Refractive Surgeons in San Diego, California - Shiley Eye Center in La Jolla
» David J. Schanzlin, M.D.
» Christopher Heichel, M.D.
» Terry Alexandrou, M.D.
» Jennifer L. Melton, M.D.
» Dorothy Wang M.S., O.D.
» Other Staff
 David J. Schanzlin, M.D.
Professor & Refractive Surgeon
Director, Keratorefractive Surgery
Dr. Schanzlin has received some of the most esteemed awards in ophthalmology. He is regarded as worldwide authority and leader in the refractive surgery field. Over his twenty-five years as a refractive surgeon, Dr. Schanzlin has had a hand in developing a number of new technologies. Some of these include Intacs, which have now been approved by the FDA, and the excimer laser, used in LASIK eye surgery. A review of his curriculum vitae shows that Dr. Schanzlin and his research teams have taken part in all of the notable developments within the field of laser vision correction.
Renowned as an educator internationally, Dr. Schanzlin lectures in Europe, South America, and Asia. In the US, he is a coveted speaker at eye society conventions. As a refractive surgeon, Dr. Schanzlin is consistently selected by his peers as one of the Best Doctors in America. He is also the immediate past President of the International Society of Refractive Surgery. This society is comprised of the top 3500 refractive surgeons worldwide. Dr. Schanzlin was selected by entire membership to become president of the society, and he provided leadership for refractive surgery throughout the world from his home base at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Recently, Dr. Schanzlin was selected to be a member of the American Ophthalmological Society, an exclusive honor that is shared by only a handful of San Diego ophthalmologists.
Refractive Surgery Research Achievements
At the Shiley Eye Center, located in La Jolla, California, Dr. Schanzlin has established an extensive refractive surgery unit that performs clinical studies of LASIK (for myopia and hyperopia), PRK, and Intacs. UCSD stays at the cutting edge of refractive corneal surgery by developing of fresh approaches in the laboratory.
Before coming to the University of California at San Diego, Dr. Schanzlin conducted clinical investigations with the intracorneal ring and the refractive picosecond laser. These clinical studies were backed up by basic research into the physiology of excimer laser wound healing, the area of the intracorneal ring, the injectable intraocular lens, and the restoration of accommodation.
After joining the full-time faculty at the University of Southern California as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Dr. Schanzlin was named the Principal Investigator on the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy study. This was a project of the National Eye Institute, which was federally funded to examine the safety and efficacy of radial keratotomy. The basic clinical trial research format that is still used today in assessing the results of refractive surgery procedures was established based on this particular study. Under Dr. Schanzlin's direction, USC was a lead center in this national study that revealed and documented a spectrum of problems associated with the radial keratotomy procedure.
While at the University of Southern California, Dr. Schanzlin was also principal investigator for epikeratophakia, "the living contact lens," for the correction of hyperopia, myopia, and keratoconus.
His laboratory at USC also performed research into injectable intraocular lenses to restore accommodation, initial studies with the excimer laser, hydrogel synthetic epikeratoplasty, and the use of Los Alamos thermal keratoplasty to treat keratoconus and astigmatism. This exploration established Dr. Schanzlin as one of the top refractive surgery researchers in the world. Consequently, he was advanced within the academic ranks rapidly, achieving the position of full professor at University of Southern California in just five years.
Administration
Dr. Schanzlin was recruited to take over the Department of Ophthalmology at St. Louis University. From 1987 to 1996, he served the department professor and chairman. Under Dr. Schanzlin's guidance, the Department of Ophthalmology became one of the top eye training programs in the country. He oversaw successive expansions at the Bethesda Institute and the eventual completion of the Anheuser-Busch Eye Institute.
The University of California at San Diego invited Dr. Schanzlin to the Shiley Eye Center in La Jolla with the charge of forming an internationally recognized center of refractive surgery. He accepted and proceeded to establish the Shiley Eye Center at UCSD as a leading educational resource for ophthalmologists worldwide. They can come to the Center to learn the latest in the research and clinical practice of laser eye surgery.
While at Shiley, Dr. Schanzlin has also enlarged the keratorefractive surgery fellowship experience. Ophthalmologists who have completed their training can specialize in this growing field. The applicant pool usually about 100-200 ophthalmologists from across the globe, leaving Dr. Schanzlin with the difficult task of choosing the one or two most qualified candidates.
Education
Dr. Schanzlin received his medical degree from the University of Chicago in 1975. He then completed his residency there from 1975-1978, where he became Chief Resident in Ophthalmology.
Having decided to subspecialize in Cornea and External Diseases, Dr. Schanzlin completed fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California at San Francisco.
Dr. Schanzlin's Curriculum Vitae is available for review.
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Christopher Heichel, M.D.
Refractive Surgeon
Chris W. D. Heichel, M.D. joined the faculty at the Shiley Eye Center as an Assistant Professor in July 2004. Dr. Heichel specializes in Cornea, Cataract, and Refractive Surgery. He completed his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology from Revelle College at the University of California at San Diego where he was awarded a Howard Hughes Research Fellowship.
After graduating with honors as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society from the Chicago Medical School, Dr. Heichel completed his internship at Scripps Mercy Hospital in San Diego, where he received an "Outstanding Intern" Award. He completed his ophthalmology residency at the Shiley Eye Center where he served as Chief Resident. Thereafter, he continued at Shiley, completing a fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery.
Dr. Heichel is currently a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and the American Medical Association. His clinical interests include corneal transplantation, laser vision correction, challenging cataract surgery, and anterior segment reconstruction. In addition, he has several research interests including new applications of custom wavefront technology in refractive surgery, the use of intrastromal corneal rings to treat corneal ectasias, and innovative approaches to corneal transplantation.
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Terry Alexandrou, M.D.
Clinical Instructor
Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgery
Dr. Alexandrou completed his undergraduate work at Indiana University, Bloomington, obtaining a baccalaureate degree in Chemistry and Biology. He was then awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Following medical school, Dr. Alexandrou completed his medical internship at the University of California San Diego, and then completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Chicago, where he became Chief Resident in Ophthalmology.
Dr. Alexandrou's professional interests include laser vision correction, corneal transplantation, cataract and anterior segment surgeries. He remains active in teaching and research, and his work has resulted in many published manuscripts and abstracts, as well as presentations at national and international meetings. Dr Alexandrou recently co-authored the "Sports Eye Injuries" chapter in the third edition of Albert and Jacobiac's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology (Saunders, 2008).
Dr. Alexandrou is a native of Ohio, where his parents settled after moving from Samos, Greece. He is fluent in Greek, and enjoys travelling there to visit family members.
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Jennifer L. Melton, M.D.
Dr. Melton is a Cornea and Refractive Surgery Fellow and Clinical Instructor at Shiley Eye Center. Born and raised in Louisiana, she earned a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Microbiology from Louisiana State University graduating summa cum laude. She completed both her medical education and Internal Medicine Internship at Louisiana State University in New Orleans. Dr. Melton trained in General Clinical and Surgical Ophthalmology at The University of Texas at Galveston. After completing her residency in Ophthalmology, she moved to the west coast to pursue her interest in refractive surgery, corneal transplantation, cataract surgery, and anterior segment reconstruction. Dr. Melton remains active in teaching medical students and residents. When not pursuing her career interests, she enjoys travel and time with family.
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Dorothy Wang M.S., O.D.
Optometrist 
Dr. Wang obtained her Doctor of Optometry degree from the New England College of Optometry, where she was awarded with the Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society for her outstanding academic achievement and Clinical Honors for her internship in the field of primary, pediatric and geriatric eye care, contact lens specialty care. After finishing her Residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Dr. Wang worked as Refractive Optometrist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Wang has extensive experience in refractive surgery patient care/management. She is also actively involved in refractive surgery related clinical studies. Dr. Wang finished her undergraduate study in medicine from China and completed a Master of Science degree in biology at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Wang enjoys reading, classical music and spending time with family.
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