Ula Jurkunas, M.D.

Investigator

Assistant in Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & ear Infirmary

Clinical Associate, Massachusetts General Hospital

 
Dr. Ula Jurkunas received her M.D. degree Cum Laude from the University of Louisville in 2000 where she was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.  She remained there for postdoctoral training in Internal Medicine. In 2001 she began her residency in Ophthalmology at Boston University School of Medicine. After completeing her residency inn 2006, she began a Combined Clinical and Research Fellowship in Cornea and
Refractive Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) and Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School. She is currently an Assistant in Ophthalmology on the Active staff at Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, a Clinical Associate, Massachusetts General Hospital
and an Investigator an Schepens. She is currently a Principal Investigator in the Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist Development Program. Among her many research interests are several studies on Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED), one of the most common corneal dystrophies and which accounts for one-third of the corneal transplants done in the U.S. 

Contact Information

617-573-4300
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Please click here to download a .pdf file of Dr. Jurkunas' Curriculum Vitae

Education

M.D., Cum Laude, University of Louisville

Research Projects

Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Genetics Study, Multi- center Clinical Trial
Pathophysiology of Fuchs’ Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
“Effectiveness and Safety of Topical Bevacizumab
(Avastin) for Treatment of Corneal Neovascularization

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

1. Yu EN, Jurkunas U, Rubin PD, Baltatzis S, Foster CS. Obliterative Microangiopathy PresentingAs Chronic Conjunctivitis In A Patient With Relapsing Polychondritis. Cornea. 2006; 25(5): 625-2.

2.  Jurkunas U, Azar DT. Potential Complications of Ocular Surgery in Patients with CoexistentKeratoconus and Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy. Ophthalmology. 2006; 113: 2187-2197.

3. Jurkunas U, Langston PD, Colby K. Use of Voriconazole in the Treatment of Fungal Keratitis.International Ophthalmology Clinics. 2007; 47:47-59.

4. Lee BW, Jurkunas UV, Poothullil AM, Tobaigy F, Azar DT. Ectatic Disorders Associated with aClaw-Shaped Pattern on Corneal Topography. American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007; 144:154-156.9

5. Dagher MH, Dana R, Jurkunas UV. "Keratoglobus in association with Posterior PolymorphousDystrophy.” Cornea. 2007; 26:1288-91.

6. Jurkunas UV, Rawe I, Bitar M, Zhu C, Harris DL, Colby K, Joyce N. Decreased Expression ofPeroxiredoxins in Fuchs’ Edothelial Dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49:2946-55.

7. Jurkunas UV, Bitar M, Rawe I, Harris DL, Colby K, Joyce N. Increase in Clusterin Expression inFuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008;49:2956-63.

8. Jurkunas UV, Bitar M, Rawe I. Co-localization of Clusterin and TGFBIp in Guttae of Fuchs’Endothelial Dystrophy Patients. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2008; epub.

9. Jurkunas UV, Behlau E, Colby K. Fungal Keratitis: Changing Pathogens, Risk Factors, andTreatment Options.” Cornea; in press.

Reviews and Chapters:

1. Gamel JW, Jurkunas U. Metastasis to the Eye and Ocular Adnexa. In: Donegan and Spratt, eds.Cancer of the Breast. St. Louis: WB Saunders; 2002: 881-886.

2. Jurkunas U, Gittinger J. Headache and the Eye. Comprehensive Ophthalmology Update. 2004;5:189-98.

3. Jurkunas U, Colby K. Evaluation of Corneal Endothelium. Techniques in Ophthalmology. 2005;3(1):19-26.

4. Torkildsen G, Jurkunas UV, Kocaturk T. Osmotic Agents. In: Albert and Miller, eds. Albert andJacobiec’s Priniciples and Practice of Ophthalomology.

5. Jurkunas UV, Colby KA. Corneal Examination, Topography, Specular and Confocal Microscopy,UBM and OCT. In: Albert and Miller, eds. Albert and Jakobiec’s Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology.