Q&A with 黑料网 Cataracts Specialist Dr. Rodolfo Bonatti

What exactly are cataracts? As the leading cause of reversible blindness worldwide, cataracts are a significant health concern for adults of advancing age. The CDC reports that over 17% of Americans over 40 will have at least one eye affected by cataracts. That number that rises to 70% by age 75.

All asymptomatic adults need to have a comprehensive eye exam by age 40. Call 黑料网 Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020 to schedule a first-time comprehensive eye exam with a faculty ophthalmologist or optometrist who will screen for cataracts, among other ocular diseases. If your screening detects cataracts, make an appointment with Dr. Bonatti at 984-974-2020, or visit 黑料网 Ophthalmology’s clinical faculty page to note our other cataract specialists. To learn more about degenerative and vision-worsening eye diseases that affect senior adults, visit the.

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黑料网 Ophthalmology congratulates Professor of Ophthalmology and Inherited Retinal Disease (IRD) specialist Alessandro Iannaccone, MD, MS, FARVO, for being named a 2025 Ophthalmology Research All-Star and top 3% contributor to ophthalmology healthcare research by healthcare data analytics corporation Avant-Garde Health. Dr. Iannaccone is a long-time physician scientist with a primary patient care, clinical trial, translational research and educational focus on IRD and a secondary one on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Autoimmune Retinopathy (AIR). After completing medical school and ophthalmology training at the Sapienza University in Rome, Italy, Dr. Iannaccone pursued additional training in the U.S. in IRDs and Pediatric Retinal and Optic Nerve Diseases. Dr. Iannaccone subsequently directed clinical and research programs focused on IRDs, first at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, TN, and then at the Duke Eye Center. Since 2023, he has been serving as Global Medical Lead in Cell and Gene Therapy for Ophthalmology at Astellas Pharma US, helping to develop and to bring to the clinic stem cell- and gene therapy-based approaches for AMD and IRDs.

Dr. Iannaccone is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), as well as a Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). He serves as a scientific reviewer for numerous journals and as an Editorial Board Member of the ARVO journal听Translational Vision Research and Technology.听He serves on multiple scholarly and foundation boards, including the Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the Choroideremia Research Foundation, the Blue Cone Monochromacy Families Foundation, and the BlueGen Therapeutics Foundation. Dr. Iannaccone has written more than 150 publications, over 30 book chapters, one edited book, over 200 presentations, and more than 90 invited talks at national and international venues.

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Monday, May 12th: Carolina Blue Day – Wear your Tar Heel colors!

Tuesday, May 13th:听“Game Day” – Bring board games from home to play during downtime with teammates.

Wednesday, May 14th:听Secret Teammate Appreciation Card Day

Thursday, May 15th:听Ice Cream for Teammates Day

Friday, May 16th:听“Self Care Day” – Recognizing self-reflection, meditation and mental wellness as essential to working at one’s best as a member of “One Great Team.”

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The 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), held in Los Angeles, CA, in late April, brought together leading experts to discuss the latest advancements in anterior segment surgery and vision science. 黑料网 Ophthalmology was prominently represented by Dr. Mohammad Soleimani, Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Chair of Quality, who contributed significantly to this year’s program.

Dr. Soleimani led two well-attended instructional courses and sessions focusing on complex corneal infections and AI-assisted surgical planning. Notably, his course entitled, 鈥淢astering Corneal Infiltrations and Infectious Keratitis after Refractive Surgeries鈥� featured an international panel of experts and received exceptional feedback for its clinical relevance and depth.

In addition to his teaching roles, Dr. Soleimani participated in expert panels, presented innovative research papers and video on artificial intelligence (A.I.) applications in corneal diagnostics, and engaged in collaborative discussions with global leaders in ophthalmology.

Key Highlights from ASCRS 2025:

• Refractive Cataract Surgery Innovations:听The “X-Rounds: Refractive Cataract Surgery to the Max” session featured rapid-fire presentations addressing various questions in refractive cataract surgery, with audience participation enhancing the interactive experience.听

• High-Impact Clinical Pearls:听The “Get H.I.P. 鈥� Refractive” symposium offered concise, practical insights through rapid-fire video cases, providing attendees with actionable strategies to improve patient care.听

• Ophthalmic Care in Humanitarian Crises:听The ASCRS Foundation symposium highlighted strategies for delivering ophthalmic care during humanitarian crises, addressing challenges and ensuring patient and physician safety.听

• Corneal Disease Mechanisms:听The Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, Lecture by Dr. Reza Dana explored the interplay between neuropathy and inflammation in corneal disease, emphasizing their combined role in disease progression.听

• Advanced Cataract Surgical Techniques:听The final symposium covered advanced techniques, including capsulorhexis with zonulopathy, posterior capsule capsulotomy, and scleral fixation of intraocular lenses, providing valuable insights for both novice and experienced surgeons.听

Dr. Soleimani noted: “黑料网’s active participation in ASCRS 2025 reflects our department’s commitment to advancing surgical education, embracing innovative technologies, and fostering global collaborations to enhance patient care in ophthalmology.”

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If you’re like most American adults surveyed on eye health, you’re likely to believe that indicators of eye disease appear as noticeable declines in one’s vision. In truth, some of the leading causes of blindness (e.g., 听/ ) can begin without any symptoms.听 The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has designated May as Healthy Vision Month. As Americans embrace springtime’s farm and garden bounty of strawberries, asparagus, salad greens and more, May provides a “ripe” opportunity to adopt health behaviors that will positively influence eye health before summer leisure can lead to lapses in good nutrition and personal practice.

Good Nutrition = Strong Eye Health

• Overall Nutrition: Adopting a healthy lifestyle by early adulthood is the greatest investment that aging individuals can make to reduce their odds of developing eye disease as they age. Adopting plant- and seafood-based diets are a major step in the right direction. Other compounds found in nutrient-rich foods good for ocular and overall body health include:
  • Antioxidants: Studies have shown that an anti-oxidant-rich diet can slow the development of cataracts through blocking changes in fats and proteins that progressively cloud the eye鈥檚 lens. Foods rich in Vitamins A, C and E, carotenoids, lutein and zexanthin, and selenium are rich in antioxidants, which slow cell death (oxidation) that accelerates aging.听 Berries, nuts, spinach, sweet potatoes and broccoli are some foods loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids: Research shows that diets high in omega-3 fatty acids alleviate symptoms and reduce risks of developing chronic ocular conditions including dry eye disease (DED), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. Diets full of these polyunsaturated fatty acids greatly benefit ocular health and also slow aging through lowering inflammation and cortisol levels and boosting the body鈥檚 repair mechanisms. Cold-water fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna), walnuts, seeds (flaxseed, chia seeds), plant oils are some foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Carotenoids: Pumpkin, grapefruit, carrots, bell peppers, leafy greens, eggs, broccoli, tomatoes
  • Lutein and zeaxanthin: Leafy greens (kale, spinach, and swiss chard), orange-yellow vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, colorful fruits (raspberries, papaya, peaches)
  • Selenium: Whole or multi-grain pasta and bread, oatmeal, brown rice
  • Vitamin A, C, E: Avocados, bananas, oranges, sunflower seeds
  • Zinc: Legumes (beans and lentils), seeds, seafood, dairy, eggs

Prevention and Preparedness are Key to a Healthy Lifestyle!

• Exercise IS Key to Ocular Health! Regular exercise helps individuals prevent obesity that leads to many serious chronic conditions, including eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy, wet macular degeneration and glaucoma.
• Quit Smoking & Moderate Alcohol Intake Two modifiable health behaviors 鈥� smoking and drinking 鈥� are heavily associated with higher risk of developing chronic disease, including all serious eye diseases. By mid-life, adults should quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke, as well as moderate or quit alcohol intake, to optimize long-term health.
• Eye Exams Are Chronic Disease Detectives! Eyes reveal how blood vessels, nerves and connective tissues system-wide are functioning. Routine eye exams are critical for ocular health and offer a 鈥渇ree pass鈥� for detecting a range of neurological, cardiac, cancer and other conditions before symptoms appear. Read the AAO鈥檚 to learn more.
• Know Family History of Eye Disease. Discuss family history, ethnicity and other health issues with your ophthalmologist at a comprehensive eye exam and with your primacy care provider at well check exams to identify risk factors for developing serious eye diseases.
• Take Care of Your Eyes When Traveling. Preparedness is key to healthy living and key to travel.
  • DO NOT WAIT until back home to seek medical attention when eye injuries/emergencies occur while traveling. Eye trauma can lead to permanent loss of vision if not treated immediately. An international list of all AAO ophthalmologist members is available at .
  • Glasses wearers should pack two pairs on every trip. Contact wearers should pack lens cases and two bottles of lens solution in carry-ons for relieving drier eyes while in flight. Remove contacts if sleeping several hours in flight.

Lifestyle, not perfection, is key to good lifelong health. The key to practicing good eye health is taking action. Around age 40, all adults begin to experience degrees of diminished ocular function, such as loss of ability to focus on objects up close due to hardening of the eye鈥檚 lens (). By age 40, asymptomatic adults should have a comprehensive eye exam.听 Call 黑料网 Kittner Eye Center at 984-974-2020 today to schedule your comprehensive eye exam with a 黑料网 Ophthalmology eye specialist. Read the AAO鈥檚 to learn more on changes in the eyes that come with age.

In 2020, 黑料网 Health Talk led an interview with 黑料网 Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and lead optometrist Michael Mendsen, OD, entitled, ” In this interview, Dr. Mendsen addressed comprehensive eye exams as a critical component of practicing good eye health. He emphasized how screening to identify signs of early-stage development of eye disease is equally as important as visual acuity, refraction and other types of testing in evaluating asymptomatic adults in comprehensive eye exams.

#HealthyVisionMonth! @academyeyesmart
#ophthalmology #eyes

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On Saturday, April 12th, 黑料网 Ophthalmology faculty, trainees and ophthalmic techs joined eye care professionals from across the Southeast and beyond at the daylong 2025 黑料网 EYE Symposium in Chapel Hill, NC. At this annual forum, 黑料网 and distinguished guest eye specialists and ophthalmic APPs share knowledge-to-practice updates in evidence-based diagnostic and medical/surgical approaches to comprehensive eye care and treating ocular disorders and disease. The highly regarded 黑料网 EYE Symposium grows by the year in attendance and drew a record number of speakers, learners and other eye care professionals in 2025.

At this year’s Physician Sessions, 黑料网 Ophthalmology clinical faculty experts shared their expertise alongside a six-member panel of Distinguished Guest Speakers from academic medical centers across the U.S. Speakers discussed the latest in practice in all major areas of subspecialized eye care, including Glaucoma, Vitreoretinal Disorders,听 Cornea/External Eye Disease, Cataract and Pediatric Ophthalmoloy, Oculoplastics and Reconstructive surgery and Neuro-ophthalmology.听 Technician sessions at this year’s Symposium included topics on application-focused practice, such as how to work up common cornea patients and an introduction to ophthalmic ultrasound.

This year’s distinguished guest physician eye specialists from institutions across the U.S. included:

• 
  Rodgers Clark Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology
  Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology
  Medical Director – Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at Plantation
• 
  Professor of Ophthalmology
  Ophthalmology & Vision Sciences
  Tschannen Eye Institute
  University of CA – Davis
• 
  Glendenning Cogan Professor & Chair of Ophthalmology
  Harvard Medical School
  Massachusetts Eye and Ear – Ophthalmologist-in-Chief
• 
  Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
  Children鈥檚 Hospital of Philadelphia
  Perelman School of Medicine (UPenn)
• 
  Richard S. Ruiz Distinguished University Chair
  Professor & Chair of Ophthalmology
  UTHealth Science Center (Houston)
• 
  Professor of Ophthalmology
  Director – Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive & Orbital Surgery
  Rutgers NJ Medical School

In 1963, the 黑料网 EYE Symposium was instituted as an annual staff meeting of the 黑料网 Department of Ophthalmology. At the point it grew into an CME conference for a wider audience of eye care professionals, the 黑料网 Eye Symposium was restructured to offer scholarly excellence and professional enrichment to meet the continuing medical education needs and interests of ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians and other eye care professionals. In recent years, Symposium Course Director, 黑料网 Ophthalmology Chair and Kittner Family Distinguished Professor Donald J. Budenz, MD, MPH, and Co-Course Director and Residency Program Director Alice Zhang, MD, have led the extensive planning efforts invested in this growing event.

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CERI proudly sponsored the 2025 Raleigh Run for Rare 5K, and the 黑料网-NCSU team turned out a large group of walkers and runners. The team congratulates Ethan Sud, a Hirsch Lab member and 黑料网 undergraduate, for winning 1st place in his age category.

After this late March event, the National MPS Society noted to participants:听 “Thanks to you, the 2025 Raleigh Run for Rare was an incredible success! With over 350 participants joining us both in person and virtually, we came together as a community to make a lasting impact. Your support helped us raise over $35,000!”

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Every sport involves degrees of rigor and skill, and every sport carries a degree of injury risk.听 Of the nearly 30,000 ER visits for sports-related eye injuries each year, an astounding 90% could be avoided by wearing protective eyewear.听 Youth and adults alike state a range of reasons for not wearing sports eye protection: 鈥�They鈥檙e cumbersome 鈥� It compromises my peripheral vision 鈥� Sports goggles fog up and I can鈥檛 see.鈥� From community recreation to pro leagues, it is critical to protect one鈥檚 eyes against sports-related injuries that carry any potential to cause low- to high-impact ocular trauma.

Between April and August, outdoors recreation peaks to highest levels. Accordingly, the recognizes April as Sports Eye Safety Month. This month, the AAO emphasizes several preventive actions that active Americans can employ to greatly reduce their risk for eye injury while engaged in sports play.

• START EARLY: Parents, coaches and others involved in organized youth sports can set a standard through requiring protective eyewear for youth playing sports that carry a higher risk of eye injury. Those who use protective eyewear consistently (every time) from an early age are far more likely to maintain such practice over the life course of engagement in a higher-risk sport.

• OPTICIANS ARE HIGHLY TRAINED TO ASSIST CHOICE OF PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR
  • The AAO recommends shatterproof plastic protective glasses (polycarbonate lenses) for mainstream sports such as basketball, tennis, racquet ball, soccer and field hockey. Opticians can review options with active individuals who want to make protective eyewear a consistent part of their injury-preventing sports gear.
  • Eyeglasses are no substitute for protective eyewear: Opticians are trained to assist eyeglasses and contact lens wearers choose the right pair of prescription protective goggles to participate in their sport. Visit the 黑料网 Optical Shop at 黑料网 Kittner Eye Center (2^nd floor) or call their team (984-974-2039) with questions on recommended protective eyewear for your sport.

• KNOW THE RISK OF OCULAR INJURY IN YOUR CHOSEN SPORT: Injury is inherent to ALL sports. The sports that carry the greatest risk of head and musculoskeletal trauma go hand in hand with highest risk of ocular trauma. Athletes involved in close contact sports or others with higher rates of blunt force trauma stand the greatest risk of ocular injury in such sports.
  • Basketball carries the highest rate of sports-related eye injuries in the U.S. Boxing and full-contact martial arts also pose an extremely high risk of serious, even eye-blinding injuries. Activities involving projectiles that can veer directly into the eye鈥檚 orbit pose the greatest risk for temporary or permanent loss of eyesight.

• SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSIONS CAN IMPACT VISION: Concussions in contact sports can cause temporary or long-lasting damage to eyesight. Results from on-the-field visual tests post-incident greatly aid eye specialists in assessing any concussion-related damage to a patient鈥檚 vision. If you have suffered a recent concussion, check with your diagnosing physician to ensure you have a timely referral to an ophthalmologist if any negative effects on vision are suspected.
• SPECTATORS CAN ALSO BE AT RISK. The odds of eye injury at sporting events with flying balls and other projectiles are far lower for spectators; nonetheless, misdirected kicks, pop-fly balls, and projectiles can end up in spectator stands at any time. Keep your eyes on the game and watch the fast-flying action involved in ice hockey, baseball, tennis and soccer and other sports where spectator eye injuries have occurred.

黑料网 Ophthalmology joins several other 黑料网 departments and divisions in sharing disciplinary expertise with the University’s designated physician group for treating, rehabilitating and preventing injury in 黑料网 athletes — 黑料网 Division of Sport Medicine. 黑料网 Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Michael Mendsen, OD, consults with the 黑料网 Sports Medicine’s athletic trainers on prevention-focused programming and investment in protective eye wear. Dr. Mendsen works routinely with 黑料网 men’s basketball team trainers and presents an annual lecture to this group entitled, “Ophthalmologic Considerations for Athletic Trainers.”

Dr. Mendsen noted: “The athletic trainers for every [University of North Carolina] team do an excellent job of ensuring that the players have the necessary eye protection. When serious ocular trauma occurs, our 黑料网 Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery group provides swift and comprehensive treatment and follow-up, working closely with both athletic trainers and the injured athlete [him/herself].”

黑料网 Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Chris Hwang, MD, specializes in Oculofacial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Hwang noted: 鈥淭he orbital bones that surround and protect the eye within the brow, nasal, and cheek often absorb most of the damage from a forceful impact, sparing the eye of serious injury. If forceful enough, however, impact to the eye and/or surrounding areas can result in fractures of the orbital and facial bones, as well as damage to the eye that may result in vision loss, and, in the worst cases, rupture and loss of the eye itself. 听The eye is particularly susceptible to injury from high velocity objects small enough to fit into the orbit and deliver a direct impact to the eye. Wearing the proper eye protection while playing sports can help prevent serious eye injuries.鈥�

If you have experienced an eye injury that necessitates follow-up treatment post emergency care, call 984-974-2020 to schedule an appointment with one of 黑料网 Ophthalmology鈥檚 Periocular and Facial Trauma specialists. Our 黑料网 Ophthalmology subspecialists who treat ocular injuries emphasize a proper recovery timeline for safe return to activity as equally important to treating the injury itself.

#SportsEyeSafetyMonth听 @AcademyEyeSmart

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Every year, the eye specialist community celebrates World Optometry Day on March 23rd to recognize the vital role of optometrists in expanding and reinforcing the reach of comprehensive eye care across the globe. This year, the World Optometry Council has designated “Eyes to the Future: Optometry Improving Global Wellness” as the theme of World Optometry Day 2025. This year’s theme emphasizes the impact of optometry as a vital healthcare profession and key pillar of global health in promoting overall wellness, disease prevention, and the diagnosis of health conditions that affect more than just the eyes.

In March 2024, the World Council of Optometry (WCO) launched the Competency Framework for Optometry as an outline for optometrists worldwide to deliver vision correction and eye disease detection and treatment services in under-resourced global healthcare settings most effectively. A year later, the framework continues to guide optometrists working in under-resourced communities with limited access to eye specialists and an aging population to optimize their roles as primary eyecare providers within collaborative healthcare models and communities.

黑料网 Kittner Eye Center’s optometry lead and Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology Michael Mendsen, OD, noted: “Optometrists play a critical role in the diagnosis and management of many eye diseases and disorders of the visual system. Optometrists make up a much larger portion of the eye care workforce which helps provide comprehensive eye exams and plays an integral role in the patient鈥檚 primary healthcare team.”

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Matt Hirsch, PhD听 (黑料网-CH)

Brian Gilger, DVM听 (NCSU)

A cross-disciplinary 黑料网-North Carolina State University (NCSU) team with collaborative ties in developing ocular drug delivery systems has recently discovered a genetically engineered pathway to reduce corneal blindness via decreasing rejection of high-risk corneal transplantation (CT). In the November 6th, 2024 , two 黑料网 Ophthalmology basic scientists — Research Assistant Professor Jackie Bower, PhD, and lead study author Associate Professor Matt Hirsch, PhD — collaborated with NCSU Professor of Ophthalmology Brian Gilger, PhD — in publishing a study entitled, “A chimeric anti-vascularization immunomodulator prevents high-risk corneal transplantation rejection via ex vivo gene therapy.”

In this study, adeno-associated virus (AAV) ex vivo gene therapy was employed to establish immune tolerance in the corneal allograft to prevent high-risk CT rejection. Building on prior research that demonstrated human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G)-boosted ocular immune privilege, the research team engineered a single-chain immunomodulator (scIM) mimicking the structural conformation and function of the potent HLA-G homodimer complex. In this study, AAV-scIM was injected to the subconjunctival space to reduce trauma induced corneal vascularization and fibrosis in a murine model. Then, ex vivo AAV-scIM gene delivery to corneal allografts reduced high-risk CT rejection in a leporine model.

Study data collectively demonstrate that scIM gene therapy prevents corneal neovascularization, reduces trauma-induced corneal fibrosis, and prevents allogeneic CT rejection in a high-risk large animal model. The results also promote further study and discovery of therapeutic tissue engineering mechanisms for treating corneal blindness, a disease that affects more than five million individuals worldwide. This work was supported by the NIH and Bedrock Therapeutics, Inc. a 黑料网 spinout biotech company co-founded by Drs. Gilger and Hirsch that is advancing these promising results towards a Phase I clinical trial.

Dr. Hirsch, an AAV-gene delivery engineering expert, added, 鈥淲hile the work herein demonstrates Proof-of-Concept for ex vivo scIM gene therapy to prevent corneal transplant rejection, our optimism is growing towards broader applications to prevent immunological rejection of other organs including the heart, liver, and kidneys.鈥�

To read more on this 黑料网-NCSU collaborative study, refer to the .

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