Dr. Karolinne Rocha in Charleston

Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha’s qualifications and credentials as one of the best LASIK, cataract, laser cataract, and refractive surgery experts include:

• Top Ophthalmologist and Leading Physician, included in the 2017 International Power List (2017).
• First surgeon to … (Dr. Rocha: Please list any firsts you have as an eye surgeon)
• Performed thousands of LASIK and PRK laser vision, refractive, and cataract surgery procedures.
• Principal Investigator for 8 FDA clinical studies for lasers, devices, and medications, and co-investigator for 12 other FDA clinical trials.

• Use of Alcon Refractive Suite
• Wavelight Ex500 Excimer laser - fastest excimer laser in the U.S.
• FS200 Femtosecond laser - fastest femtosecond laser for LASIK flap creation in the U.S.
• Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery
• Use of Optimedica Catalys femtosecond laser for cataract surgery
• Offers complete refractive surgery care including LASIK and IOL and other refractive surgery procedures as well as premium lens implants for cataract and lens implants surgery:
• LASIK and PRK laser eye surgery
• Laser-assisted cataract surgery
• Cataract surgery (including cataract surgery with premium lens implants)
• Intraocular lens implant surgery (IOLs) including Refractive Lensectomy |Clear Lensectomy (RLE|CLE)
• Specializes in premium lens implants, including multifocal lenses, toric (astigmatism correcting) lenses, and monofocal lenses .
• Astigmatism Incisions, including Limbal Relaxing Incisions
• Implantable contact lens (ICL), and Phakic IOLs
• EVO-ICL
• Corneal Transplants (NOTE: link to MyPages “Corneal Transplant Surgery)
• Specializes in the surgical management of Presbyopia, including EVO-ICLs.
• Specializes in the surgical management of Keratoconus.
• Dr. Rocha manages complications from surgery of new patients who had significant complications and problems from LASIK or other vision correction and cataract surgery procedures performed by another eye surgeon.
• Other eye surgeons, optometrists, opticians, employees of companies that specialize in vision correction surgery devices or products, and/or their family members from all over the United States have chosen Dr. Rocha to perform their LASIK or another vision correction procedure or their cataract surgery.

• Faculty Appointments (Current and Past):
• Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and Storm Eye Institute, Charleston, SC
• Director of Cornea & Refractive Surgery
• Fellowship Director
• Associate Program Director of Ophthalmology Residence
• Physician Liaison for the Ophthalmology Department, Executive Compliance Committee
• Hospital Staff Appointments:
• Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) | Storm Eye Institute, Charleston, SC
• Ambulatory Procedure Center, Mt. Pleasant, SC
• Rutledge Tower Ambulatory Surgery Center, Charleston, SC
• Professional Society and Organizations- Membership and Affiliations
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
• Senior Achievement Award
• The Ophthalmic News & Education Network: (ONE Network): Refractive Surgery Division
• Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC) Editor
• International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)
• Casebeer Award
• International Council
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)
• Cornea Committee
• American Ophthalmological Society (AOS)
• American European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgeons (AECOS)
• Vanguard Ophthalmology Society
• European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS)
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
• The American Society of Progressive Enterprising Surgeons (ASPENS)
• Ophthalmic Women Leaders (OWL)
• Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology (CBO)
• Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
• Additional Committee Service (includes current and past positions)
• Certified by American Board of Ophthalmology
• Editorial Activity (includes current and past positions)
• American Academy of Ophthalmology
• Ophthalmic New & Education Network: Refractive Surgery Editorial Board Member
• Editorial Positions:
• Journal of Refractive Surgery (JRS): Associate Editor
• EyeWorld Editorial Office, The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS membership journal): Refractive Surgery Section Editor
• The Ophthalmic News & Education Network (ONE Network): Editorial Board Member
• Brazilian Archives of Ophthalmology - Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia (ABO): Associate Editor
• Reviewer:
• American Journal of Ophthalmology
• Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
• Journal of Refractive Surgery
• Cornea
• Ophthalmology
• Over 67 scientific peer-reviewed, editorial and review articles
• Over 15 book chapters on ophthalmology
• Over 15 published abstracts and meetings in ophthalmology
• See search results for Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha on Google Scholar
• 5 textbook chapters on corneal, refractive and lens surgery
• Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha on Google books
• Over __ videos and podcasts on ophthalmology
• Active Participation at ophthalmology meetings in the United States and internationally
• Over 300 lectures and presentations on research topics.
• Served as a moderator or coordinator on over 100 panels.
• Served as a panelist, participant or discussant on over 150 panels.
• Taught over 27 courses at eye meetings. Certifications to Train Other Ophthalmologists:
• Alcon
• Wavelight Ex500 Excimer laser
• FS200 Femtosecond laser
• Multifocal and Toric IOLs
• Johnson & Johnson Vision
• Catalys laser (used in laser-assisted cataract surgery)
• Staar Surgical Lasers

• Awards, Honors & Recognitions
• Pierre Gautier Jenkins Teaching Award. Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)/ Storm Eye Institute, Charleston, SC (2021).
• Best Paper of Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery: Subjective and Objective Analysis of Pseudoaccommodation in Aberration-Free and Negative Spherical Aberration IOL using Ray-tracing Aberrometry. In: ASCRS, San Diego CA (2019).
• The Colin Award, International Journal of Keratoconus and Ectatic Corneal Diseases: HADDAD J, BARNWELL EL, ROCHA KM, WARING IV GO, AMBROSIO Jr R. First Clinical Impressions of the Integrated Corneal Tomography and Corneal Deformation with Scheimpflug Imaging. In: ESCRS, September 22nd, Vienna, Austria. European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (2018).
• International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) Recognition Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology; In: AAO, November 10th, New Orleans LA, American Academy of Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day (2017).
• Top Doctors in Ophthalmology. Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists (2017).
• Best Surgical Video: FLAAK - Femtosecond laser-assisted arcuate keratotomy in pseudophakia post penetrating keratoplasty. XII Congresso Internacional de Oftalmologia (BRASCRS). Sauipe, BA, Brazil. (2015).
• Outstanding Female in Ophthalmology Award. Millennial Eye (2015).
• Best of Anterior Segment Specialty Meetings, American Academy of Ophthalmology: Advanced Analysis for IOL calculation in Refractive Surgery; In: AAO, October 20th, Chicago IL, American Academy of Ophthalmology (2014).
• Best Research Paper & Highest OKAP score. Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, June 13th, Cleveland OH (2014).
• Teaching Excellence Recognition. Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, July 30th, Cleveland OH (2013).
• American Academy of Ophthalmology's Achievement Award. In: American Academy of Ophthalmology, November 10-23, Chicago IL (2012).
• ASCRS Foundation Resident Excellence Award. In: ASCRS, Chicago. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (2012).
• First ophthalmologist in Brazil to be awarded this distinction: Top Honors for PhD thesis of Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP) and CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel): “Optical aberrations in pseudophakia and cataract”, Brasilia DF, Brazil (2009).
• Best of Anterior Segment Specialty Meetings, American Academy of Ophthalmology: Optical Quality of Specialized Refractive IOLs in Cataract Surgery; In: AAO, New Orleans LA. American Academy of Ophthalmology (2007).
• International Travel Grant, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting: Effects of Zernike wavefront aberrations on visual acuity measured using electromagnetic adaptive optics technology in: ARVO Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale FL. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting (2007).
• Best Paper of Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery: Wavefront analysis and contrast sensitivity of aspheric and spherical IOLs: randomized Prospective study In: ASCRS, San Francisco CA, 2006. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (2006).
• Surgical Skills Prize, XXXIII Brazilian Congress of Ophthalmology, Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology; Fortaleza CE- Brazil, 2005. Awarded as second year resident (2005).

• Doctor of Medicine, State University of Londrina (UEL), Brazil

• Transitional Internship, State University of Londrina (UEL), Brazil

• Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Brazil
• Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, USA
• Ophthalmology - Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute, USA

• PhD - Doctorship in Medicine, Optical aberrations in pseudophakia and cataract, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Brazil

• Fellowship - Anterior Segment Surgery (Cataract, Cornea & Glaucoma), Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP-EPM), Brazil
• Cornea & Refractive Surgery Fellowship: Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic, USA
• Cornea & Refractive Surgery Fellowship, Emory University, USA

Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha M.D, Ph.D

Karolinne Maia Rocha, MD, PhD, is a distinguished figure in the field of ophthalmology. Her extensive career is marked by significant achievements and contributions to the field.

Dr. Rocha is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and the Storm Eye Institute in Charleston, SC. Her responsibilities include serving as the Director of Cornea & Refractive Surgery, Fellowship Director, Associate Program Director of Ophthalmology Residence, and Physician Liaison for the Ophthalmology Department within the Executive Compliance Committee.

Dr. Rocha obtained her medical degree from the State University of Londrina in Paraná, Brazil, in 2002. Subsequently, she completed her ophthalmology training at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil, where she received the XXXIII Brazilian Council of Ophthalmology Surgical Skills Prize during her second year of residency.

Her academic journey continued with a Ph.D. in "Optical Aberrations in Pseudophakic and Cataractous Eyes" at the same institution. Her doctoral work earned her the highest honor from the Brazilian government.

Dr. Rocha's impact extends beyond her clinical role in helping thousands of people improve their vision through LASIK refractive surgery procedures as well as cataract surgery and lens implant procedures. She has authored over 100 scientific works, including peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and abstracts presented at notable society meetings. She is a respected figure in the ophthalmology community, regularly reviewing manuscripts for esteemed journals such as the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Journal of Refractive Surgery, Cornea, and the American Journal of Ophthalmology. In addition, she serves as an associate editor for the Brazilian Archives of Ophthalmology (ABO).

As a committed educator, Dr. Rocha has been an instructor at the American Academy of Ophthalmology laser refractive skills transfer course since 2009, and she offers courses on corneal collagen cross-linking and corneal topography.

Dr. Rocha's postdoctoral fellowships played a pivotal role in advancing the field of ophthalmology. Her work at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, involved groundbreaking research on adaptive optics. This research resulted in one of the first clinical applications of adaptive optics, characterizing the balance between depth of focus and quality of vision. Her work in this area has had a lasting impact on ophthalmic research.

In 2010, Dr. Rocha completed a second postdoctoral fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at Emory University. Here, she played a key role in leading investigational studies related to corneal collagen cross-linking, corneal biomechanics, and topography-guided laser ablation.

Dr. Rocha's dedication and contributions have been acknowledged through several prestigious awards, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Achievement Award in 2012, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation Resident Excellence Award in 2012, and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Teaching Excellence Recognition Award in 2013. Her stature in the field earned her a place on the 2017 International Power List as a Top Ophthalmologist and Leading Physician.

In 2015, she received the Outstanding Female in Ophthalmology Award from Millennial Eye, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the field.

Dr. Rocha's expertise extends to clinical trials. She has served as a Principal Investigator for three FDA clinical studies involving manufacturers of lasers, devices, and products related to vision. Additionally, she has contributed as a co-investigator for ten other FDA clinical trials.

In 2014, Dr. Rocha joined the faculty at MUSC/Storm Eye Institute in Charleston, South Carolina, where she currently serves as the Director of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Division.

Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha's journey in ophthalmology is defined by her unwavering commitment to research, education, and clinical excellence. Her impact on the field continues to evolve, making her a significant figure in the world of eye care.

View Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha, MD, PhD

For LASIK, cataract surgery, and other vision correction procedures, please call (843) 792-2020 or TEXT Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Rocha.

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Contact Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha at MUSC | Storm Eye Institute today for your free LASIK consultation with a trusted expert LASIK surgeon and vision care specialist who is also a cataract and lens implant surgeon with proven expertise.

Dr. Karolinne Maia Rocha and her exceptional staff are looking forward to meeting with you.

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