Ocular Periphery and Disorders

Dr. D’Amore earned her PhD in Biology from Boston University, was a postdoctoral fellow in Biological Chemistry and Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins Medical School, then moved to Boston Children’s Hospital as Assistant Professor where she remains Research Associate in Surgery. In 1998, she became Charles L. Schepens Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Pathology at Harvard Medical School and a Senior Scientist at Mass. Eye and Ear. She is the Associate Chief of Basic and Translational Research for Ophthalmology at Mass. Eye and Ear and the Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Research for the Department of Ophthalmology. Dr. D’Amore is an international expert in vascular growth and development and has been at the forefront of angiogenesis research for over three decades. She has published more than 170 peer-reviewed papers, 75 reviews, and edited or co-edited two books. In addition to his role as Senior Scientist and Co-Director at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, Dr. Reza Dana holds the Claes H. Dohlman Chair in Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School. He is Director of the Cornea & Refractive Surgery Service at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear, and serves as the Vice Chairman of the Harvard Department of Ophthalmology and Associate Chief of Ophthalmology for Academic Programs at Massachusetts Eye and Ear. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire, he completed his bachelor’s (Phi Beta Kappa), graduate, and medical education at Johns Hopkins University. He performed his residency in Ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary in Chicago, followed by a clinical fellowship in Cornea and External Diseases at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. Reza then completed additional fellowship training in Immunology and Uveitis at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and in Ocular and Transplantation Immunology at the Schepens Eye Research Institute. Dr. Dana also holds a Master of Science degree in Management from Harvard University. Reza has been a member of the full-time Harvard faculty since 1995. As a clinician-scientist, he has a particular interest in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of inflammation as they pertain to the ocular surface and anterior segment pathologies, including dry eye, allergy, wound healing responses, and transplant rejection.

I. Anatomy and Pathophysiology of Blinking and Eye Movements
Eyelid anatomy and the pathophysiology of blinking
Differentiation and morphogenesis of extraocular muscles
Extraocular muscle anatomy
Extracocular muscle metabolism
Extraocular muscles: proprioception and proprioceptors
Abnormal eye movements due to disease of the extraocular muscles and their innervation
Extraocular muscles: functional assessment in the clinic

II. Structure and Function of the Tear Film, Ocular Adnexa, Cornea, and Conjunctiva in Health and Pathogenesis in Disease
Meibomian glands and lipid layer
Lacrimal gland overview
Lacrimal gland hormone regulation
Lacrimal gland signaling-neural
Lids: Anatomy, pathophysiology, and mucocutaneous junction
Ocular surface-overview of electrolyte and fluid transport across the conjunctiva
Conjunctival Goblet cells
Ocular mucins
Tear drainage
Cornea overview
Corneal epithelium-cell biology and basic science
Corneal nerves-anatomy
Corneal nerves-function
Corneal epithelium-wound healing junctions, attachment to stroma receptors, matrix metalloproteinases, intercellular communications
Corneal epithelium-transport and permeability
Stem cells of the ocular surface
The ocular surface-the surgical treatment for corneal epithelial stem cell deficiency, corneal epithelial defects, and periferal corneal ulcer
Refractive surgery
Refractive surgery and inlays
Contact lenses
Imaging of the cornea
The corneal stroma
Corneal dystrophies
Corneal imaging-clinical
Corneal scars
Corneal endothelium-overview
Regulation of corneal endothelial function
Regulation of corneal endothelial cell proliferation
Artificial cornea
Drug delivery to cornea and conjunctiva-esterase- and protease-directed prodrug design
Knock-out mice models: cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, and lacrimal glands
Gene therapy

III. Immune Regulation of the Cornea and Conjunctiva and Its Dysregulation in Disease
Adaptive Immune System and the Eye: Mucosal Immunity
Adaptive immune system and the eye: T-cell mediated immunity
Innate immune system and the eye
Immunoregulatory processes that sustain immune privilege in the eye
Immunosupressive and anti-inflammatory molecules that maintain immune previlege of the eye
Antigen-presenting cells in the eye and ocular surface
Dry eye: An immune-based inflammation
Penetrating keratoplasty
Immunopathogenesis of HSV Keratitis
Immunopathogenesis of Onchocerciasis (River Blindness)
Immunopathogenesis of pseudomonas keratitis
Immunobiology of acanthomeba karatitis
Molecular and cellular mechanisms in allergic conjunctivitis
Pathogenesis of fungal keratitis
Conjunctiva Immune surveillance
Defense mechanisms of tears and ocular surface
Corneal epithelium- response to infection
Inflammation of the Conjunctiva
Concept of Angiogenic Privilege
Corneal angiogenesis
Avascularity of the cornea

IV. Visual Acuity Related to the Cornea and Its Disorders
Visual optics: pupil
Acuity
Contrast sensitivity
Astigmatism
Vera-Diaz- Myopia
Levi-Amblyopia
Harb- Hyperopia