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The California Vitreoretinal Center of the Stanford University
Department of Ophthalmology is one of the oldest established practices
devoted exclusively to Vitreoretinal diseases in the Western United
States. It was initially established by the late H. Christian Zweng,
M.D. and Hunter Little, M.D. in the early 1960’s in Palo Alto and move
to its current location, 1225 Crane Street, Menlo Park, California in
1975 with Dr. Zweng, Dr. Little, and Dr. Robert L. Jack.
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The California Vitreoretinal Center has been a leader in the
advancement of new technologies and treatments for a variety of
Vitreoretinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration,
diabetic retinopathy, macular disease and retinal detachment. Dr.
Zweng, was the inventor of the argon laser slit lamp delivery system
for the treatment of retinal diseases in association with a research
group at the Stanford Research Institute (S.R.I.). He and his
associates, Dr. Hunter Little and Dr. Robert Jack, wrote many of the
early seminal papers indicating the usefulness of this form of therapy
for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular
degeneration.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s, many of the ophthalmologists throughout the
United States and the world that wished to learn the technique of
laser photocoagulation of the retina traveled to Palo Also for courses
taught at the center. The physicians at the center worked in close
association with scientists at the Stanford Research Institute (S.R.I.)
as well as Coherent Laser and Iris Laser (amongst others) to develop
newer and better methods to treat eye diseases with lasers. Many of
the most important initial advances in the treatment of diabetic eye
disease and age-related macular degeneration with the laser were
developed at Stanford, including the technique of pan retinal
photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy, as well as
focal argon laser photocoagulation for the treatment of
nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, certain forms of age-related
macular degeneration, and central serous choroidopathy.
The physicians of the practice have served for many years on the
clinical faculty of Stanford University Department of Ophthalmology.
In 1992, Dr. Mark Blumenkranz joined the Center and the Department of
Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine as Director of
the Retinal Service. Since that time the Department has continued to
be involved in a wide-range of clinical and research programs aimed at
the treatment of various retinal diseases. Important advances have
been made in the area of photodynamic therapy for age-related macular
degeneration, in the use of liquid perfluorocarbons and silicone oil
for retinal detachment, and in the use of lasers and novel treatment
regimens for the early forms of age-related macular degeneration.
These advances were made possible by other additions to the Stanford
Department of Ophthalmology and the California Vitreoretinal Center
including Dr. Thomas Rice (an authority on retinal detachment and
macular degeneration) Dr. Michael Marmor (with special expertise and
interest in retinal degenerations and medical retinal diseases) and
most recently, Dr. Steven Sanislo.
A clinical research united has been developed based at the center with
multiple full-time research coordinators and special instrumentation
designed to study the normal retina, the retina in various disease
states, and the effect on the retina of experimental therapies. The
Department works in close collaboration with other departments within
the University, including Medicine, Surgery, Physics and Pathology,
and multiple leading-edge medical instrument companies and
biotechnology companies within Silicon Valley, throughout the United
States, and worldwide. These include QLT Phototherapeutics/Cibavision,
Coherent Laser, Iridex Laser Zeiss Humphrey Instruments, Alcon
Laboratories, Genentech, Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Pharmacyclics, and
Eli Lilly amongst other industry leaders.
It is our belief that by providing a university-affiliated site solely
devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of Vitreoretinal diseases with
ample facilities and personnel devoted not only to patient care, but
also research and teaching, that patients’ interests are best served
both at present and in the long term. Our physicians are committed to
providing the highest caliber care in a compassionated and
professional manner. We welcome any inquiries of interested persons.
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