Randy H. Kardon, MD, PhD

Specialty: Neuro-Ophthalmology

Pomerantz Family Chair in Ophthalmology
Professor of Ophthalmology
Director of Neuro-Ophthalmology Service

Campus Address

11290-D PFP
(319) 356-2260

Education

• BS (General Science), University of Iowa
• MD, PhD (Pharmacology), University of Iowa

Post Graduate Education

• Medical Internship, Gundersen Clinic & Lutheran Hospital
• Research Fellow, University of Iowa
• Residency (Ophthalmology), University of Iowa
• Fellowship (Neuro-Ophthalmology), University of Iowa

Certification

• American Board of Ophthalmology

Professional Affiliations

• Imaging and Perimetry Society
• Optical Society of America
• Upper Mid-West Neuro-Ophthalmology Group
• North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
• International Pupil Colloquium
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology

Research Interest

• Relationship of visual dysfunction to pupillomotor responsiveness to light
• Pharmacology of the central and peripheral pupillomotor pathways
• Autonomic disorders of pupillary function
• Risk factors in the pathogenesis of optic nerve diseases
• Multifocal electroretinogram in diagnosing visual loss
• Correlation of structure and function of the visual system
• Studies of the dynamics of the blood flow to the choroid and retina
• Optical imaging of retinal function

Current Projects

• Understanding the photoreceptor and intrinsic melanopsin retinal ganglion cell input to the pupil light reflex in normal eyes, eyes with retinal degeneration and eyes with optic neuropathy in order to diagnose eye disease and its treatment (collaboration with Ed Stone M.D. Ph.D., University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Aki Kawasaki M.D., University of Lausanne, Switzerland).
• Use of intravitreal neurotrophic growth factors for treatment of glaucoma, compressive optic neuropathy, and laser-induced retinal damage (collaboration with Dr. Sinisa Grozdanic, DVM, Ph.D., Iowa State University College of Veterinary Science and Markus Kuehn Ph.D. University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences)
• Pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune retinopathy (collaboration with Dr. Sinisa Grozdanic, DVM, Ph.D., Iowa State University College of Veterinary Science)
• Use of genetically engineered mesenchymal cells from bone marrow to seed the retina and produce neurotrophic factors for treatment of optic neuropathy and retinopathy (with Don Sakaguchi Ph.D. (primary investigator) and Sinisa Grozdanic DVM Ph.D. (collaborator) ISU)
• Correlation of structure of the retina using optical coherence tomography and feature identification in retinal images with corresponding retinal function (collaboration with Don Hood Ph.D. Columbia University, Michael Abramoff M.D. Ph.D., Milan Sonka Ph.D., Mona Haeker Ph.D., Young Kwon M.D. Ph.D.. Michael Wall M.D., and Chris Johnson, Ph.D., University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Electical Engineering)
• The use of objective pupil perimetry in the assessment of visual dysfunction
• Computerized determination of the relative afferent pupillary defect and the factors that affect it.
• Multifocal Electroretinography (MERG) as a tool to differentiate optic nerve from retinal diseas.
• Evaluation of which response parameter (i.e. contraction amplitude, maximum velocity, latency) of the pupillary light reflex is the most sensitive indicator of visual dysfunction.
• Characterization of etiology and site of visual dysfunction by evaluation of stimulus intensity/pupil response curve functions.
• The effect of disease of differing etiologies on tests of optic nerve function (the relative afferent pupillary defect, foveal threshold, critical flicker fusion, visual acuity, color vision).
• Evaluation of the pupil, eyelid, and sweating (skin conductance) in Horner's Syndrome.
• The effect of blood pressure, auto regulation, and watershed zone of the optic nerve blood supply on the pathogenesis of disorders of the optic nerve head.
• Measurement of retinal sensitivity as a function of intraocular pressure using scleral suction in conjunction with the pupillary light reflex.
• Studies of how damage to the retina and optic nerve affect the structure of the retinal nerve fiber layer using optical coherence tomography and how this correlates to measures of function.
• Digital video angiography of the choroidal and retinal blood flow of the eye and the effects of disease on the dynamics of blood flow.
• Development of a new technique of functional imaging of the retina.

Current Funding (Federal)

• Veterans Administration Rehabilitation Grant, “proposal #6139 titled “Rehabilitation of Glaucoma Using Computer-Analyzed Eye Images” January, 2008-2011 $720,562 (Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D. PI, Co-investigators are Michael Abramoff M.D. Ph.D. Chris Johnson Ph.D., Young Kwon M.D. Ph.D., Milan Sonka Ph.D., Michael Wall M.D., and Mona Haeker Ph.D.)
• Department of Defense (DOD) Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP PR064674) “Treatment of Laser-Induced Retinal Injury and Visual Loss Using Sustained Release of Intra-vitreal Neurotrophic Growth Factors” (Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D. PI., Sinisa Grozdanic DVM Ph.D. ISU, Co-PI.), 2007-2010 $580,000
• NIH (NEI) R01EY017066-01, “Low-cost, portable, computer assisted imaging for diabetic retinopathy” (Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D. Co-investigator, Michael Abramoff M.D. Ph.D., PI ), 2005-2008, $1,843,750
• Veterans Administration Rehab Grant, “Treatment of Visual Loss in Glaucoma and Ischemia with Neurotrophic Growth Factors”, (Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D. PI, Sinisa Grozdanic DVM Ph.D. ISU, Co-PI.) July 1, 2005-2008 $745,298
• Veterans Administration Rehab Grant, “Predicting Rehabilitation of Visual Loss in Compressive Optic Neuropathy”) Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D. PI), July 1, 2004-2007 $407,000
• Veterans Administration Rehab Grant, “Growth Factor Treatment of Visual Loss in Compressive Optic Nerve Injury”, (Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D. PI, Sinisa Grozdanic DVM Ph.D. ISU, Co-PI.) October 2007-2010 $727,283 for 3 years
• NIH (NEI) “OCT Reading Center for Longitudinal Optic Neuritis Study” May 2006-2007 (Randy Kardon M.D. Ph.D. PI) $15,000

Faculty Profile: A Conversation with Dr. Kardon