Meet Dr. Ladan Espandar

LASIK, Cataract & Cornea Surgeon

Helping you see clearly starts with understanding what matters to you: reading comfortably, driving confidently, working, or enjoying the outdoors.

I’m a fellowship-trained cornea, cataract, and refractive surgeon. My work includes LASIK and PRK, implantable lenses, cataract surgery with personalized lens options, and treatment of complex corneal conditions, including corneal transplantation.

My Approach to Your Care

I believe good care begins with listening. I take time to understand your goals, explain your options, and discuss the benefits and limitations of each approach. Together, we can choose a treatment plan suited to your eyes and your everyday life.

Training & Experience

My medical journey began at Tehran University and continued in the United States at Tulane University. I completed fellowships in ophthalmic pathology at the Moran Eye Center and cornea and refractive surgery at Duke University, followed by teaching and clinical practice at the University of Pittsburgh.

I also hold a master’s degree in clinical research and completed the Physician CEO program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Research & Publications

Research has been an important part of my work as an ophthalmologist, connecting scientific discovery with the questions I encounter in patient care. My publications include work on corneal transplantation, stem cells and corneal tissue engineering, keratoconus, cataract surgery, and refractive surgery.

I have contributed as both a first author and a collaborating investigator, including participation in a multicenter randomized clinical trial of cenegermin for neurotrophic keratopathy.

Recently Accepted

My sole-author review on practical guidance for selecting artificial tears for dry eye has been accepted for publication in Eye & Contact Lens. It presents a clinical framework for choosing ocular lubricants based on dry-eye characteristics and individual treatment needs.

Accepted for publication; publication details and a link will be added when available.

Selected Publications

Treatment of neurotrophic keratopathy
Coauthor of Topical Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor (Cenegermin) for Neurotrophic Keratopathy: A Multicenter Randomized Vehicle-Controlled Pivotal Trial.
Ophthalmology, 2020.
Read on PubMed

Advances in corneal transplantation
First author of Femtosecond laser-assisted decagonal deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. This clinical study evaluated a laser-assisted approach to partial-thickness corneal transplantation.
Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology, 2016.
Read on PubMed

Stem cells and corneal repair
First author of Adipose-derived stem cells on hyaluronic acid-derived scaffold: a new horizon in bioengineered cornea. This laboratory and animal research explored stem-cell survival and expression of corneal proteins within supportive scaffolds.
Archives of Ophthalmology, 2012.
Read on PubMed

Keratoconus and treatment options
First author of Keratoconus: overview and update on treatment, a review of the condition and the treatment approaches available at the time of publication.
Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology, 2010.
Read on PubMed

Understanding cataract surgery complications
Coauthor of Late in-the-bag spontaneous intraocular lens dislocation: evaluation of 86 consecutive cases, examining a delayed complication involving movement of the implanted lens and its supporting capsule.
Ophthalmology, 2009.
Read on PubMed

Explore More of My Work

View additional publications on PubMed

These publications reflect research at the time they were published. For current patient education, please visit Patient Resources.

Beyond the Operating Room

I’m a lifelong climber and an Everest and Lhotse summitter. Climbing has deepened my appreciation for preparation, patience, and careful judgment; qualities I bring to caring for every patient.

KEEP LEARNING & KEEP CLIMBING