Virginia A. Miraldi Utz, MD

Several experiences throughout college and medical school inspired me to become a pediatric ophthalmologist. As an undergraduate, I mentored a 6-year-old boy with nystagmus and low vision through a Big Brother/Big Sister Program. I saw firsthand how visual impairment impacted this child’s quality of life and education. As a medical student and resident in ophthalmology, I saw the challenges that children face with chronic autoimmune and genetic disorders involving the eye, and have dedicated my career to the care of children with these disorders. I hope that my contributions as a clinician and researcher will help improve the visual outcomes, quality of life and visual function in my patients. As a pediatric ophthalmologist and professor of pediatric ophthalmology, I care for children with general pediatric eye disorders as well as specialized ocular conditions including uveitis (eye inflammation) and genetic disorders involving the eye and body. I feel tremendously privileged to care for children and appreciate the opportunity to serve patients and their families.

I seek to create a partnership of mutual respect and make it a priority to take family and patient concerns seriously. I do my best to be available to patients when they need me or have a question or concern. I want patients to leave my clinic with the answers they need or an action plan of our next steps to resolve any concerns. I know how important these hallmarks of care can be from personal experience. I work collaboratively with other specialists in rheumatology, genetics, hematology/oncology, and neurology to manage patients with complicated conditions involving the eye.

We established an Eye Genetics Clinic in 2012 to provide families with same-day, multidisciplinary appointments with ophthalmology and human genetics. Our goal is to improve communication among providers and patients, and to provide patients with a comprehensive care plan and convenient access to care. Disorders that we evaluate include: inherited retinal disorders (retinal dystrophies, retinal dysfunction):

• Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA)
• Stargardt disease
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Choroideremia
• XL retinoschisis
• Congenital stationary night blindness
• Blue cone monochomacy
• Achromatopsia

Ocular Development Problems: These are conditions that occur when the eye or the structures within the eye do not develop normally.

Genetic Syndromes that Affect the Eye: These include any conditions that can affect multiple body parts and the eye.

For complicated patients with uveitis and other autoimmune disorders of the eye, I partner with rheumatology faculty, neuro-ophthalmology, nephrology, gastroenterology and retina specialist to manage patients with complicated autoimmune conditions.

I am humbled to be named to the Best Doctors in America list and the Top Doctors list as chosen by peers in Cincinnati Magazine since 2016. I am honored to serve on the editorial board for the Ophthalmic Genetics Journal, as chairperson of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) Pediatric Uveitis Committee and as vice-chair for the AAPOS Genetic Eye Disease Committee.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family. My children and I enjoy making art projects out of recyclables, exploring nature and hiking, swimming and playing pickleball. I start my day in the early morning with a run, swim or cardio, stability and resistance training.