Physicians

Chief, Cornea and Refractive Surgery Service

Department / Division
Ophthalmology / Corneal Ophthalmology

Address
DUMC 3802
Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone
919-681-3937, 919-681-4089 (Vision correction)

Fax Telephone
919-681-7661

Training

• MD, Duke University School of Medicine, 1981

Residency

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

Fellowship

• Corneal and Refractive Surgery, Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, 1986-1987
• Corneal and Refractive Surgery, Duke Eye Center, 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
Alan N. Carlson, MD, serves as Chief of the Corneal and Refractive Surgery Services at the Duke Eye Center where his research interests and clinical emphasis largely specializes in laser vision correction surgery, cataract surgery, corneal transplantation and the prevention of surgical complications. A leader in his field, Carlson is credited with starting the Duke Center for Vision Correction in 1996, and building this program to a nationally recognized university program for laser and vision correction surgery. As one of the most experienced surgeons in his field, he has performed over 46,000 surgical procedures, including 16,000 LASIK procedures. This experience led to his selection as one of the top six surgeons among university laser surgeons in the United States. Carlson is considered a senior key opinion leader among refractive, corneal, and cataract surgeons and credited with several important contributions in corneal endothelial transplantation (DSEK, DSAEK) and intraocular lens surgery aimed at treating cataracts and presbyopia.
Carlson is nationally and internationally recognized for his work aimed at the prevention and management of surgical complications. He has delivered over 300 invited lectures and courses across four continents, and he has published over 100 articles, book chapters, and instructional videos. In 1998, Carlson received the academic honor award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and was twice the recipient of the APPI Crystal Award in Japan for his clinical research in ophthalmic surgery. More recently, he received the 2010 Golden Apple "Teacher of the Year" award among 64 full time faculty members and was nominated for the Duke Medical Center Faculty Mentoring Award in the area of Clinical Research.
Carlson has been teaching refractive surgeons for over 20 years, has conducted over 30 televised interviews, and performed the first televised LASIK procedure in this region. He is the only certified VISX Laser Surgery instructor in the Carolinas. His innovative work has been featured in numerous publications, including Time Magazine. He served as the editor of the complications section for Review of Refractive Surgery and serves on the advisory board for Review of Ophthalmology. His reputation attracts patients throughout the United States and internationally and these frequently include professional athletes, physicians, optometrists, ophthalmologists (including LASIK surgeons), and their families. His passion for delivering the best possible patient care to each patient is largely responsible for his selection to virtually every Best Doctors list for over 14 consecutive years, including: Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors in the Southeast, and Best Doctors in North Carolina.

Industry Relationships and Collaborations (What's this?)

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has a working relationship (i.e. consulting, research, and/or educational services) with the companies listed below. These relations have been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts.

• TearScience

Representative Publications
Carlson, AN. Expanding our understanding of eye rubbing and keratoconus. Cornea. 2010;29:245. (2010) Abstract

Carlson, AN. Where are the older patients with keratoconus?. Cornea. 2010;29:479-480. (2010) Abstract

Caldwell, MC; Perfect, JR; Carlson, AN; Proia, AD. Candida glabrata endophthalmitis following penetrating keratoplasty. Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. 2009;35:598-602. (2009) Abstract

Carlson, AN. Keratoconus. Ophthalmology. 2009;116:2036-2037. (2009) Abstract

Jun, B; Kuo, AN; Afshari, NA; Carlson, AN; Kim, T. Refractive change after descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty surgery and its correlation with graft thickness and diameter. Cornea. 2009;28:19-23. (2009) Abstract

Chieh, JJ; Carlson, AN; Jaffe, GJ. Combined fluocinolone acetonide intraocular delivery system insertion, phacoemulsification, and intraocular lens implantation for severe uveitis. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2008;146:589-594. (2008) Abstract

Kharod, BV; Carlson, AN. Corneal transplantation using the Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty technique. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research: informing decision-making in the delivery of cost-effective healthcare. 2007;7:137-142. (2007) Abstract

Ambati, BK; Higgins, E; Gupta, N; Hu, G; Kim, T; Carlson, AN; Ambati, J. Eyelid disease. Ophthalmology. 2005;112:2052-2053. (2005) Abstract

Kang, PC; Klintworth, GK; Kim, T; Carlson, AN; Adelman, R; Stinnett, S; Afshari, NA. Trends in the indications for penetrating keratoplasty, 1980-2001. Cornea. 2005;24:801-803. (2005) Abstract

Carlson, AN; Foulks, GN; Perfect, JR; Kim, JH. Fungal scleritis after cataract surgery. Successful outcome using itraconazole. Cornea. 1992;11:151-154. (1992) Abstract

Apple, DJ; Lim, ES; Morgan, RC; Tsai, JC; Gwin, TD; Brown, SJ; Carlson, AN. Preparation and study of human eyes obtained postmortem with the Miyake posterior photographic technique. Ophthalmology. 1990;97:810-816. (1990) Abstract

Stefansson, E; Cobo, LM; Carlson, AN; Kesler, JL. Endocapsular hypopyon: a clinical sign of localized endophthalmitis. Ophthalmic Surgery. 1990;21:221-222. (1990) Abstract

Apple, DJ; Price, FW; Gwin, T; Imkamp, E; Daun, M; Casanova, R; Hansen, S; Carlson, AN. Sutured retropupillary posterior chamber intraocular lenses for exchange or secondary implantation. The 12th annual Binkhorst lecture, 1988. Ophthalmology. 1989;96:1241-1247. (1989) Abstract

Carlson, AN; Tetz, MR; Apple, DJ. Infectious complications of modern cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 1989;3:339-355. (1989) Abstract

Carlson, AN; Koch, DD. Endophthalmitis following Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Ophthalmic Surgery. 1988;19:168-170. (1988) Abstract