Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Randy Kardon, MD, PhD

Portrait

Mailing Address

Office: 11290D PFP
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: +1 319 356 2260
Email: randy-kardon@uiowa.edu

Education

BS, Pharmacology, University of Iowa, 1982
MD, Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 1982
PhD, Pharmacology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 1982
Internship, Medicine, Gundersen Clinic & Lutheran Hospital, LaCrosse, Wisconsin, 1983
Residency, Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, 1987
Fellowship, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iowa, 1989

Appointments

Primary: Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences

Research Interests

Pupillary Light Reflex, Multifocal ERG (MERG), Developing Mechanisms for Testing Visual Function, Nerve Fiber Analysis for Treatment of Optic Nerve Disorders and Retinal Disease, Traumatic Brain Injuries<br />

Research Summary

I am Director of Neuro-ophthalmology at The University of Iowa and have been an active clinician scientist for over 25 years. Additionally I am Director of the Iowa City VA Center for Prevention and Treatment of Vision Loss, funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which organizes a group of over 20 scientists and clinicians towards studying and researching optic nerve and retinal disorders that have relevance to the military population, especially in relation to traumatic brain injury (TBI). I have expertise in the physiology of the MGC in humans and animals and most recently have funding and publications on using the pupil light reflex to measure the rod, cone and melanopsin mediated pupil responses in humans and animals. Recently, we have extended our measurements to recording the EMG and skin conductance in response to increasing intensities of red and blue light. Clinically, I also diagnose and work with patients and veterans with photophobia and headache following TBI. I have been collaborating with colleagues over the last few years on light mediated responses of the visual system. I also have a great deal of clinical expertise in photophobia and testing of visual function, including the pupil, to the application, besides my research and translational interests.

Publications

  • Sex-specific differences in retinal nerve fiber layer thinning after acute optic neuritis. Neurology 79(18) : 1866-72, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Characterization of structure and function of the mouse retina using pattern electroretinography, pupil light reflex, and optical coherence tomography. Vet Ophthalmol 15 Suppl 2 : 94-104, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Recovery of vision from no light perception in giant cell arteritis. Arch Ophthalmol 130(8) : 1080-2, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Quantitative evaluation of papilledema from stereoscopic color fundus photographs. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53(8) : 4490-7, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Automated quantification of volumetric optic disc swelling in papilledema using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53(7) : 4069-75, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Pupillometric quantification of residual rod and cone activity in leber congenital amaurosis. Arch Ophthalmol 130(6) : 798-800, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Scanning laser polarimetry reveals status of RNFL integrity in eyes with optic nerve head swelling by OCT. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53(4) : 1962-70, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Topical ocular sodium 4-phenylbutyrate rescues glaucoma in a myocilin mouse model of primary open-angle glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53(3) : 1557-65, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Characterization of pupil responses to blue and red light stimuli in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa due to NR2E3 mutation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53(9) : 5562-9, 2012. [PubMed]
  • Periodic unilateral eyelid retraction in a pediatric patient. J Neuroophthalmol 31(4) : 350-2, 2011. [PubMed]