Sanjay V. Patel, M.D.

Location

SUMMARY

Sanjay V. Patel, M.D., is a corneal specialist and corneal transplant surgeon who has research interests in Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy, corneal transplantation outcomes and trials, corneal imaging, and regenerative methods of treating corneal disease.

Focus areas

• Fuchs' dystrophy clinical studies. Corneal imaging techniques are being evaluated as novel methods for assessing disease severity, detecting subclinical edema and predicting surgical outcomes.
• Fuchs' dystrophy genetics. After the first genetic association for the common variant of Fuchs' dystrophy was discovered at Mayo Clinic, Fuchs' dystrophy researchers continue to seek to determine the role of this association in the disease.
• Corneal transplantation. Clinical studies, including multicenter trials, are in progress to assess the outcomes of different techniques of corneal transplantation.
• Corneal regeneration. Studies assessing corneal stromal and corneal endothelial regeneration to treat corneal stromal and endothelial diseases are planned.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Patel's research in Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy spans discovering and understanding the mechanisms of the disease to the clinical assessment of patients needing corneal transplantation. As current therapeutic modalities improve and new treatments are developed, earlier treatment of the disease is becoming possible, and many of these studies will help determine which patients will benefit from treatment and when. The goal of the corneal regeneration studies is to bring the treatment of corneal disease to many more patients, including those with corneal blindness in the developing world.