Ophthalmology

Your Vision is Important to Us!

They say that the eyes are the windows to your soul. Here at the Eye Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, we treat not only your vision, but use your eyes to detect possible trouble in other parts of your body. An eye examination can include looking at blood vessels without resorting to surgery or using a camera – anomalies in these vessels inside the eye can be an alert to possible diabetes or high blood pressure. In addition, an ophthalmologist can test your eyes for possible glaucoma, an as-yet incurable eye disease that often goes undetected without regular ophthalmic examinations.

About the Eye Center

Originally founded in 1897 as the Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, it formed Washington Hospital Center in 1958 by merging with 2 other local hospitals (Emergency Hospital and Garfield Hospital). The Eye Center boasts the first residency program of any kind in the Washington Metropolitan area and is a comprehensive eye care facility, divided into 13 clinical areas: glaucoma, retina, ocular motility, contact lenses, low vision, cornea, oculoplastics, orbital disease, uveitis, neuro-ophthalmology, diagnostic testing, minor surgery and lasers, and, of course, general ophthalmology, which includes cataract evaluation. Most ophthalmic surgery is performed in 2 OR suites reserved exclusively for ophthalmic surgery. Our patients receive care from a battery of ophthalmic specialists, including faculty ophthalmologists, ophthalmologists-in-training, and technicians. Our goal is to provide the very best eye care possible to all members of the Washington, DC, Area community, regardless of financial status. Patients are first assessed by our residents, then immediately afterwards by one of our attending faculty ophthalmologists.

Washington National Eye Center Annual Statistical Overview:

• 20,000+ patient visits
• 2,185 total surgeries
• 500 resident surgeries
• 12,000+ cataract / general evaluations
• 4,500+ glaucoma evaluations
• 2,500+ retina evaluations