Clinical Faculty

Tongalp H. Tezel, M.D.

Associate Professor
of Ophthalmology

Kentucky Lions Endowed Chair
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Director of Fellowship
Program in Vitreoretinal
Diseases and Surgery

CLINICAL EXPERTISE:

Surgical and medical treatment of vitreoretinal diseases and uveitis, including Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Retinal Detachment, Diabetic Retinopathy, Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy, Macular Holes and Hereditary Retinal Degenerations

CONTACT INFORMATION:

301 E. Muhammad Ali Boulevard, Louisville KY 40202
Telephone: 502-852-5466 Fax: 502-852-3811
E-mail: Tongalp.Tezel@louisville.edu

EDUCATION:

CERTIFICATION:

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

I am a clinician-scientist who has been listed as one of the “Best Doctors in America” for many consecutive years. I have been involved extensively in clinical research as well as basic science research. I have participated in several multicenter prospective drug trials, such as PIER and VIEW 1 as a principal investigator. My main clinical research focus has been to develop novel preventive and treatment strategies for blinding vitreoretinal disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment. I developed techniques for tissue harvest, storage and delivery which allowed initial human retinal cell transplantation studies to be performed. My subsequent research laid down the groundwork for the early tissue engineering studies for rejuvenating the damaged retina as a treatment for age-related macular degeneration and various retinal dystrophies.

I also discovered the use of the enzyme Dispase for inducing pharmacological vitreolysis. This non-invasive method for separating the vitreous gel from the retina can eliminate the need of surgery for several vitreoretinal diseases, including macular holes, vitreomacular traction syndromes and diabetic eye disease.

I have been working extensively on the biological effects of anti-VEGF drugs, such as Avastin® (bevacizumab) and Lucentis® (ranibizumab). I was the first to demonstrate that these drugs can exert similar biological effects in the fellow eye. Because of this observation I cautioned the ophthalmic community about the possible systemic side effects of VEGF-blockage. Along with one of my colleagues, I was also the first demonstrate the tachyphylaxis against anti-VEGF drugs and the beneficial effects of vitrectomy in avoiding the development and progression of age-related macular degeneration.

My basic science work on proteomic and genomic analysis allowed me to identify new therapeutic targets and possible biomarkers to diagnose and monitor the age-related macular degeneration, as well as to identify patients that will benefit from treatment with anti-VEGF agents. I also employ bioengineering techniques to improve the design and function of surgical instruments.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND AFFILIATIONS:

• American Academy of Ophthalmology - Diplomate
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
• American Society of Retina Specialists
• The Macula Society
• The Retina Society
• Kentucky Association of Eye Physicians and Surgeons
• Louisville Academy of Ophthalmology
• Jefferson County Medical Society
• Research to Prevent Blindness
• Washington University Alumni Association
• Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons Alumni Association
• Alpha Omega Alpha

PUBLICATIONS: (15 selected publications from 116)

1. Tezel TH, Kaplan HJ, Del Priore LV. Posterior vitreous detachment with Dispase. Retina 1998;18:7-15. PMID: 9502275
2. Tezel TH, Del Priore LV. Serum-free media for culturing and serial-passaging of adult human retinal pigment epithelium. Exp Eye Res 1998;66:807-815. PMID: 9657913
3. Tezel TH, Kaplan HJ. Harvest and storage of adult human photoreceptor cells: the vibratome compared to the excimer laser. Curr Eye Res 1998;17:748-756. PMID: 9678421
4. Tezel TH, Del Priore LV. TGF-beta secretion modulates the density-dependent growth of pig retinal pigment epithelium in vitro. Ophthalmic Res 1999;31:192-202. PMID: 10224502
5. Tezel TH, Del Priore LV. Repopulation of different layers of host human Bruch's membrane by retinal pigment epithelial cell grafts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1999;40:767-74. PMID: 10067982
6. Tezel TH, Del Priore LV, Kaplan HJ. Reengineering of aged Bruch's membrane to enhance retinal pigment epithelium repopulation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004; 45:3337-3348. PMID: 15326159
7. Tezel TH, Bora N, Kaplan, HJ. Pathogenesis of Age-related Macular Degeneration. Trends Mol Med, 2004; 10(9):417-420. PMID: 15350892
8. Tezel TH, Geng L, Del Priore LV, Kaplan HJ. Retinal pigment epithelium rescues vascular epithelium from retinoic acid-induced apoptosis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2006; 47:5075-5087. PMID: 17065529
9. Tezel TH, Bodek E, Sonmez K, Kaliappan S, Hu Z, Garen A, Kaplan, HJ. Targeting tissue factor for immunotherapy of choroidal neovascularization by intravitreal delivery of factor VII-Fc chimeric antibody. Ocul Immunol Inflamm, 2007; 15:3-10. PMID: 17365800
10. Tezel TH, Del Priore LV, Berger A, Kaplan HJ. Adult retinal pigment epithelium transplantation in exudative age-related macular degeneration. Am J Ophthalmol, 2007; 143: 584-595. PMID: 17303061
11. Tezel TH, Kaplan HJ. Are intravitreal anti-VEGF antibodies safe? Ocul Immunol Inflamm, 2007; 15:1-2. PMID: 17365799
12. Del Priore LV, Tezel TH, Kaplan HJ. Maculoplasty for age-related macular degeneration: Reengineering Bruch’s membrane and the human macula. Prog Ret Eye Res, 2006; 25: 539-562. PMID: 17071125
13. Schaal S, Kaplan HJ, Tezel TH. Is there tachyphylaxis to intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor pharmacotherapy in age-related macular degeneration? Ophthalmology, 2008; 115:2199-2205. PMID: 18930553
14. Valentín-Rodríguez C, Tezel TH, Ivanisevic A. Quantitative analysis of human internal limiting membrane extracted from patients with macular holes. Langmuir, 2010; 26:12810-12816. PMID: 20597525