Retinal Dystrophy

A world-class destination for patients with retinal dystrophies

The Retinal Dystrophy Clinic provides comprehensive diagnostic and management services for patients affected with retinal dystrophies, including Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Cone and Cone-rod dystrophy, Stargardt disease, Macular dystrophy, Usher syndrome, Congenital stationary night blindness, and others.

We are one of a handful of subspecialty clinics nationwide that focuses on retinal dystrophies and includes a full team of experts: fellowship-trained retinal dystrophy specialist physicians, electrophysiologist, genetic counselors, researchers, and technicians; all with extensive training in retinal dystrophies. Our team also distinguishes retinal dystrophies from cancer-associated, melanoma-associated, and autoimmune retinopathy and provides treatment for those inflammatory conditions with immunosuppression.

In addition to providing comprehensive examination and evaluation by a physician, our clinic offers a full range of electrophysiology testing, visual function testing, imaging and photography services, on-site genetic counseling, and genetic testing. In addition, many of our patients are supported by our Low Vision and Visual Rehabilitation clinic with low vision devices and mobility and other low vision training. We are on the cutting-edge of treatment for these conditions and are thrilled to be able to provide FDA-approved gene therapy and clinical trial opportunities.

The Retinal Dystrophy Team

  • Attending retinal dystrophy physicians:
  • Attending physician (gene therapy treatment) 
  • Attending rheumatologist (immunosuppression) 
  • Electrophysiologist
    • Naheed Khan, PhD
  • Genetic Counselors
    • Kari Branham, MS, CGC;
    • Dana Schlegel, MS, MPH, CGC
  • Clinical Trial Coordinators
    • Lindsay Godsey, MS, COA, CCRP
    • Stephanie Wietholter, MS, COA
    • Munira Hussain, MS, COA, CCRP
    • Laura Trebesh, CRA
  • Electrophysiology technician
    • Londa Reid-Sanders, BGS, COA, OSC
  • Ophthalmic technicians
  • Clinic Coordinator
    • Amy Stheiner

Retinal Dystrophies

Our specialists see patients who have a suspected or known diagnosis of retinal dystrophy, including:

  • Achromatopsia
  • Autoimmune Retinopathy
  • Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
  • Best disease/Vitelliform macular dystrophy
  • Blue Cone Monochromatism
  • Choroideremia
  • Cone Dystrophy/Degeneration
  • Cone-Rod Dystrophy/Degeneration
  • Congenital Stationary Night Blindness
  • Dominant Drusen
  • Doyne Honeycomb Dystrophy
  • Foveal Dystrophy
  • Fundus Flavimaculatus
  • Gyrate Atrophy
  • Juvenile Macular Degeneration
  • Juvenile X-linked Retinoschisis
  • Leber Congenital Amaurosis
  • Macular Dystrophy
  • Maculopathy
  • Occult Macular Dystrophy
  • Pattern Dystrophy
  • Pigmentary Retinopathy
  • Retinal Dystrophy
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa
  • Retinopathy
  • Stargardt Disease
  • Usher Syndrome

Coordinating Patient Appointments

Our staff is dedicated to making your visit as convenient as possible. We are happy to answer your questions, identify useful resources, and coordinate appointments with ophthalmologists, genetic counselors, and technicians at the Kellogg Eye Center and throughout the Michigan Medicine.