Roles
Professor of Ophthalmology
Member of the Graduate Program for the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Secondary Appointment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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Biography
Byron L. Lam, M.D. is a clinician and a researcher with a focus in neuro-ophthalmology, hereditary retinal disease, and ophthalmic epidemiology. He is a professor of ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School in Medicine and is the holder of the Robert Z. & Nancy J. Greene Chair in Ophthalmology.
Dr. Lam is an active clinical scientist. His clinical practice focuses on patients with neuro-ophthalmology conditions or inherited retinal disease. This broad background in neuro-ophthalmology and hereditary retinal degenerations has enabled him to collaborate with basic and clinical scientists resulting in many successful translational projects. Throughout his career, he has performed numerous neuro-ophthalmology studies including Leber hereditary optic neuropathy gene therapy, idiopathic intracranial hypertension cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy,
His profound interest in inherited retinal disease and electrophysiology led him to carry out numerous gene therapy and novel therapeutic clinical trials in conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, achromatopsia, and Stargardt disease. Of interest, Dr. Lam conducted the first US choroideremia gene therapy clinical trial as IND holder, sponsor, and principal investigator. To better quantitate visual light sensitivity as a clinical trial endpoint, Dr. Lam created and validated the Visual Lightsensitivity Questionnaire – 8 (VLSQ-8) and along with the biomedical team developed the Bascom Palmer Light Discomfort Analyzer to quantitatively determine ocular light discomfort.
His ability to effectively integrate clinical and basic science and to make important connections between them is demonstrated by the textbook he authored in 2005: Electrophysiology of Vision; Clinical Testing and Applications. The book is among the most popular text in its field and is used by students, physicians-in-training, researchers and clinicians. Dr. Lam has also been involved in ocular epidemiologic research on how visual impairment increases mortality through indirect pathways such as its effect on the activities of daily living and well-being.
In addition to his clinical practice and research activities, Dr. Lam is medical director of clinical research and medical director of neuro-ophthalmology service at Bascom Palmer as well as scientific co-director of the Adrienne Arsht Hope for Vision Retinal Degeneration Laboratory. He Lam is on the editorial board of American Journal of Ophthalmology and received the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. -
Teaching Interests
My main teaching focus is to teach residents and fellows to enable them to have clinical expertise in neuro--ophthalmology and inherited retinal disease. I am particular interested in teaching the next generation of educators, clinicians and researchers in these areas. I have participated in medical student lectures and CME conferences extensively throughout my career. I have also served on PhD dissertation committees. -
Research Interests
I am a clinical scientist with research focus in neuro-ophthalmology, hereditary retinal disease, and ophthalmic epidemiology.
I have performed and participated in numerous clinical translational neuro-ophthalmology studies throughout my career with the focus in providing better patient care. I have performed numerous neuro-ophthalmology studies involving a broad spectrum of conditions including Leber hereditary optic neuropathy gene therapy, idiopathic intracranial hypertension cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, and anterior ischemic optic neuropathy,
I have been involved in clinical translational research in hereditary retinal diseases and have carried out numerous gene therapy and novel therapeutic clinical trials in conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa, achromatopsia, and Stargardt disease.
I also have an interest in visual function testing and novel retinal imaging techniques. For example, to better quantitate visual light sensitivity as a clinical trial endpoint, I created and validated the Visual Lightsensitivity Questionnaire – 8 (VLSQ-8) and along with the biomedical team developed the Bascom Palmer Light Discomfort Analyzer to quantitatively determine ocular light discomfort.
I have a longstanding research interest in ophthalmic epidemiology with the goals of furthering population-based strategies for improving vision health and collaborating with experts in advanced statistical modeling techniques to demonstrate the broad effects that visual impairment has on functional status and mortality. -
Publications
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