About Nazlee Zebardast, MD
Dr. Zebardast is a clinician scientist and full-time member of the Glaucoma Service at Mass Eye and Ear. She specializes in the treatment of adult glaucoma and combined glaucoma and cataracts, with a particular interest in minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS).
She has received numerous awards and honors for her academic and research accomplishments and has published in top ophthalmology journals. She has made significant contributions to global epidemiologic research having established the Indian Family Angle Closure Evaluation with colleagues at Aravind Eye Institute in Southern India. Among other findings, this study determined that siblings of individuals with known angle closure have a greater than 1 in 3 risk of developing the condition. Additionally, she has worked with a many large datasets to understand the prevalence of eye disease and its impact.
Her current research focuses on machine-learning methods to characterize and define novel glaucoma endophenotypes to understand the genetic underpinning of vision loss in this blinding disease. Her goal is to develop novel imaging and genomics-based precision medicine screening and diagnostic tools to pre-symptomatically identify patients at high risk of functional vision loss and progression while avoiding unnecessary care of those unlikely to worsen.
Locations
Mass Eye and Ear at Stoneham
One Montvale Ave.
Stoneham, MA 02180
Phone: 781-279-4418
Mass Eye and Ear at Lexington
110 Hartwell Avenue
Lexington, MA 02421
Phone: 781-890-1023
Mass Eye and Ear
243 Charles St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-523-7900
Medical Education
- MD, Yale University School of Medicine
- Residency, Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Hospital
American Board Certifications
- Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology
- Ophthalmology, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Research
Dr. Zebardast’s research focuses on epidemiology and global health. Working with international colleagues, she established a multicenter trial to study angle-closure glaucoma. Additionally, she has used large datasets and statistical methods to understand the prevalence of eye disease and its functional impact.
Currently, she aims to use anterior segment imaging, in particular swept source OCT technology, to better understand angle-closure glaucoma progression. Additionally, she plans to use big data and machine learning methodologies for glaucoma detection and characterization of progression. She hopes that this work will not only optimize glaucoma diagnosis, but also help establish care in under-served regions, thereby decreasing the global burden of this disease.
Publications
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1. Kempen JH, Pistilli M, Begum H, Fitzgerald TD, Liesegang TL, Payal A, Zebardast N, Bhatt NP, Foster CS, Jabs DA, Levy-Clarke GA, Nussenblatt RB, Rosenbaum JT, Sen HN, Suhler EB, Thorne JE. Remission Of Non-Infectious Anterior Scleritis: Incidence And Predictive Factors. Am J Ophthalmol. 2019 Apr 02.
2. Kavitha S, Ramulu PY, Venkatesh R, Palaniswamy K, Kader MA, Raman GV, Rajendrababu S, Zebardast N. Resolution of Visual Dysphotopsias after Laser Iridotomy: Six-Month Follow-up. Ophthalmology. 2019 03; 126(3):469-471.e1.
3. Mudie LI, Varadaraj V, Gajwani P, Munoz B, Ramulu P, Lin FR, Swenor BK, Friedman DS, Zebardast N. Dual sensory impairment: The association between glaucomatous vision loss and hearing impairment and function. PLoS One. 2018; 13(7):e0199889.
4. Srinivasan K, Zebardast N, Venkatesh R, Ramulu PY. Reply. Ophthalmology. 2018 05; 125(5):e36-e37.
5. Srinivasan K, Zebardast N, Krishnamurthy P, Abdul Kader M, Raman GV, Rajendrababu S, Venkatesh R, Ramulu PY. Comparison of New Visual Disturbances after Superior versus Nasal/Temporal Laser Peripheral Iridotomy: A Prospective Randomized Trial. Ophthalmology. 2018 03; 125(3):345-351.