Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Expert eye care for the entire family—vision screenings, treatments for complex and rare eye conditions, plus laser vision correction and refractive surgery options as well as on-site contact lens and prescription eyewear services.

Request an Appointment

For Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences related requests:

1-319-356-2852

For all other requests:: 1-800-777-8442

Our Academic Department

Find Pediatric Care

UI Health Care is recognized as one of the best programs in the nation for eye care.

Our compassionate staff and skilled specialists provide a comprehensive array of vision and eye health services. Services range from routine vision screenings and eye care to the diagnosis and treatment of complex and rare eye conditions. We also offer the convenience of on-site services for ordering contact lenses and prescription eyewear and solutions such as laser vision correction and refractive surgery.

In addition to our main clinics at Medical Center on the University Campus, several of our eye care services are available for patients and families at Iowa River Landing.

General Eye Care

We provide a broad range of general eye care services from routine eye examinations to expert prescription and fitting of eye wear and contact lenses.

Eye Care Clinic

Patients are screened for specific eye problems and if necessary, are seen by specialists in our specialty clinics. Primary eye clinic patients receive expert vision measurements in a cost-efficient manner with speedy appointment scheduling options. For more advanced medical care and for contact lens fittings, patients are referred to other services within the Ophthalmology Department.

Eyewear (UI Optical)

UI Optical offers designer frames as well as the newest technology in lens materials, designs, and treatments or coatings for adult and children's eyeglasses. Professional opticians with American Board of Opticianry certification are on staff to help with your eyewear needs.

Contact Lens Clinic

While contact lenses can improve your vision as well as appearance, they are medical devices and require expert fitting and careful instruction, as well as conscientious after care.

Specialty Care

UI Health Care eye specialists are ranked among the best in the world at diagnosing and treating eye diseases. Patients from around the world come to UI Health Care to be treated by our staff.

Cornea and External Eye Disease Clinic

We evaluate and treat patients with corneal and external eye diseases.

Eye Cancer

Symptoms like dark spots, ‘floaters,’ or other sudden changes in your vision could be signs of a serious eye problem, and they require attention from an ophthalmologist.

Eye Pathology

The F. C. Blodi Eye Pathology Laboratory provides diagnostic services and supports vision-related research projects. It is an independent ophthalmic pathology laboratory that serves both the UI Health Care and the state of Iowa.

Glaucoma Clinic

The clinic evaluates and treats patients with glaucoma and other diseases characterized by increased pressure in the eye and/or glaucomatous atrophy of the optic nerve.

Inherited Eye Diseases Clinic

Our physicians evaluate and diagnose patients with inherited diseases involving the eye such as Glaucoma, Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA), Macular degeneration, Achromatopsia, Stargardt disease, Best disease, and Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Laser Vision Correction and Refractive Surgery Clinic

Refractive surgery is one of the most common elective procedures done in the United States. The procedure improves vision by changing the shape of the cornea (clear front “window” of the eye). Eye specialists at UI Health Care offer a variety of laser-based treatments designed to improve vision.

Neuro-Ophthalmology

UI Health Care neuro-ophthalmologists diagnose and treat vision problems related to optic neuritis, migraines, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and more.

Ocular Prosthetics Service

Oculoplastics, Orbit, and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic

The Oculoplastic Surgery clinic offers evaluation and surgery for children and adults who have eyelid or eye brow abnormalities due to genetics, aging, disease, trauma, or previous surgery.

Stock photo of a provider touching a woman's face

Face–Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery

New techniques and new technology make facial plastic surgery and cosmetic services more accessible and more effective than ever before.

Retina and Vitreous Clinic

The Retina and Vitreous Eye Clinic provides evaluation and treatment for patients with a large range of diseases affecting the retina and the vitreous body.

Strabismus (Misaligned Eye) Clinic

Our strabismus clinic helps manage eye muscle imbalances in children and adults, offering special eye measurement tests as well as treatment with glasses, prisms, patches and/or muscle exercises as required.

Uveitis Clinic

The clinic treats uveitis, an inflammation of the middle layers of the eye, including the iris, choroid (a thin membrane containing many blood vessels) and ciliary body (the part of the eye that joins these together).

Vision Rehabilitation Clinic

Our vision rehabilitation service provides expert solutions for all the challenges faced by individuals with visual impairments. We specialize in a variety of low vision conditions including blurred vision, central field loss, contrast loss and glare problems, multiple field loss, distortion and tunnel vision.

Why Choose Us?

Our world-renowned specialists provide Iowa's most comprehensive array of eye health services, ranging from routine eye care to cutting-edge diagnosis and treatment of complex eye conditions.

In 2021-22 our ophthalmology program was ranked seventh in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Ophthalmology Times listed UI Health Care as the sixth best eye program in 2019.
We created the first center for macular degeneration in the United States, providing patient care while also conducting research into more effective treatments and possible prevention of the disease.
Our researchers discovered the first known gene to cause human open-angle glaucoma, as well as a number of other genes responsible for rare forms of retinal disease.
We are a world leader in the research and treatment of inherited eye diseases affecting adults and children.
UI Health Care is a leader in the treatment of retinoblastomas, ocular melanoma, and periocular skin cancers.
We have the only neuro-ophthalmology service in Iowa.
We performed 265 cornea transplants in a recent year.
We offer a comprehensive low vision and vision rehabilitation service to help individuals maximize their vision and lead productive lives.