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
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.
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.
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
