Clinical Professor
Thelma Gaylord Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology
Vice Chair for Clinical Research
Director, Stephenson Refractive Surgery Center
Clinical Focus
Special Interests
- Complex Cataract Surgery and Intraocular Lens Management
- Corneal Infections
- Corneal Transplantation: full-thickness and partial thickness (DSAEK/DMEK)
- Corneal Cross-Linking
- Routine, Premium, and Complex Cataract Surgery
- “Dropless” Cataract Surgery
- Management of Cataract Surgery Complications
- Secondary IOL Implantation (scleral fixation, etc.)
- Refractive Surgery, including LASIK, PRK, and Phakic IOLs
- Clear Lens Exchange
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Education
- BA: History and Economics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2003
- MD: University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2008
- Internship: Preliminary Medicine, St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, IL, 2008-2009
- Residency: Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, 2009-2012
- Fellowship: Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 2012-2013
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Memberships
- Oklahoma Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
- Cornea Society
- International Society of Refractive Surgery
- Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology
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Honors and Awards
- Achievement Award, 2023, American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2023, 2024
- Castle Connolly Top AAPI Doctors 2023, 2024
- Aesculapian Teaching Award 2021-22, OU College of Medicine (first ophthalmologist to receive this since its inception in 1962), April 2022
- “Top Doctors List 2022, 2023” – 405 Magazine, January 2022
- “Achievers Under 40, Class XVII” – The Journal Record, August 2021
- “40 Under 40, Class of 2021” – Oklahoma Magazine, March 2021
- “Teacher of the Year,” Chicago Curriculum in Ophthalmology, 2019
- “Young International Ophthalmologist Award,” Indian Society of Cornea and Keratorefractive Surgery, 2019
- “Best Teacher Award,” University of Chicago, Department of Ophthalmology, 2018
- “Best Practices Forum Award,” University of Chicago Medical Center, 2018
- “Teacher of the Year,” Osler Board Review Course, 2015-2019
- Resident Research Award, Northwestern University, 2012
- Chief Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, 2011-2012
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Bio
Dr. Kamran Riaz is a Clinical Professor, the Thelma Gaylord Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology, and Vice-Chair for Clinical Research at the Dean McGee Eye Institute (University of Oklahoma). His clinical and surgical practices focus on cornea, external disease, anterior segment, cataract, and refractive surgery.
Dr. Riaz completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was admitted into the prestigious Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions (GPPA). He received dual bachelor’s degrees in economics and history and graduated magna cum laude with the highest possible distinction. Dr. Riaz attended medical school at the UIC College of Medicine. He completed his ophthalmology residency at Northwestern University, where he served as chief resident during his senior year and received the “Best Resident Research” Award. He completed an additional year of fellowship training in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Dr. Riaz’s career in academic ophthalmology began at the University of Chicago, where he served as an Assistant Professor and Director of Refractive Surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science. During his time there, he restarted the refractive surgery service, inaugurated a region-wide optics course, and brought many new surgical procedures to the department. For his efforts, Dr. Riaz was recognized by the hospital administration in May 2018 at the “Best Practices Forum” for restoring vision in a patient who was blind for 38 years. He received the “Best Teacher Award” in 2018 from the University of Chicago ophthalmology residents and the “Teacher of the Year” award in 2019, as voted by residents from all six programs in the Chicago area.
Since arriving at Dean McGee in 2019, he has had a regional referral base for managing a spectrum of conditions, focusing on managing complications from cataract surgery, secondary IOL surgery, and complex corneal surgery. Dr. Riaz has authored over 90 peer-reviewed publications, 20 book chapters, and 100 presentations at national and international ophthalmology meetings. He has been an invited lecturer, surgical wet-lab instructor, and visiting professor at numerous conferences (including veterinary ophthalmologists) and multiple academic institutions nationally and internationally. He has several leadership positions, including serving on the ASCRS Young Eye Surgeon (YES) Clinical Committee, Chair of the BCSC Optics textbook, and the Editorial Board for several ophthalmology journals. In April 2022, he was awarded the Aesculapian Teaching Award from the OU College of Medicine – the first ophthalmology faculty to ever receive this award since its inception in 1962. In 2023 and 2024 he was recognized by Castle Connolly as one of the top AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage) Doctors nationally.
Dr. Riaz is passionate about resident and fellow education, especially in optics and refractive surgery. He teaches national board review courses, serves as an optics section editor for the most popular website for ophthalmology exam preparation among trainees, and is on the editorial committee for the BCSC Optics textbook. He is the Chief Editor of a recently released Optics textbook, Optics for the New Millennium (Sept 2022), a comprehensive resource combining optics information needed for exams, clinical practice, and surgical preparation, presented in an engaging style. He is an Associate Editor for Clinical Atlas of Anterior Segment OCT: Optical Coherence Tomography.
In his free time, Dr. Riaz enjoys history documentaries, football, basketball, and jazz music. He and his wife, Sanaa, also a physician, are blessed with three beautiful children. Dr. Riaz is fluent in Spanish, Urdu, Hindi, and Arabic.
Research
Dr Riaz PubMed Profile
Textbook Authorship
- Books (Editor/Senior Editor)
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- Riaz KM, Vicente GV, Wee D. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Springer Nature, Switzerland AG, September 2022. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-95251-8 .
- Levinson B, Woreta F, Riaz KM. A Clinical Atlas of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Elsevier Publishing, New York, NY, USA. Expected publishing date April 2023
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- Books (Chapter Author)
1. Riaz KM. “Postoperative Decision Making”, The LASIK Handbook: A Case-Based Approach. Eds: Robert S. Feder, Christopher J. Rapuano; Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2013
2. Riaz KM. “Geometric Optics (Chapter 1). Basic and Clinical Science Course 2022-23, Eds: American Academy of Ophthalmology, June 2022.
3. Heath M, Riaz KM. “Ocular Side Effects of Systemic Antibiotics”. Ocular Manifestations of Systemic Disease: An Ophthalmology Manual for Every Medical Practitioner, Eds: Carol Shields, Ashiyana Nariani. Springer Nature, Switzerland AG, expected publishing date: January 2024.
4. Riaz KM. “Geometric Optics (Chapter 1)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022.
5. Riaz KM. “Power of Lenses in Different Media (Chapter 5)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
6. Riaz KM. “Lens Effectivity (Chapter 6)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
7. Riaz KM. “Spherocylindrical Lenses (Chapter 10)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
8. Riaz KM, Vicente GV. “Physical Optics (Chapter 14)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022.
9. Riaz KM. “Glasses in Clinical Practice (Chapter 15)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
10. Riaz KM. “Construction of Glasses: Ophthalmologists as Opticians (Chapter 16)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
11. Riaz KM. “Visual Acuity Testing and Assessment (Chapter 18)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
12. Samples JS, Riaz KM. “Contact Lenses in Clinical Practice (Chapter 20)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
13. Batliwala SY, Riaz KM. “Optics in Micro-Gravity and Zero-Gravity Conditions (Chapter 25)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
14.Riaz KM. “Preoperative Optics for Cataract Surgery (Chapter 26)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
15. Riaz KM. “What’s on the Menu: an Overview of Currently Available IOLs and Relevant Optics (Chapter 27)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
16. Riaz KM. “Intraoperative Optics for Cataract Surgery (Chapter 28)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
17. Riaz KM. “Postoperative Optics for Cataract Surgery (Chapter 29)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
18. Riaz KM. “Optics for Refractive Surgery (Chapter 30)”. Optics for the New Millennium: An Absolute Review Handbook of Clinical, Surgical and Testable Relevance. Eds: Kamran Riaz, G. Vike Vicente, and Daniel Wee. New York, NY: Springer Publishing, September 2022
19. Berry JC, Riaz KM. “Introduction and Brief History of Anterior Segment OCT (Chapter 1)”. A Clinical Atlas of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Wolters Kluwer Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Expected publishing date April 2024
20. Berry JC, Riaz KM. “Pathology of the Stroma (Chapter 6)”. A Clinical Atlas of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Wolters Kluwer Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Expected publishing date April 2024
21. Riaz KM. “Keratoconus and Corneal Ectasias (Chapter 7)”. A Clinical Atlas of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Wolters Kluwer Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Expected publishing date April 2024
22. Awidi A, Riaz KM. “Crystalline Lens and Intraocular Lens Abnormalities (Chapter 11)”. A Clinical Atlas of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Wolters Kluwer Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Expected publishing date April 2024
23. Vongsachang H, Riaz KM, Woreta F. “Trauma (Chapter 17)”. A Clinical Atlas of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Wolters Kluwer Publishing, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Expected publishing date April 2024 (target).
