Joseph Louis Demer, MD, PhD
Accepting new patients

Joseph Louis Demer, MD, PhD

  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
Stein Eye Institute, Pediatric Ophthalmology | 200 Stein Plaza Doris Stein 2nd Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90095

About

Link to Dr. Demer's complete CV >

Joseph L. Demer, MD, PhD, is the Arthur L. Rosenbaum Professor of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Professor of Neurology, Chief, Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus Division, Director, Fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus, Director, Ocular Motility Laboratories, Chair, EyeSTAR Residency-PhD/PostDoc Program in Ophthalmology and Visual Science.

Dr. Demer's clinical specialties include pediatric ophthalmology, adult strabismus, and other disorders of ocular motility such as nystagmus. He is a biomedical engineer whose federally-funded research includes anatomy and imaging of the eye muscles, and the biomechanics of eye movements and optic nerve disorders.

Dr. Demer provides clinical care and ophthalmic surgery at the Stein Eye Institute in Westwood.

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certification

Ophthalmology, American Board of Ophthalmology, 1988

Fellowship

Pediatric Ophthalmology/Strabismus, Texas Children's Hospital, 1988

Residency

Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine (MD Only), 1987

Internship

Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine (MD Only), 1984

Degree

MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1983

Recognitions

  • Super doctors, Southern California, 2024
  • Super Doctors® Southern California, 2022 - 2024
  • 2020 Bielschowski Award Lectureship, International Strabismological Association
  • 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • See More

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Research

Interests

  • Amblyopia
  • Biomechanics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Extraocular Muscles
  • Glaucoma
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Nystagmus
  • Orbital Anatomy
  • Strabismus

Publications

Link to complete list of publications >

1. Gawargious, B. A., Le, A., Lesgart, M., Ugardar, S., and Demer, J. L. Differential regional stiffening of sclera by collagen cross-linking. Cur. Eye Res. 21:1-8, 2019. PMID 31735063

2. Le, A., Chen, J., Lesgart, M. Gawargious, Suh, S. Y., and Demer, J. L. Age-dependent deformation of the optic nerve head and peripapillary retina by horizontal duction. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 209:107-116, 2020.

3. Goseki, T., Suh, S. Y., Robbins, L., Pineles, S. L., Velez, F. G., and Demer, J. L. Prevalence of sagging eye syndrome in adults with binocular diplopia. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 209:55-61, 2020.

4. Demer, J. L., Clark, R. A., Suh, S. Y., Giaconi, J., Nouri-Mahdavi, K., Law, S. K., Bonelli, L., Coleman, A. L., and Caprioli, J. Optic nerve traction during adduction in open angle glaucoma with normal versus elevated intraocular pressure. Cur. Eye Res. 5(2):199-210, 2020.

5. Chen, J., Le, A., Caprioli, J., Giaconi. J. A., Nouri-Mahdavi, K., Law, S. K., Bonelli, Laura, Coleman, A. L., and Demer, J. L. Orbital fat volume after treatment with topical prostaglandin agonists. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 61: 46, 2020. oi: 10.1167/iovs.61.5.46. PMID: 32455434

6.  Le, A., Shin, A., Park, J., Poukens, V., and Demer, J. L. Bilaminar structure of the human optic nerve sheath. Cur. Eye Res. 45: 864-872, 2020. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2020.1739314. PMID: 32155090.

7. Lee, Y. H., Maniglia, M., Velez, F., Demer, J. L., Seitz, A. R., and Pineles, S. Short-term perceptual learning game does not improve patching-resistant amblyopia in older children. J. Pediatr. Ophthalmol. Strabismus 57:176 -184, 2020.

8. Gunzenhauser, R. A., Tsui, I., Velez, F. G., Fung, S. S., Demer, J. L., Suh, S. Y., Sarraf, D., and Pineles, S. L. Comparison of pre-treatment vs. post-treatment retinal vessel density in children with amblyopia. J. Binoc. Vis. Ocular. Motil. 70:79-85, 2020.

9. Chang, M. Y., Velez, F. G., Demer, J. L., Isenberg, S. J., Coleman, A. L., and Pineles, S. L. Quality of life in adults with strabismus. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 159: 539-544, 2020.

10. Clark, R. A. and Demer, J. L. The effect of axial length on extraocular muscle leverage. Am. J. Ophthalmol, 216: 186-192, 2020.

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Centivo
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Health Net of California
  • Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
  • L.A. Care
  • Medicare Advantage
  • MultiPlan
  • UFCM Health System
  • Prime Health Services
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • TRICARE
  • UnitedHealthcare

The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change. 
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.

Visit our health insurance information page for more details.

Recognitions

  • Super Doctors® Southern California, 2022 - 2024
  • 2020 Bielschowski Award Lectureship, International Strabismological Association
  • 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • 2017 Senior Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • 2013 Senior Honor Award, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
  • 2009 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Fellow, Gold Level.
  • 2004 Recognition Award, Alcon Research Institute.
  • 2004 Research to Prevent Blindness Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research
  • 2003 Friedenwald Award, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
  • 2001 Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology.
  • 1999 Honor Award, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
  • 1997 Research to Prevent Blindness Lew R. Wasserman Merit Award
  • 1990 Research to Prevent Blindness William and Mary Greve International Research Scholar Award.
  • 1972-1977 Rhodes Scholar Finalist. Presidential Scholar. National Merit Scholar. Phi Kappa Phi. Western Electric Grant Final Award. Outstanding Senior Engineer. Outstanding Debater.