Professor of Ophthalmology

Chief, Corneal and External Disease Service

Chief, Refractive Surgery Service

Associate Medical Director, North Carolina Eye Bank

Undergraduate

Duke University
Summa Cum Laude, Highest Graduation Honors

Medical School

Duke University School of Medicine

Residency

Baylor College of Medicine, Cullen Eye Institute

Fellowships

Baylor College of Medicine & Duke Eye Center

Background

Alan Carlson, MD, serves as Chief of the Corneal and Refractive Surgery Services at the Duke Eye Center where he specializes in laser vision correction surgery, cataract surgery, and corneal transplantation. A leader in his field, Carlson is credited with starting the Duke Center for Vision Correction in 1996, and building this program to a nationally recognized university program for laser and vision correction surgery. As one of the most experienced surgeons in his field, he has performed over 38,000 surgical procedures, including 13,500 LASIK procedures. This experience led to his selection as one of the top six surgeons among university laser surgeons in the United States.

Carlson is nationally and internationally recognized for his work in the prevention and management of surgical complications. He has delivered 250 invited lectures and courses across four continents, and he has published 80 articles, book chapters, and instructional videos. In 1998, Carlson received the academic honor award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and was twice the recipient of the APPI Crystal Award in Japan for his clinical research.

Carlson has been teaching refractive surgeons for over 18 years, has conducted over 30 televised interviews, and performed the first televised LASIK procedure in this region. He is the only certified VISX Laser Surgery instructor in North Carolina. His innovative work has been featured in numerous publications, including Time Magazine. He is the editor of the complications section for Review of Refractive Surgery and serves on the advisory board for Review of Ophthalmology. His reputation attracts patients throughout the United States and internationally and these frequently include professional athletes, physicians, optometrists, ophthalmologists (including LASIK surgeons), and their families. His passion is delivering the best possible patient care which is largely responsible for his selection to virtually every Best Doctors list for over 10 consecutive years, including: Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors in the Southeast, and Best Doctors in North Carolina.

Honors

• The Best Doctors in America: 1997 to Present
• The Best Doctors in America - Southeast Region: 1996 to Present
• The Best Doctors in North Carolina, Business North Carolina: July 2002, July 2004
• Academic Honor Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology: 1998
• VISX Star Award (top 100 refractive surgeons): 1999 to Present
• "Big Man on Campus" VISX Award (Top 6 University LASIK Surgeons)
• APPI Crystal Award, Japan: 1996, 1999
• Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare: 1997 to Present
• Who's Who in Science and Engineering, 4th edition
• Hornaday Fellowship Award, Duke University Eye Center
• Best Refractive Surgery Practices, "Review of Refractive Surgery"