Leon W. Herndon Jr., MD
Accepting New Patients
Duke Health Provider question
My approach with patients is to put them at ease. I give them an opportunity to share with me their concerns, then I make recommendations.
– Leon W. Herndon Jr., MD

Leon W. Herndon Jr., MD

Glaucoma Specialist, Ophthalmologist

Duke Health Provider question
Accepting New Patients
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
Where I See Patients
Duke Ambulatory Surgery Center Arringdon - Morrisville, NC
Duke Eye Center - Durham, NC
Duke Eye Center Arringdon - Morrisville, NC
Duke Eye Center of Raleigh - Raleigh, NC
Duke Raleigh Hospital - Raleigh, NC
Duke Raleigh Surgery Center - Raleigh, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology
My approach with patients is to put them at ease. I give them an opportunity to share with me their concerns, then I make recommendations.
– Leon W. Herndon Jr., MD

About Me

I am a native North Carolinian, having grown up in Raleigh, NC. I went to UNC-Chapel Hill for my undergraduate degree in Biology and attended Medical School there as well. I remained at UNC to complete my residency in Ophthalmology. I then came to the school with a deeper shade of blue to complete my fellowship year in Glaucoma and joined the faculty at the Duke Eye Center in July of 1996. I knew I wanted to be an eye doctor in 9th grade when I received my first pair of glasses. I could see clearly now, and I decided to dedicate my life to helping others improve and/or maintain their vision. My approach with patients is to put them at ease, as often they are concerned about going blind. I give them an opportunity to share with me their concerns, then I make recommendations based on the best available literature and my personal experience.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English

Call for an Appointment

Areas of Expertise

Ratings and Reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Learn more about our survey process. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.

Overall Provider Rating
4.91 out of 5
958 ratings, 199 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology
Fellowship
Glaucoma, Duke University Medical Center, 1995-1996
Residency
Internal Medicine, UNC Hospitals, 1991-1992
Ophthalmology, UNC Hospitals, 1992-1995
Education
MD, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 1991

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My clinical and research interests involve the medical and surgical management of glaucoma, especially innovative approaches to surgical options. I also place a special emphasis on combined cataract and glaucoma surgery. We are looking to find safer and less invasive glaucoma surgical procedures that will allow for quicker recovery for patients. I also continue to be involved in research projects in West Africa.

Publications and Grants

Insurance Accepted

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.

    • Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
    • Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
    • Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
    • Aetna HMO
    • Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
    • Aetna Managed Choice POS
    • Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
    • Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
    • Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
    • Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
    • Aetna Open Choice PPO
    • Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
    • Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
    • Aetna Select HMO
    • Aetna Traditional Choice
    • Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
    • Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
    • Aetna/CVS Health
    • Ambetter of North Carolina
    • Blue Advantage
    • Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
    • Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
    • Blue Select
    • NC State Employees Health Plan
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.

    • Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
    • Cigna Choice Plus
    • Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
    • Cigna Open Access
    • Cigna Open Access Plus
    • *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.

    • Duke Basic
    • Duke Select
    • Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
  • Gateway Health Alliance
  • Healthgram
    • Humana Choice (PPO)
    • Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
    • Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
    • Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
    • Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
  • MedCost
    • First Medicare Direct
    • Medicare Part A
    • Medicare Part B
    • AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
    • Carolina Complete Health
    • Healthy Blue
    • NC Medicaid Direct
    • WellCare of North Carolina
    • TRICARE Prime
    • TRICARE Prime Remote
    • TRICARE Select
    • AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
    • AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
    • AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
    • All Savers Alternate Funding
    • All Savers Fully Insured
    • United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)
    • United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
    • United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
    • United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
    • United Healthcare Option PPO
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
    • United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
    • United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
    • United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
    • United Medical Resources (UMR)
    • *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

External Relationships

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.
  • Alcon, Inc
  • Allergan
  • Balance Ophthalmics
  • Glaukos Corporation
  • New World Medical, Inc
  • Ocular Therapeutix Inc.
  • Sight Sciences