Donald L. Budenz, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma

View published articles in the National Library of Medicine.

Research Summary

My research program is dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. I am primarily involved in patient-oriented clinical research. The following describes my main research projects:

Ophthalmic Imaging Technologies. I am the Principal Investigator of the clinical center of the NEI funded Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study as well as the Assistant Director of the Optic Disc Reading Center for this study. I am currently looking at changes of the optic nerve that might predict the development of glaucoma as part of that study. I am actively involved in diagnostic testing for glaucoma in the area of visual field and ocular imaging. We are focusing on diagnosis of progression using various diagnostic modalities, including standard automated perimetry, short wavelength automated perimetry, frequency doubling perimetry, optical coherence tomography, and scanning laser polarimetry. This is being developed for an NEI multi-center clinical U10 grant.

New Glaucoma Treatments. In the treatment of glaucoma, I am working on development of new lasers and aqueous shunts for glaucoma surgery. I am typically involved in 1 to 2 FDA trials in these modalities per year and do many studies on the safety and efficacy of these surgical techniques after they are released.

Genetic Epidemiology. I am the clinical director for a team project which aims to identify a profile of genetic polymorphisms that predict propensity for primary open angle glaucoma.

Representative Publications:

Budenz D , Rhee P, Feuer WJ, McSoley J, Johnson CA , Anderson DR. Comparison of glaucomatous visual field defects using standard Full Threshold and the Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithms. Arch Ophthalmol . 2002;120:1136-1141.

Budenz D , Rhee P, Feuer W, McSoley J, Anderson D. Sensitivity and specificity of the Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm (SITA) in glaucomatous visual field defects. Ophthalmology , 2002;109:1052-1058.

Budenz DL, Scott IU, Feuer WJ, and the Baerveldt/Trabeculectomy Study Group. Baerveldt drainage implant combined with mitomycin trabeculectomy. Journal of Glaucoma , 2002;11:439-445.

Kass MA, Heuer DK, Higginbotham EJ, et al, and the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study Group . The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. A Randomized Trial Determines That Topical Ocular Hypotensive Medication Delays or Prevents the Onset of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol . 2002;120:701-713.

Gordon MO, Beiser JA, Brandt JD, et al and the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study Group . The Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study. Baseline Factors That Predict the Onset of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2002; 120: 714-720.