The Harvard Pediatric Retina Lab
A division of Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School
Our Work
We are dedicated to advancing care for retinal diseases through a blend of clinical insight, imaging technology, and data-driven research. The team focuses on three main areas: retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), sickle cell disease (SCD), and adult retinal disorders. We seek to better understand disease progression and tailor care to individual patients, emphasizing early detection and holistic care. With a vision to address disparities in eye health while improving patient outcomes and healthcare sustainability, we leverage innovative tools including AI, large datasets, and novel imaging modalities to serve patients at all stages of life.
You can learn more about the lab’s work and Dr. Patel’s publications through his PubMed and Harvard Catalyst profiles.
Retinopathy of Prematurity
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affects premature infants receiving oxygen therapy, causing pathological vessel growth in the retina that can progress to retinal detachment and vision loss. While advances in neonatal care and screening have improved ROP outcomes, disparities persist worldwide and international guidelines are much-needed. Our group has begun working with some African countries to produce unified, risk-stratified screening protocols.
The Retinopathy of Prematurity Injection Consortium (ROPIC), led by Dr. Patel, seeks to facilitate this goal by comparing re-treatment rates between the US and non-US countries after certain injections for ROP treatment, looking to compare and standardize best practices internationally. In addition, technological advances such as TeleROP, which screens newborns for ROP remotely, also promise to improve accessibility and potentially alleviate disparities in care worldwide.
Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy that distorts red blood cells into maladaptive shapes that impair the body’s oxygen delivery capacity and causing microvascular damage. In the pediatric retina, SCD can lead to vision threatening complications such as proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSR), retinal hemorrhage, and choroidal neovascularization (CNV).
Our lab investigates the progression of retinal manifestations in children with SCD through advanced imaging and longitudinal analysis. We are also investigating retinal vascular imaging biomarkers in pediatric SCD that demonstrate significant correlation with systemic disease severity and cerebrovascular complications.
Adult Retina
We are investigating a number of different adult retina diseases and operations: the factors influencing operative times and outcomes in scleral buckle surgeries, cost analyses of digital therapeutics for amblyopia, and retinal detachment surgery outcomes.
For each of these studies, we continue to build databases and also for other sectors including secondary intraocular lens implantation (IOL), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), open globe injuries, and ophthalmic examinations under anesthesia.
Publications
Correlations Between Different Choriocapillaris Flow Deficit Parameters in Normal Eyes Using Swept Source OCT Angiography
Shi, Yingying; Zhang, Qinqin; Zheng, Fang; Russell, Jonathan F.; Motulsky, Elie H.; Banta, James T.; Chu, Zhongdi; Zhou, Hao; Patel, Nimesh A.; de Sisternes, Luis; Durbin, Mary K.; Feuer, William; Gregori, Giovanni; Wang, Ruikang K.; Rosenfeld, Philip J.
AJO; 2020
10.1016/j.ajo.2019.09.017
Surgical Outcomes Of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment In Young Adults Ages 18-30 Years
Brown, Karen; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Callaway, Natalia F.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Relhan, Nidhi; Albini, Thomas A.; Berrocal, Audina M.; Davis, Janet L.; Fortun, Jorge A.; Smiddy, William E.; Sridhar, Jayanth; Flynn, Harry W.; Townsend, Justin H.
Clin Ophthalmol; 2019
10.2147/OPTH.S213042
Delayed Onset of Retinopathy of Prematurity Associated With Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Pearson Syndrome
Patel, Nimesh A.; Han, Elaine; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Fan, Kenneth C.; Negron, Catherin I.; Prakhunhungsit, Supalert; Mendoza-Santiesteban, Carlos E.; Berrocal, Audina M.
J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus; 2019
10.3928/01913913-20190813-01
Current Trends in Vitreoretinal Anesthesia
Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Sridhar, Jayanth; Flynn, Harry W.; Gayer, Steven; Berrocal, Audina M.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Townsend, Justin; Smiddy, William E.; Albini, Thomas
Ophthalmol Retina; 2019
10.1016/j.oret.2019.05.020
Zygomatic dental implant induced orbital fracture and inferior oblique trauma
Tran, Ann Q.; Reyes-Capó, Daniela P.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Pasol, Joshua; Capó, Hilda; Wester, Sara T.
Orbit; 2019
10.1080/01676830.2018.1444063
Indications and Outcomes for the Removal of Intraocular Lens Implants in a Retinal Surgery Practice
Patel, Nimesh A.; Gangasani, Nikitha; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Melo, Gustavo; Flynn, Harry W.; Smiddy, William E.
OSLI Retina; 2019
10.3928/23258160-20190806-05
Novel Use of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization for the Rapid Identification of Microorganisms in Endophthalmitis and Keratitis
Patel, Nimesh A.; Miller, Darlene; Relhan, Nidhi; Alfonso, Eduardo C.; Flynn, Harry W.
OSLI Retina; 2019
10.3928/23258160-20190108-03
Age-dependent Changes in the Macular Choriocapillaris of Normal Eyes Imaged With Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Zheng, Fang; Zhang, Qinqin; Shi, Yingying; Russell, Jonathan F.; Motulsky, Elie H.; Banta, James T.; Chu, Zhongdi; Zhou, Hao; Patel, Nimesh A.; de Sisternes, Luis; Durbin, Mary K.; Feuer, William; Gregori, Giovanni; Wang, Ruikang; Rosenfeld, Philip J.
AJO; 2019
10.1016/j.ajo.2018.12.025
Clinical Features, Antibiotic Susceptibilities, and Treatment Outcomes of Endophthalmitis Caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis
Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Relhan, Nidhi; Tran, Kimberly D.; Si, Nancy; Albini, Thomas A.; Berrocal, Audina M.; Davis, Janet L.; Smiddy, William E.; Townsend, Justin; Miller, Darlene; Flynn, Harry W.
Ophthalmol Retina; 2018
10.1016/j.oret.2017.08.025
Clinical outcomes of 4-point scleral fixated 1-piece hydrophobic acrylic equiconvex intraocular lens using polytetrafluoroethylene suture
Patel, Nimesh A.; Shah, Parth; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Ansari, Zubair; Zaveri, Jill S.; Relhan, Nidhi; Williams, Basil K.; Kuriyan, Ajay E.; Henry, Christopher R.; Sridhar, Jayanth; Haddock, Luis; Fortun, Jorge A.; Albini, Thomas A.; Davis, Janet L.; Flynn, Harry W.
Clin Ophthalmol; 2018
10.2147/OPTH.S174211
Antiphosphospholipid syndrome presenting with amaurosis fugax and cotton wool spots
Tran, Kimberly D.; Read, Sarah P.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Flynn, Harry W.; Schatz, Norman J.
Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep; 2017
10.1016/j.ajoc.2017.07.005
A disk of dust and molecular gas around a high-mass protostar
Patel, Nimesh A.; Curiel, Salvador; Sridharan, T. K.; Zhang, Qizhou; Hunter, Todd R.; Ho, Paul T. P.; Torrelles, José M.; Moran, James M.; Gómez, José F.; Anglada, Guillem
Nature; 2005
10.1038/nature04011
ANALYSIS OF THE VITREORETINAL SURGICAL FELLOWSHIP APPLICANT POOL: Publication Misrepresentations and Predictors of Future Academic Output
Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Smith, Logan; Yadegari, Dan; Venincasa, Michael J.; Al-Khersan, Hasenin; Patel, Nimesh A.; Albini, Thomas; Berrocal, Audina M.; Flynn, Harry W.; Sridhar, Jayanth
Retina; 2020
10.1097/IAE.0000000000002698
Vitreoretinal lymphoma followed by systemic diffuse large B cell lymphoma
Fan, Kenneth C.; Tran, Kimberly D.; Harbour, J. William; Dubovy, Sander A.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Albini, Thomas A.
J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect; 2019
10.1186/s12348-019-0177-8
Post-Traumatic Endophthalmitis Caused by Oerskovia turbata
Rohowetz, Landon J.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Fan, Kenneth C.; Miller, Darlene; Flynn, Harry W.
Case Rep Ophthalmol; 2019
10.1159/000502413
Differentiating Veins From Arteries on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography by Identifying Deep Capillary Plexus Vortices
Xu, Xiaoyu; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Fern√°ndez-Avellaneda, Pedro; Echegaray, Jose J.; Tran, Kimberly D.; Russell, Jonathan F.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Hussain, Rehan M.; Sarraf, David; Freund, K. Bailey
AJO; 2019
10.1016/j.ajo.2019.06.009
Assessment of the Quality, Content, and Readability of Freely Available Online Information for Patients Regarding Diabetic Retinopathy
Kloosterboer, Amy; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Kuriyan, Ajay E.; Sridhar, Jayanth
JAMA Ophthalmol; 2019
10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.3116
A unique case of vision loss in a patient with hypotrichosis and juvenile macular dystrophy and primary ciliary dyskinesia
Fan, Kenneth C.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Prakhunhungsit, Supalert; Negron, Catherin I.; Basora, Elisa; Colin, Andrew A.; Tekin, Mustafa; Berrocal, Audina M.
Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep; 2019
10.1016/j.ajoc.2019.100486
Revascularization After Intravitreal Bevacizumab and Laser Therapy of Bilateral Retinal Vascular Occlusions in Incontinentia Pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger Syndrome)
Cernichiaro-Espinosa, Linda A.; Patel, Nimesh A.; Bauer, Mislen S.; Negron, Catherin I.; Fallas, Brenda; Pogrebniak, Alexander; Berrocal, Audina M.
OSLI Retina; 2019
10.3928/23258160-20190129-16
Endophthalmitis Associated With Intravitreal Injections of Anti-VEGF Agents at a Tertiary Referral Center: In-House and Referred Cases
Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Gregori, Ninel Z.; Rosenfeld, Philip J.; Relhan, Nidhi; Patel, Nimesh A.; Si, Nancy; Miller, Darlene; Dubovy, Sander R.; Smiddy, William E.; Schwartz, Stephen G.; Flynn, Harry W.
OSLI Retina; 2018
10.3928/23258160-20180501-04
Clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and treatment outcomes of patients with culture positive endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty
Tran, Kimberly D.; Yannuzzi, Nicolas A.; Si, Nancy; Patel, Nimesh A.; Miller, Darlene; Amescua, Guillermo; Berrocal, Audina M.; Flynn, Harry W.
Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep; 2018
10.1016/j.ajoc.2018.01.011
Retinal vasproliferative tumor in a case of X-linked retinoschisis detachment
Patel, Nimesh A.; Laura, Diana; Tran, Kimberly D.; Chang, Stanley; Barile, Gaetano; Berrocal, Audina M.
Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep; 2018
10.1016/j.ajoc.2018.01.002
Nuclear ashes and outflow in the eruptive star Nova Vul 1670
Kamiński, Tomasz; Menten, Karl M.; Tylenda, Romuald; Hajduk, Marcin; Patel, Nimesh A.; Kraus, Alexander
Nature; 2015
10.1038/nature14257