Alan N. Carlson, MD

Related Content

Locations

• Duke Eye Center

Services

• Duke Eye Center

Director, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service
Division Chief

Department / Division:
Ophthalmology / Cornea and External Disease

Address:
DUMC 3802
Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone:
(919) 684-5769

Fax Telephone:
(919) 681-7661

• M.D., Duke University School of Medicine, North Carolina, 1981

• Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, 1983-1986

• Corneal and Refractive Surgery, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, 1986-1987
• Corneal and Refractive Surgery, Duke University Eye Center, North Carolina, 1987-1988

Clinical Interests:
Cataract and intraocular lens surgery, laser refractive surgery (LASIK, LASEK, PRK, Custom Wavefront Technology, refractive cataract surgery), prevention and management of surgical complications, ReSTOR and Verisyse intraocular lenses, corneal transplantation, external eye diseases

Research Interests:
Research interests and activities over the past year fell into three main groups, cataract / IOL surgery, refractive surgery, and corneal /  external disease research.  This past year I was asked to help develop and upcoming clinical trial funded by Pharmacia looking at a new IOL optic designs that utilize wavefront technology to reduce spherical aberration within the eye.  The goal of this research and international trial is to ultimately develop an IOL that improves vision quality over existing IOL technology.  I am also mentoring Dr. Paul Kang in a project looking at the relative risk of localized endopthalmitis beween IOL's utilizing polypropylene loops compared with PMMA loops.  In refractive surgery, we identified by referral of 4 patients, a complication not previously reported resulting from steriod induced elevation of IOP producing  "pseudokeratitis" or "pseudo-DLK".  We also established a nomogram for the reduction of measured IOP following LASIK, reported by Dr. Jerry Hu.  We are also studying our early LASEK patients and comparing this procedure to LASIK as a possible alternative for patients who are poor LASIK candidates.  WaveScan will be delivered 11/2001 using wavefront technology as a method of diagnosing and treating corneal irregularities producing higher order optical aberrations with the potential for treating patients not presently treatable, including potential ability to treat those patients with complications from previous LASIK surgery.  Other areas of interest and potiential involvement include phakic refractive lenses and presbyopia.  In the area of corneal surgery, I have acted as a consultant for Touch Scientific in their development of clinical devices that measure tear lysozyme levels as an indicator of tear production and tear dysfunction.  As a service, we are heading toward surturless corneal tranplantation and also homoplastic ALK procudres within two years.  

My educational mission is directed toward continous improvement of our fellowship training and maintaining our program as one of the most competitive fellowships in in the nation.  Our efforts place Duke as recognized leader in training residents in refractive surgery.   I have also introduced a new optics lecture series at the request of our chief resident, as this area is consistently recognized as the greatest obstacle for residents taking the annual OKAP exam.

Representative Publications:
Sorenson, AL, Holladay, JT, Kim, T, Kendall, CJ, Carlson, AN,: Ultrasonographic Measurement of Induced Myopia Associated With Capsular Bag Distension Syndrome, Ophthalmology, May, 2000, 902-908. (2000)

1. Carlson AN, Stewart WC, Tso PC: Intraocular lens complications requiring removal or exchange. (Major review), Survey of Opthalmology, March-April, 1998, 42(5), 417-440. (1998)