Steven L. Bernstein, MD

As a Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Dr. Bernstein sees patients with both common and rare ocular disorders, including Genetic-associated diseases. He also consults at UMMC for a wide variety of eye-related disorders.

Dr. Bernstein's laboratory interests center on age-related and genetically associated optic nerve diseases, particularly nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a stroke of the optic nerve. It is the most common cause of sudden optic nerve-related vision loss. His lab developed the mouse, rat (rAION), and primate (pNAION) models of NAION, identifying crucial aspects of this disease and evaluating potential NAION treatments. The lab continues to characterize these models' features and utilize them to identify potential points of therapeutic interactions.

Dr. Bernstein's Laboratory interests:

1. Neuroprotective approaches to NAION, using both small molecules and monoclonal antibodies
2. Post-ON infarct recovery, using selective inflammation mediation
3. Evaluating the role of stem cells in optic nerve function and optic nerve repair

During the last five years, his laboratory has developed new ways to identify stem cells that may contribute to normal nerve function and aid in repairing optic nerve injury.