Mays A. El-Dairi, MD
Not Accepting New Patients
For Returning Patients
Duke Health Provider question
I like to try to avoid invasive testing and procedures or testing that requires anesthesia or sedation when possible.
– Mays A. El-Dairi, MD

Mays A. El-Dairi, MD

Neuro-ophthalmologist, Ophthalmologist, Pediatric Ophthalmologist

Duke Health Provider question
Not Accepting New Patients
For Returning Patients
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
Where I See Patients
Duke Eye Center - Durham, NC
Board Certified
American Board of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology
I like to try to avoid invasive testing and procedures or testing that requires anesthesia or sedation when possible.
– Mays A. El-Dairi, MD

About Me

I am an ophthalmologist specializing in both pediatric and neuro-ophthalmology. My expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of neurological conditions affecting the eyes of both adults and children. My clinical interests include pediatric and adult nystagmus, strabismus, brain tumors, autoimmune demyelinating diseases, spina bifida, craniosynostoses, hydrocephalus, neonatal hypoxic ischemic injury, spina bifida, cortical visual impairment, papilledema, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) and all optic neuropathies. The large majority of my patients are children with/or at risk for neurologic disease or adults with developmental delay. My clinic visits often include ancillary testing ​such as visual fields and optical coherence tomography, which help me assess if there is a risk for vision loss. I like to try to avoid invasive testing and procedures or testing that requires anesthesia or sedation when possible. In my pediatric clinic, I like to collect and use old fashioned mechanical toys to test eye movements, which younger children usually enjoy. I will often have small prizes for younger (and older) children at the end of the visit.

Current Appointments and Affiliations
Languages I Speak
English, Arabic, French

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
4.44 out of 5
295 ratings, 21 reviews

Training and Education

Board Certification
American Board of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology
Fellowship
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Duke Eye Center, 2005-2007
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Duke Eye Center, 2007-2009
Residency
American University of Beirut (Lebanon), 2005
Education
MD, American University of Beirut (Lebanon), 2001

Clinical Focus and Research

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
    • 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

Duke requires faculty members to report certain relationships outside of their employment in order to ensure potential conflicts can be addressed. This faculty member has reported no outside activities that relate to their Duke responsibilities.