David Huang, MD, PhD comes to OHSU Casey Eye Institute from the University of Southern California, where he was the Director of the Doheny Laser Vision Center, Charles C. Manger III, MD Chair of Corneal Laser Surgery, and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology & Biomedical Engineering. He performs LASIK and PRK with the CustomVue technology for the correction of nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), astigmatism and presbyopia. For patients who cannot have laser vision correction, he also performs Intacs intracorneal implants, Verisyse phakic intraocular lens implants, astigmatic keratotomy (AK), and natural lens replacement procedures.  He is also widely consulted for complications of LASIK, corneal transplantation and other corneal surgeries.

Dr. Huang earned his MD degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed ophthalmology residency training at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California, and fellowship training in Corneal Diseases and Refractive Surgery at Emory University.  He also earned a PhD degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the field of Medical Engineering and Medical Physics.  As part of the PhD research, Dr. Huang co-invented optical coherence tomography (OCT), a high-resolution cross-sectional imaging technology that is now indispensable in the diagnosis of eye diseases.  His PhD research also included development of femtosecond lasers, which are now widely used in corneal and refractive surgery.  He is one of a very few doctors with deep understanding of laser surgery from both a clinical and engineering perspective.

David Huang, MD, PhD was recognized with the Champalimaud Vision Award for his central role in co-inventing Optical Coherence Tomography. Dr. Huang was the 1st author on the 1991 Science paper describing this technique, an article which has been cited over 5,000 times. This award was presented to Dr. Huang and his co-authors on September 14, 2012 at a ceremony attended by the President of Portugal and the President of Brazil. The co-authors will share the 1.3 million dollar award.

Since its invention, Optical Coherence Tomography has become the most commonly used diagnostic technique in Ophthalmology. It is an extremely versatile technique that is employed in diagnosing and planning treatment of diseases affecting the Cornea, the Retina and Optic Nerve. Its use is essential in managing patients with the most common causes of vision loss and blindness: glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetes. In his laboratory at Casey Eye Institute Dr. Huang is currently pioneering new applications of this remarkable technology. These new applications permit the noninvasive visualization of the fine vessels within the eye, and measurement of blood flow in these vessels. This will potentially permit recognition of blinding eye disease prior to the onset of permanent vision loss, and at a time when it is more amenable to treatment.

Optical coherence tomography, Cornea and Retina