants of Texas and Chairman of Research and Clinical Trials at Retina Consultants of America. He is also Deputy Chair for Ophthalmology at Blanton Eye Institute.
Dr. Wykoff received his baccalaureate from MIT, PhD in Molecular Biology from Oxford University while on a Marshall Scholarship, and MD from Harvard Medical School. His basic science research related to cellular adaptation to oxygen availability and VEGF biology contributed to the 2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine that was awarded to his PhD supervisor Peter Ratcliffe. He completed ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute where he served as Chief Resident & Co-Director of Ocular Trauma and was awarded a Heed Fellowship and the Ronald G. Michels Award.
Dr. Wykoff is passionate about translational research, clinical trial design, and novel ways to accelerate drug and device development. He has served as principal investigator for more than 300 prospective clinical trials. He has published over 300 peer reviewed manuscripts and frequently speaks at national and international academic meetings. His research interests pertain to angiogenesis, retinal vascular diseases, atrophic retinal diseases, cell and gene therapy applications, and vitreoretinal surgical topics.
He is active on the ASRS Executive Committee and Board of Directors and has served as Chair of the Practice Management Committee (2020-2023). He is a past President of the Vit-Buckle Society (2021-2022). He is also an elected member of the Retina Society and Macula Society, was a founding member of the Ophthalmology Retina Editorial Board and is the Chief Medical Editor for Retina Specialist. He also serves on the editorial boards for multiple trade journals including of Retina Today, New Retinal Physician and Ophthalmology 360. He has been awarded the AAO Secretariat, Achievement and Senior Achievement Awards, as well as the ASRS Young Investigator Award, Honor, Senior Honor, and Presidential Honor Awards. He has been named as a “Top Doctor” by H Texas Magazine every year since 2018, recognized as one of Newsweek’s top 100 “America’s Best Eye Doctors” in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and listed as one of the “150 Top Innovators in Retina” by Ocular Surgery News,
Dr. Wykoff is a member of the NEI Audacious Goals Steering Committee and serves on multiple scientific and medical advisory boards, safety monitoring committees, and global steering committees for retina endeavors spanning the innovative process from early to late-stage developments. He is foundationally involved with entrepreneurial activities focused on bringing the value of clinical trials to new centers across the globe, on improving the efficiency of clinical trial design, and on optimizing the quality of data collected from prospective studies. His guiding philosophy is to build and strengthen innovative, ethical teams focused on developing new approaches to improving outcomes for patients with blinding diseases.
Dr. Wykoff received his baccalaureate from MIT, PhD in Molecular Biology from Oxford University while on a Marshall Scholarship, and MD from Harvard Medical School. His basic science research related to cellular adaptation to oxygen availability and VEGF biology contributed to the 2019 Nobel Prize in Medicine that was awarded to his PhD supervisor Peter Ratcliffe. He completed ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal fellowship at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute where he served as Chief Resident & Co-Director of Ocular Trauma and was awarded a Heed Fellowship and the Ronald G. Michels Award.
Dr. Wykoff is passionate about translational research, clinical trial design, and novel ways to accelerate drug and device development. He has served as principal investigator for more than 300 prospective clinical trials. He has published over 300 peer reviewed manuscripts and frequently speaks at national and international academic meetings. His research interests pertain to angiogenesis, retinal vascular diseases, atrophic retinal diseases, cell and gene therapy applications, and vitreoretinal surgical topics.
He is active on the ASRS Executive Committee and Board of Directors and has served as Chair of the Practice Management Committee (2020-2023). He is a past President of the Vit-Buckle Society (2021-2022). He is also an elected member of the Retina Society and Macula Society, was a founding member of the Ophthalmology Retina Editorial Board and is the Chief Medical Editor for Retina Specialist. He also serves on the editorial boards for multiple trade journals including of Retina Today, New Retinal Physician and Ophthalmology 360. He has been awarded the AAO Secretariat, Achievement and Senior Achievement Awards, as well as the ASRS Young Investigator Award, Honor, Senior Honor, and Presidential Honor Awards. He has been named as a “Top Doctor” by H Texas Magazine every year since 2018, recognized as one of Newsweek’s top 100 “America’s Best Eye Doctors” in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and listed as one of the “150 Top Innovators in Retina” by Ocular Surgery News,
Dr. Wykoff is a member of the NEI Audacious Goals Steering Committee and serves on multiple scientific and medical advisory boards, safety monitoring committees, and global steering committees for retina endeavors spanning the innovative process from early to late-stage developments. He is foundationally involved with entrepreneurial activities focused on bringing the value of clinical trials to new centers across the globe, on improving the efficiency of clinical trial design, and on optimizing the quality of data collected from prospective studies. His guiding philosophy is to build and strengthen innovative, ethical teams focused on developing new approaches to improving outcomes for patients with blinding diseases.
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MERIT and Mianus Capital Announce Formation of Ophthalmology Scientific Advisory Council
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