Michael B. Yang, MD

Biography

As a pediatric eye doctor and division director in pediatric ophthalmology, I generally care for patients with more complicated eye conditions.

I try to make sure that parents understand their child's eye problem and work with them to provide the best care possible — whether their child’s condition is simple or complex. I care for children with nystagmus with abnormal head postures, pediatric cataracts, pediatric glaucoma, retinopathy of prematurity and strabismus. I have a special interest in superior oblique palsies, and I also treat adults with strabismus.

At Cincinnati Children’s, we use a team approach. Even if a child graduates from my care and sees another physician on our team, I am still available to see them if his or her condition worsens and requires my special expertise.

I developed a fascination with eye movements when studying biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins. Always attracted to the brain, in medical school I cultivated an interest in ophthalmology. My pediatric ophthalmology professors at the University of Southern California were compassionate, kind and very knowledgeable role models. They influenced me to go into advanced pediatric ophthalmology training. My mentors at the University of Michigan, Steve Archer, MD, and Monte Del Monte, MD, provided personalized training in the final stage of my formal education.

My research focuses on understanding and improving care for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). I study:

• Better treatments with low dose anti-VEGF (Anti–vascular endothelial growth factor) therapy agents that stop the growth of extra blood vessels and improve vision.
• Better prediction of which premature infants will develop ROP. This could lead to improved screening guidelines, letting us screen fewer infants at low risk.

I’m humbled to have received honor awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS). I’ve also served on the editorial board for the Journal of AAPOS.

When I’m not at work, I enjoy playing the piano and attending my kids’ activities — whether dance or golf. I also like watching basketball and football.