Michael Marmor

Clinical Focus

• Ophthalmology
• Medical retinal disease: in particular, retinal dystrophies, macular dystrophies, toxic retinopathy, disorders of retinal function such as night or color blindness, unexplained visual loss
• Supervision of physiologic testing including electroretinogram ERG), multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) and visually evoked potentials (VEP)

Administrative Appointments

• Chairman, Dept. of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine (1984 - 1992)

Honors and Awards

• Green Lecturer, Macula Society (2007)
• Susruta Lecturer, West Virginia University (1999)
• Senior Honor Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology (1996)
• Research Award, Alcon Research Institute (1989)
• Honorary Professor, Xian Medical University (1988)

Professional Education

Current Research Interests

My laboratory research interests are in several areas. Regarding the physiology and pathophysiology of retina and pigment epithelium (RPE), studies have focused on mechanisms that control fluid movement across the RPE, and the adhesion between retina and RPE. We have also studied the modification of retinal ischemic damage, laser action upon the RPE and drug effects upon retina and RPE. Recent collaborative work has been considering means of replacing Bruch's membrane or RPE in diseased eyes, and the development of a retinal prosthesis.

Clinical investigations cover several areas. We are studying electrophysiological tests of retinal and RPE function, including non-photic responses (induced by drugs) and newer electroretinographic techniques such as multifocal ERG recording. Unusual dystrophies, toxic retinopathies and clinical problems in the area of medical retinal disorders are evaluated as appropriate. The pathophysiology of central serous chorioretinopathy has been studied. Our research programs bear directly on blinding disorders such as age-related macular degeneration, vascular disease (including diabetes), retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, macular dystrophies and toxic retinopathies.

Another major area of interest is the relationship between human vision and art, music, history, literature and sport. The role and implications of vision in art have been studied in depth.

Publications

• FOVEAL CAVITATION AS AN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY FINDING IN CENTRAL CONE DYSFUNCTION. Leng T, Marmor MF, Kellner U, Thompson DA, Renner AB, Moore W, Sowden JC. Retina. 2012
• Comparison of Screening Procedures in Hydroxychloroquine Toxicity. Marmor MF, Arch Ophthalmol. 2011
• Fifty years of ophthalmic laser therapy. Palanker DV, Blumenkranz MS, Marmor MF. Arch Ophthalmol. 2011; 129 (12): 1613-9
• Fluorescein angiography: insight and serendipity a half century ago. Marmor MF, Ravin JG. Arch Ophthalmol. 2011; 129 (7): 943-8
• Longterm cultures of the aged human RPE do not maintain epithelial morphology and high transepithelial resistance. Stanzel BV, Blumenkranz MS, Binder S, Marmor MF. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2011