Yvonne Ou, MD

Title(s)Professor, Ophthalmology
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address490 Illinois Street, #56L
San Francisco CA 94158
Phone415-476-0779
PronounsShe/Her/Hers
ORCID ORCID Icon000-0001-6942-8580 Additional info
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    Harvard CollegeB.A.Biochemical Sciences
    Harvard Medical SchoolM.D.
    Brigham & Women's HospitalInternshipInternal Medicine
    Jules Stein Eye Institute/UCLAResidencyOphthalmology
    Duke UniversityClinical and Research FellowshipGlaucoma
    UCSF03/2021Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    Our laboratory studies the cellular and synaptic mechanisms of glaucomatous neurodegeneration. We are particularly interested in understanding the earliest steps of inner retina circuit disassembly in response to injury. Our research program combines imaging and analysis of specific cell and synaptic labels in the retina, rodent models of experimental glaucoma, novel genetic tools in which specific cell types are labeled, and the tools of molecular/cell biology and physiology to address a series of questions that, unanswered, have prevented progress in the field: 1) What are the early steps of compartmentalized neurodegeneration of the ganglion cell in glaucoma? 2) Are there specific ganglion cell types that are more susceptible to intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation? 3) Are there specific inner retinal circuits that are more susceptible to IOP elevation? As a clinician-scientist, I am motivated to advance our field not only by answering these fundamental questions, but also by translating the knowledge gained into improvements in diagnostic and treatment modalities in glaucoma. For example, a detailed understanding of the earliest structural and functional changes that occur in glaucoma will allow us to design treatments that can rescue RGCs, perhaps the most susceptible RGCs, before irreversible cell death occurs. Our long-term goal is to understand the mechanisms underlying ganglion cell degeneration and circuit remodeling in glaucoma in order to improve diagnosis and treatment.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Clustered home assessment of visual fields in patients with glaucoma
    NIH R44EY035203Sep 30, 2023 - Jun 30, 2025
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Retinal circuit disassembly in primate glaucoma
    NIH R01EY034973Jul 1, 2023 - Apr 30, 2028
    Role: Principal Investigator (contact PI)
    Overcoming Barriers to retinal ganglion cell replacement in experimental glaucoma
    NIH U24EY033269Sep 30, 2021 - Jul 31, 2026
    Role: Principal Investigator (contact PI)
    UCSF-Proctor Clinician Vision Scholars K12 Program
    NIH K12EY031372May 1, 2020 - Apr 30, 2025
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Neuronal plasticity in glaucoma
    NIH R01EY028148May 1, 2018 - Apr 30, 2023
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Compartmentalized neurodegeneration of retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma
    NIH K08EY022676Sep 15, 2012 - Aug 31, 2018
    Role: Principal Investigator

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Microglia target synaptic sites early during excitatory circuit disassembly in neurodegeneration. bioRxiv. 2024 Jun 14. Yu A, Tan LX, Lakkaraju A, Santina LD, Ou Y. PMID: 38915631; PMCID: PMC11195198.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    2. Pilot study comparing a new virtual reality-based visual field test to standard perimetry in children. J AAPOS. 2024 Jun; 28(3):103933. Mesfin Y, Kong A, Backus BT, Deiner M, Ou Y, Oatts JT. PMID: 38729256; PMCID: PMC11208079.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. TGFβ Signaling Dysregulation May Contribute to COL4A1-Related Glaucomatous Optic Nerve Damage. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2024 May 01; 65(5):15. Mao M, Kuo YM, Yu AK, Labelle-Dumais C, Ou Y, Gould DB. PMID: 38717426; PMCID: PMC11090142.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    4. Bridging the Digital Divide: Ensuring Equity in At-Home Glaucoma Monitoring. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2024 Jul-Aug; 7(4):323-325. Hekmatjah N, Ou Y. PMID: 38530695.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Central Visual Field Testing in Early Glaucoma: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2024 Feb; 131(2):240-248. WuDunn D, Takusagawa HL, Rosdahl JA, Sit AJ, Chopra V, Ou Y, Richter GM, Knight OJ, Solá-Del Valle D, Kim SJ. PMID: 38069944.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    6. Aqueous Shunts with Extraocular Reservoir for Open-Angle Adult Glaucoma: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2024 Feb; 131(2):227-239. Chopra V, Takusagawa HL, Rosdahl JA, Sit AJ, Richter GM, Ou Y, Kim SJ, WuDunn D. PMID: 38069945.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. Trabecular Procedures Combined with Cataract Surgery for Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2024 Mar; 131(3):370-382. Richter GM, Takusagawa HL, Sit AJ, Rosdahl JA, Chopra V, Ou Y, Kim SJ, WuDunn D. PMID: 38054909.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Retinal ganglion cell repopulation for vision restoration in optic neuropathy: a roadmap from the RReSTORe Consortium. Mol Neurodegener. 2023 09 21; 18(1):64. Soucy JR, Aguzzi EA, Cho J, Gilhooley MJ, Keuthan C, Luo Z, Monavarfeshani A, Saleem MA, Wang XW, Wohlschlegel J, RReSTORe Consortium, Baranov P, Di Polo A, Fortune B, Gokoffski KK, Goldberg JL, Guido W, Kolodkin AL, Mason CA, Ou Y, Reh TA, Ross AG, Samuels BC, Welsbie D, Zack DJ, Johnson TV. PMID: 37735444; PMCID: PMC10514988.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    9. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for the Treatment of Glaucoma: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2024 Jan; 131(1):37-47. Takusagawa HL, Hoguet A, Sit AJ, Rosdahl JA, Chopra V, Ou Y, Richter G, Kim SJ, WuDunn D. PMID: 37702635.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. The Retinal Ganglion Cell Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Optic Nerve Regeneration Consortium. Ophthalmol Sci. 2023 Dec; 3(4):100390. Johnson TV, Baranov P, Di Polo A, Fortune B, Gokoffski KK, Goldberg JL, Guido W, Kolodkin AL, Mason CA, Ou Y, Reh TA, Ross AG, Samuels BC, Zack DJ. PMID: 38025164; PMCID: PMC10630665.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    11. Assessment of Remote Training, At-Home Testing, and Test-Retest Variability of a Novel Test for Clustered Virtual Reality Perimetry. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2024 Mar-Apr; 7(2):139-147. Chia ZK, Kong AW, Turner ML, Saifee M, Damato BE, Backus BT, Blaha JJ, Schuman JS, Deiner MS, Ou Y. PMID: 37619815.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Anterior Segment OCT for Detection of Narrow Angles: A Community-Based Diagnostic Accuracy Study. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2024 Mar-Apr; 7(2):148-156. Pradhan S, Sah RK, Bhandari G, Bhandari S, Byanju R, Kandel RP, Thompson IJB, Stevens VM, Aromin KM, Oatts JT, Ou Y, Lietman TM, O'Brien KS, Keenan JD. PMID: 37611749.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. Relationship Between Intraocular Pressure and Age: A Population-Based Study in Nepal. J Glaucoma. 2023 11 01; 32(11):983-988. Bhandari G, Bhandari S, Byanju R, Pradhan S, Sah RK, Kandel RP, Thompson IJ, Rotchford AP, West SK, Muñoz B, Stevens VM, Oatts JT, Ou Y, Lietman TM, O'Brien KS, Keenan JD. PMID: 37670512; PMCID: PMC10840987.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. Large-scale survey of excitatory synapses reveals sublamina-specific and asymmetric synapse disassembly in a neurodegenerative circuit. iScience. 2023 Aug 18; 26(8):107262. Soliño M, Yu A, Della Santina L, Ou Y. PMID: 37609630; PMCID: PMC10440711.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2  
    15. From bench to behaviour: The role of lifestyle factors on intraocular pressure, neuroprotection, and disease progression in glaucoma. Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023 May-Jun; 51(4):380-394. Kumar A, Ou Y. PMID: 36859798; PMCID: PMC11144012.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Corneal Hysteresis for the Diagnosis of Glaucoma and Assessment of Progression Risk: A Report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Ophthalmology. 2023 04; 130(4):433-442. Sit AJ, Chen TC, Takusagawa HL, Rosdahl JA, Hoguet A, Chopra V, Richter GM, Ou Y, Kim SJ, WuDunn D. PMID: 36529572.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Reply. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2023 Mar-Apr; 6(2):e1. Ou Y, Turner M. PMID: 36517382.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    
    18. Randomized Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of the Nanodropper Device for Pupillary Dilation and Cycloplegia in Children. Ophthalmology. 2023 03; 130(3):324-330. Hoppe CB, Yonamine S, Kao BW, Turner ML, Ou Y, Han Y, Keenan JD, Oatts JT. PMID: 36280185; PMCID: PMC10108985.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. At-Home Glaucoma Monitoring: Is it Ready for Prime Time? Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2023 Mar-Apr; 6(2):117-120. Turner M, Ou Y. PMID: 36184483.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. The Catcher in the Eye: Stem Cells as a Therapeutic for Glaucoma. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2023 Jan-Feb; 6(1):1-3. Kong AW, Ou Y. PMID: 35988004; PMCID: PMC10467448.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    21. A Global and Sector-Based Comparison of OCT Angiography and Visual Field Defects in Glaucoma. J Ophthalmol. 2022; 2022:6182592. Kong AW, Turner ML, Saifee M, Jethi M, Mora M, Ou Y. PMID: 35607610; PMCID: PMC9124140.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    22. Virtual Reality Oculokinetic Perimetry Test Reproducibility and Relationship to Conventional Perimetry and OCT. Ophthalmol Sci. 2022 Mar; 2(1):100105. Greenfield JA, Deiner M, Nguyen A, Wollstein G, Damato B, Backus BT, Wu M, Schuman JS, Ou Y. PMID: 36276927; PMCID: PMC9562375.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5  
    23. Individuals with and without normal tension glaucoma exhibit comparable performance on tests of cognitive function. Int J Ophthalmol. 2021; 14(11):1721-1728. Cui QN, Green D, Jethi M, Driver T, Porco TC, Kuo J, Lin SC, Stamper RL, Han Y, Chiu CS, Ramanathan S, Ward ME, Possin K, Ou Y. PMID: 34804862; PMCID: PMC8569564.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2  
    24. Single Ophthalmology Program Trends in Resident Surgical and Research Productivity by Gender, Underrepresented Minority Status, and Welcoming a Child. J Acad Ophthalmol (2017). 2021 Jul; 13(2):e114-e118. Kong AW, Schallhorn JM, Ou Y. PMID: 37388853; PMCID: PMC9928088.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1  
    25. Disassembly and rewiring of a mature converging excitatory circuit following injury. Cell Rep. 2021 08 03; 36(5):109463. Della Santina L, Yu AK, Harris SC, Soliño M, Garcia Ruiz T, Most J, Kuo YM, Dunn FA, Ou Y. PMID: 34348156; PMCID: PMC8381591.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. Asymmetric Functional Impairment of ON and OFF Retinal Pathways in Glaucoma. Ophthalmol Sci. 2021 Jun; 1(2). Kong AW, Turner ML, Chan H, Stamper RL, Arnold BF, Della Santina L, Ou Y. PMID: 35756578; PMCID: PMC9232180.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  
    27. Clinical Outcomes of Micropulse Laser Trabeculoplasty Compared to Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty at One Year in Open-Angle Glaucoma. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021; 15:243-251. Sun CQ, Chen TA, Deiner MS, Ou Y. PMID: 33519186; PMCID: PMC7837566.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7  
    28. Probing ON and OFF Retinal Pathways in Glaucoma Using Electroretinography. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2020 10; 9(11):14. Kong AW, Della Santina L, Ou Y. PMID: 33117606; PMCID: PMC7571283.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    29. Subconjunctival Injections of Mitomycin C Are Associated with a Lower Incidence of Hypertensive Phase in Eyes with Ahmed Glaucoma Valve. Ophthalmol Glaucoma. 2021 May-Jun; 4(3):322-329. Perez CI, Verdaguer S, Khaliliyeh D, Maul EA, Ou Y, Han Y. PMID: 33059114.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    30. Implementing and Monitoring At-Home Virtual Reality Oculo-kinetic Perimetry During COVID-19. Ophthalmology. 2020 09; 127(9):1258. Deiner MS, Damato BE, Ou Y. PMID: 32535062; PMCID: PMC7287483.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    31. Neurotrophic keratitis after micropulse transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2019 Sep; 15:100469. Perez CI, Han Y, Rose-Nussbaumer J, Ou Y, Hsia YC. PMID: 31193794; PMCID: PMC6543013.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9  
    32. Partial Cone Loss Triggers Synapse-Specific Remodeling and Spatial Receptive Field Rearrangements in a Mature Retinal Circuit. Cell Rep. 2019 05 14; 27(7):2171-2183.e5. Care RA, Kastner DB, De la Huerta I, Pan S, Khoche A, Della Santina L, Gamlin C, Santo Tomas C, Ngo J, Chen A, Kuo YM, Ou Y, Dunn FA. PMID: 31091454; PMCID: PMC6624172.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 23     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    33. Reduced contrast sensitivity among older women is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment. Ann Neurol. 2018 04; 83(4):730-738. Ward ME, Gelfand JM, Lui LY, Ou Y, Green AJ, Stone K, Pedula KL, Cummings SR, Yaffe K. PMID: 29518257; PMCID: PMC5947874.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 30     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. Biolistic Labeling of Retinal Ganglion Cells. Methods Mol Biol. 2018; 1695:161-170. Santina LD, Ou Y. PMID: 29190026; PMCID: PMC8724011.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    35. Establishment and Characterization of an Acute Model of Ocular Hypertension by Laser-Induced Occlusion of Episcleral Veins. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2017 08 01; 58(10):3879-3886. Zhang L, Li G, Shi M, Liu HH, Ge S, Ou Y, Flanagan JG, Chen L. PMID: 28763561; PMCID: PMC6108309.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    36. Surgical Management of Pediatric Glaucoma. Dev Ophthalmol. 2017; 59:165-178. Chang I, Caprioli J, Ou Y. PMID: 28442696.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Genetic dissection of anterior segment dysgenesis caused by a Col4a1 mutation in mouse. Dis Model Mech. 2017 04 01; 10(4):475-485. Mao M, Kiss M, Ou Y, Gould DB. PMID: 28237965; PMCID: PMC5399567.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 13     Fields:    Translation:Animals
    38. Selective Vulnerability of Specific Retinal Ganglion Cell Types and Synapses after Transient Ocular Hypertension. J Neurosci. 2016 08 31; 36(35):9240-52. Ou Y, Jo RE, Ullian EM, Wong RO, Della Santina L. PMID: 27581463; PMCID: PMC5005727.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 100     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    39. Who's lost first? Susceptibility of retinal ganglion cell types in experimental glaucoma. Exp Eye Res. 2017 05; 158:43-50. Della Santina L, Ou Y. PMID: 27319294; PMCID: PMC5161723.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 43     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    40. Correlation of Serial Scleral and Corneal Pneumatonometry. Ophthalmology. 2015 Sep; 122(9):1771-6. Kuo DS, Ou Y, Jeng BH, Bhisitkul R, Stewart JM, Duncan JL, Han Y. PMID: 26165473; PMCID: PMC4549181.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    41. Expert Review of Ophthalmology. Towards the development of a human glaucoma disease-in-a-dish model using stem cells. 2015; 10(3):267-280. Green DI Ou Y. View Publication.
    42. Factors that influence intraocular pressure changes after myopic and hyperopic LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy: a large population study. Ophthalmology. 2015 Mar; 122(3):471-9. Schallhorn JM, Schallhorn SC, Ou Y. PMID: 25444636.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    43. Scleral intraocular pressure measurement in cadaver eyes pre- and postkeratoprosthesis implantation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Apr 09; 55(4):2244-50. Lin CC, Chen A, Jeng BH, Porco TC, Ou Y, Han Y. PMID: 24557348.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    44. Development of a resident training module for systematic optic disc evaluation in glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2012 Dec; 21(9):601-7. Law SK, Tamboli DA, Ou Y, Giaconi JA, Caprioli J. PMID: 21602706.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    45. Glaucoma, Alzheimer disease and other dementia: a longitudinal analysis. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2012 Oct; 19(5):285-92. Ou Y, Grossman DS, Lee PP, Sloan FA. PMID: 22978529; PMCID: PMC3523354.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 35     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    46. Surgical management of pediatric glaucoma. Dev Ophthalmol. 2012; 50:157-72. Ou Y, Caprioli J. PMID: 22517182.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    47. A critical appraisal and comparison of the quality and recommendations of glaucoma clinical practice guidelines. Ophthalmology. 2011 Jun; 118(6):1017-23. Ou Y, Goldberg I, Migdal C, Lee PP. PMID: 21507487.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    48. Outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in children with primary congenital glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2009 Nov; 127(11):1436-41. Ou Y, Yu F, Law SK, Coleman AL, Caprioli J. PMID: 19901208.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 20     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    49. Transcriptional modification by a CASK-interacting nucleosome assembly protein. Neuron. 2004 Apr 08; 42(1):113-28. Wang GS, Hong CJ, Yen TY, Huang HY, Ou Y, Huang TN, Jung WG, Kuo TY, Sheng M, Wang TF, Hsueh YP. PMID: 15066269.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 59     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    50. The transmembrane domains of ectoapyrase (CD39) affect its enzymatic activity and quaternary structure. J Biol Chem. 1998 Sep 18; 273(38):24814-21. Wang TF, Ou Y, Guidotti G. PMID: 9733785.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 43     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
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