Cynthia Ann Toth is the Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at Duke University, with additional appointments as Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Her extensive career has positioned her as a leading authority in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, particularly in the development and application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) technologies for both adult and pediatric patients. She has made significant contributions to retinal imaging, with a special focus on retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration. Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology Professor of Biomedical Engineering Specialist in Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery Director of advanced imaging research programs Dr. Toth received her M.D. from Drexel University in 1983, followed by ophthalmology training at Geisinger Medical Center (1984-1987) and the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine (1989-1991). Her educational background provided the foundation for her pioneering work in retinal imaging technologies. Dr. Toth's research primarily focuses on advancing optical coherence tomography for clinical and surgical applications. Her work spans several critical areas including: development of handheld OCT devices for infant and pediatric imaging; intraoperative OCT for vitreoretinal surgery; OCT angiography for microvascular assessment; and application of OCT in retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration. She has been instrumental in translating OCT technology from research settings to clinical practice, particularly for vulnerable patient populations like premature infants who require bedside imaging. Her publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory from foundational OCT technology development to sophisticated clinical applications. Recent work shows increasing integration of artificial intelligence, robotics, and novel optical clearing techniques with OCT systems. The research consistently bridges engineering innovation with immediate clinical needs, particularly in pediatric ophthalmology and retinal surgery. ARVO/Alcon Keynote (2022) Gertrude Pyron Award from American Society of Retina Specialists (2021) Scientific Achievement Award from Women in Ophthalmology (2019) Wacker Prize from Club Jules Gonin (2018) Paul Henkind Award and Lecture from Macula Society (2018) Rockefeller Foundation Academic Writing Residency (2017) As a mentor, Dr. Toth has guided numerous students and junior faculty in ophthalmic research, with particular emphasis on imaging technology development. Her research has been supported by significant grant funding from NIH and other organizations, enabling her team to develop innovative imaging approaches that have transformed clinical practice in retinal diseases. She has been particularly active in collaborative research efforts, often leading multi-center studies that establish standards for retinal imaging and diagnosis. Dr. Toth leads a multidisciplinary research team that includes ophthalmologists, biomedical engineers, computer scientists, and clinical researchers. Her laboratory focuses on developing next-generation imaging technologies that can be deployed at the bedside for infants and during surgery for precise guidance. The team has pioneered several handheld OCT systems specifically designed for pediatric use and has developed novel image processing techniques that extract maximum diagnostic information from OCT scans.
