Ramiro S. Maldonado, MD
Ophthalmologist
My Locations
About Me
I am an ophthalmologist dedicated to the study of retinal diseases in children and adults with special passion for genetics and inherited eye disorders. I was born and raised in Ecuador, where my father, one of the first retina specialist in the country, motivated me to do research to find cures for untreatable conditions. I am truly happy to have the opportunity to serve patients with retinal diseases and strive to provide the best care possible.
- Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery 2024
Call for an Appointment
Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
In the News
Loading
Clinical Focus and Research
I study how new DNA variants cause inherited eye diseases. To do this, I devote my efforts to create big-data genetic analysis, develop novel imaging tools to improve diagnosis, and team with biologists to understand the functional consequences of abnormal DNA variants.
-
Uni-Rare (Retinal Dystrophy)IRB# PRO00112084 , NCT# NCT05589714
-
OCU410ST-101 (Stargardt Disease)IRB# PRO00114399 , NCT# NCT05956626
- Cao, Lauren Y., Anna Duemler, Emily H. Jung, Ramiro S. Maldonado, Sarah Richards, Elena R. Schiff, Omar A. Mahroo, et al. “A novel missense TUBB4B variant outside of the canonical hotspot is associated with cone-rod dystrophy and sensorineural hearing loss.” Ophthalmic Genet, October 7, 2025, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/13816810.2025.2565651.
- Georgiou, Michalis, Kaoru Fujinami, Yu Fujinami-Yokokawa, Fadi Nasser, Michael J. Gale, Carmen Ayuso, Omar A. Mahroo, et al. “Natural History of Autosomal Recessive IMPG2-Associated Retinal Dystrophy.” Am J Ophthalmol 278 (October 2025): 73–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2025.05.044.
- Demas, Nicholas, Cesar Estrada, Paula Morales, Mitchell Jacobs, John Kitchens, Andrew Pearson, and Ramiro Maldonado. “Inherited retinal diseases in Kentucky: diagnostic yield, gene variants, and novel mutations in a U.S. population.” BMC Med Genomics 18, no. 1 (August 28, 2025): 139. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12920-025-02186-5.
- Rothman, A. L., R. S. Maldonado, L. Vajzovic, and C. A. Toth. “Optical coherence tomography and wide-field fluorescein angiography in retinopathy of prematurity.” In Retinopathy of Prematurity Current Diagnosis and Management, 29–41, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52190-9_4.
- Abou-Jaoude, Michelle M., Alexander M. Davis, Claire E. Fraser, Monique Leys, David Hinkle, J Vernon Odom, and Ramiro S. Maldonado. “New Insights Into Pentosan Polysulfate Maculopathy.” In Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina, 52:13–22, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3928/23258160-20201223-04.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
-
Aetna
- 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
- Ambetter of North Carolina
-
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- 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
- 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 Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
-
Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
-
Humana
- 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
-
Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
-
NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- NC Medicaid Direct
- UHC Community Plan
- WellCare of North Carolina
-
TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
-
United Healthcare
- 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.
-
**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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
- Aldeyra Therapeutics
- PYC Therapeutics
- ProQR Therapeutics
He was great. No one seemed to be aware of the record which had been sent over
Dr. Maldonado is the absolute best. Such a sweet guy. Very attentive and listens.
My Doctor was very helpful and personable.
He listens and hears what I have to say. and gives an honest answer. I might not like it but at least its honest
Dr. Maldonado was phenomenal. He was great with our 5 year old. Explained everything to myself and my husband perfectly! We highly appreciate such patience and empathy in such an unknown situation. He seriously put my worries at ease.
I like him. He is thorough and recognizes you as a human and not just a number. Perfect eye contact and people skills
Dr. Maldonado, his nurse and his colleagues were top notch. My husband and I were so impressed and happy with the level of care received. The best care I have received yet.
Dr Maldonado is an awesome dr