Integrated & Affiliated Facilities

The Roy and Lillie Cullen Eye Institute of
The Neurosensory Center of Houston

This facility opened in 1977 and houses the major administrative, educational, research, and clinical facilities of the Department. An extensive library provides journals, text-books, slide collections, and videotapes. Conferences and lectures are held in a 100-seat auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art digital imagery and advanced audio systems. The Ocular Microsurgical Laboratory provides seven work stations with a wet lab bench, operating microscope, equipment console, and microsurgical instruments for practice surgery. Three floors are devoted primarily to ophthalmic research, principally in the biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and neurophysiology of the retina; retinal degenerations; ocular infectious and inflammatory diseases; molecular virology; corneal transplantation; refractive surgery; molecular genetics; cataract; glaucoma; amblyopia and visual processing; and optic nerve disorders. Under the direction of Dr. Ramon L. Font, The Sarah Campbell Blaffer Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Pathology, the Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory receives approximately 150 specimens each month for light and electron microscopy.

Alkek Eye Center

The Alkek Eye Center is the principal outpatient facility for the referral practices of the full-time clinical faculty. The Center is located in the Smith Tower, connected by airbridge to The Neurosensory Center and includes over 40 fully equipped examining rooms, specialty test areas, photography and ultrasonography department, Baylor Vision refractive surgery unit in the Oshman Laser Pavilion, and contact lens department.

Scurlock Tower

The Scurlock Tower is connected by airbridges to the Smith Tower and The Methodist Hospital and is the site of The McPherson Retina Center for vitreoretinal diseases and surgery directed by Drs. McPherson and Holz; and the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service directed by Dr. Rod Foroozan.

Ben Taub General Hospital

The hospital was opened in January 1990 and is adjacent to Baylor College of Medicine. The ophthalmology unit consists of an outpatient clinic with an examining lane for each resident, fully equipped eye operating rooms, and inpatient beds. The residency staff comprises two first-year, two second-year, and two senior residents under the direction of Dr. Yvonne I. Chu, Chief of Ophthalmology Services. The ophthalmology service performs more than 1,000 operations and treats an average of 15,000 outpatients and 500 inpatients annually. Members of the full-time and attending faculty assist trainees in surgery and staff subspecialty clinics, which include retina, strabismus and pediatric ophthalmology, cornea and external disease, oculoplastic surgery and oncology, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, and contact lens.

Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center

The ophthalmology unit consists of an outpatient clinic, eye photography facility, two fully-equipped eye operating rooms, and inpatient beds. The residency staff comprises two first-year, one second year, and two senior residents under the direction of full-time faculty members and Dr. Silvia D. Orengo-Nania, Chief of Ophthalmology Services. Full-time and attending faculty supervise retina, strabismus, neuro-ophthalmology, cornea and external disease, glaucoma, oculoplastic surgery, and contact lens subspecialty clinics and assist residents in surgery. The ophthalmology service performs more than 1,400 operations and treats an average of 30,000 outpatients annually.

Texas Children's Hospital-Clinical Care Center

These facilities are linked by tunnel with The Methodist Hospital and The Neurosensory Center of Houston. The ophthalmology facilities include an outpatient clinic, orthoptics clinic, inpatient areas, and operating rooms. Under the full-time direction of Dr. David K. Coats, Chief of Service, Drs. Paysee, Yen, and Edmond, the Ophthalmology Service provides care for patients in the Clinical Care Center, Feigin Clinical Research Center, Leopold L. Meyer Center for Developmental Pediatrics, vitreoretinal surgical service, and referral practices of the full-time faculty.