“Imaging Retinal Dystrophies”

Dr. Anita Agarwal is a professor of ophthalmology at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute. Dr. Agarwal specializes in medical and surgical diseases of the retina and uvea and has a special interest in uncommon and inherited retinal diseases. She received ophthalmology residency training at the Postgraduate Institute in Chandigarh, India under the mentorship of Dr. Amod Gupta, and at the University of Florida, Gainesville. This was followed by a medical retina fellowship at Vanderbilt University under Dr. J. Donald M. Gass and a vitreoretinal surgical fellowship at West Virginia University under the mentorship of Dr. Lionel Chisholm. She returned to Vanderbilt University as an assistant professor in 1999. There, she worked alongside Dr. Gass, an opportunity that further enhanced their interaction and her learning, ultimately taking over his clinical practice. She is the author of the Fifth Edition of the Gass’ Atlas of Macular Disease, and has co-authored landmark research papers on the genetics of macular degeneration. Her clinical interests include a variety of infectious, inflammatory, degenerative and dystrophic medical retinal disorders. Her research in genetics of AMD is supported by a NEI grant titled ‘Unifying Genetics Epidemiology of Macular Degeneration’, continuously funded since She is a member of the Macula Society and Retina Society and has been recognized as one of America’s best doctors, Castle Connoly’s top doctors and top ophthalmologists. She is the recipient of the 2014 J. Donald M. Gass Medal for outstanding contributions in understanding Macular diseases awarded by the Macula Society and the 2015 Optic (UK) Medal awarded at the Royal College of Ophthalmology. She has also received honor awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists. She serves on the editorial board of journals – Ophthalmology, Retina Cases and Brief Reports and American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports.