Michaela K. Mathews, Md

Biography

With a broad background clinical Ophthalmology and specific training and expertise in Neuroophthalmology, Dr. Mathews specializes in disorders of the optic nerve, visual pathway, and ocular motor system. Her clinical practice includes patients with congenital, toxic, traumatic, inflammatory, and nutritional optic nerve disorders, facial nerve palsy other cranial nerve syndromes, brain tumors, and strokes affecting the eye and visual system. Her primary interests are in Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, Optic Neuritis, Idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and Optic nerve trauma. Dr. Mathews is a graduate of the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. She joined the University of Maryland in 2005 after completing Ophthalmology residency training at UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson, New Jersey and Neuroophthalmology fellowship training at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. Her research experience includes participation in groundbreaking research on the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in diabetic eye disease, sickle cell retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity at the Johns Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute. Her current research focus is on ocular effects of hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and diabetes as risk factors for Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and retinal dysfunction. Dr. Mathews is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) - funded clinician-scientist and has also received research support from the Austrian Ministry of Science and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation.

Research Interest

Ischemic Optic Neuropathy, Optic Neuritis, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Traumatic Optic Neuropathy Lipoprotein (a), NAION, Hyperlipidemia, Atherosclerosis, Melanopsin-containing Retinal Ganglion Cells, Blast trauma