Neuro-Ophthalmology
Neuro-ophthalmology is a discipline at the intersection of ophthalmology and neurology, covering a wide variety of conditions, including optic neuritis, ischemic optic neuropathy, papilledema, unequal pupils, double vision, eye movement disorders, drooping eyelids and other unusual and complex visual problems, as well as vision changes from brain tumors, strokes and other systemic diseases. Neuro-ophthalmology at Northwestern is directed by the chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Nicholas J. Volpe, MD. The faculty consists of four clinical neuro-ophthalmologists who have either ophthalmology or neurology training and have completed a neuro-ophthalmology fellowship. They are committed to excellent patient care, driving education of trainees and contributing to neuro-ophthalmologic clinical research.
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Meet Michael Rosenberg, MD, Director of Neuro-ophthalmology in the Department of Ophthalmology at Northwestern.
Education
Ophthalmology residents have three months of training in neuro-ophthalmology. Neurology residents are also afforded a two- to four-week elective rotation in this discipline. The residency rotation affords trainees the opportunity to be exposed to a wide variety of pathology and to hone their skills in discerning unusual entities from complicated presentations. Many of these cases are showcased at departmental Grand Rounds on Friday mornings, as well as at national conferences throughout the year.
Research
Neuro-ophthalmology faculty members are actively involved in clinical research, including participating in many national trials, ranging from treatments in ischemic optic neuropathy (QUARK study) to idiopathic intracranial hypertension/pseudotumor cerebri treatment (SIGHT trial). The faculty are widely published and cited in the neuro-ophthalmology medical literature, and Nicholas J. Volpe, MD, has co-authored one of the leading textbooks on the field.