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Katharine FunariView profile

Assistant Professor

• Pediatric Optometry
• Strabismus
• Amblyopia
• +5 more

Katharine Funari, O.D., M.P.H., is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She practices pediatric optometry at Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center in Bethesda and Wilmer Eye Institute in Frederick, specializing in strabismus, amblyopia, convergence insufficiency, myopia control (orthokeratology, atropine therapy, multifocal lenses), and vision rehabilitation for acquired brain injuries. She co-manages surgical cases and provides comprehensive eye care across all age groups. Education: Bachelor of Science, Villanova University Doctor of Optometry (OD), Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University (2018) Residency, Salus University (2019) Master of Public Health (MPH), Nova Southeastern University (2021) Clinical Training: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Research Focus: Management of pediatric eye conditions, binocular vision disorders, and early intervention strategies for childhood eye diseases impacting development and academic performance. Her work bridges clinical practice with public health perspectives on vision care. Awards & Honors: Clinical Excellence in Pediatrics (Salus University) Good-Lite Award for pediatric vision care Legacy of Leadership Award Luxottica Optical Women's Scholarship Professional Affiliations: Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, Associate Member of College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Maryland Optometric Association.

• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Genetic Eye Diseases
• Childhood Cataract
• +5 more

Line Kessel is a Clinical Professor in Pediatric Ophthalmology at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Clinical Medicine. She concurrently serves as a senior consultant and section head for Pediatric and Neuro-ophthalmology and visual rehabilitation at the Department of Ophthalmology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, where she oversees clinical services for children with visual impairments. Prof. Kessel's research program centers on pediatric ocular disorders with emphasis on congenital and childhood cataract, glaucoma, and genetic eye diseases. Her work spans clinical investigations into gene therapy for inherited retinal conditions, visual rehabilitation methodologies, and myopia progression interventions. She maintains active collaborations across Denmark's healthcare and research institutions, with particular focus on translating laboratory findings into clinical practice for pediatric patients. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong clinical research trajectory with significant contributions to evidence-based pediatric ophthalmology. Her work employs diverse methodologies including randomized controlled trials (particularly in myopia control), large-scale register-based epidemiological studies, systematic reviews with meta-analyses, and molecular genetic investigations of rare ocular disorders. The research consistently addresses practical clinical challenges in pediatric vision care with direct patient impact. Prof. Kessel has secured substantial competitive funding for multiple research initiatives. The "Let the children see" project (funded by Synoptik Fonden and Velux Foundation) focuses on improving outcomes for childhood cataract surgery and gene therapy while enhancing visual rehabilitation. The "DanSleep" study (funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark) investigates sleep-wake disturbances in patients with retinitis pigmentosa. She also led the APP trial (NCT03911271), a multi-site investigation of low-dose atropine for myopia control that received support from ten different funding sources including Fight for Sight Denmark and A.P. Møller Fonden. At Rigshospitalet, Prof. Kessel directs the Pediatric and Neuro-ophthalmology section, integrating clinical service with research innovation. Her leadership bridges academic medicine and hospital-based care, focusing on comprehensive management of complex pediatric visual conditions from diagnosis through rehabilitation. She maintains active involvement in both graduate medical education and translational research initiatives that connect basic science discoveries with clinical applications for children with visual impairment.