Institute Summary

Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute is a leader in ophthalmologic care today and is committed to innovative basic, clinical, and translational research designed to transform ophthalmologic care tomorrow.

The institute’s staff of 163 ophthalmologists and researchers is composed almost entirely of subspecialists in cataract; cornea and external ocular disease; glaucoma; keratorefractive surgery; neuro-ophthalmology; oculoplastics and orbital surgery; ophthalmic oncology; pediatric ophthalmology; adult and pediatric strabismus; and vitreoretinal care. Comprehensive general ophthalmologists and optometrists round out the program.

Institute staff also provides primary, secondary, and tertiary services for patients of all ages at a growing number of family health centers and specialty care centers across Northeast Ohio. Many procedures developed at the Cole Eye Institute have been adopted by ophthalmologists around the world, and the institute offers the largest hospital-based continuing medical education program in the United States. Residency and fellowship programs are highly competitive and draw many applicants each year.

The institute has advanced research laboratories and a training facility at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, where patient care is also offered. To accommodate its rapidly growing patient eye care and research needs, Cole Eye Institute broke ground in 2021 for an addition to its existing building. The new addition will feature:

• Ophthalmic surgical center with 12 operating rooms and 60 new exam rooms
• New Center of Excellence in Ophthalmic Imaging
• Expanded simulation center for resident and fellow education and training
• Larger ophthalmic research center to facilitate growth of eye research, as well as consolidate multiple ophthalmology research labs currently housed at different locations

The new construction will be complemented by renovations in the existing Cole Eye Institute. The two buildings will be connected to create an integrated eye center designed to deliver an outstanding patient experience.

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