Dr. Ian Conner is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He serves as the Director of the UPMC Eye Center in Bethel Park and the Chief of Ophthalmology at UPMC Shadyside.  He also serves as an Associate Program Director for the Residency Training Program at UPMC and as the Faculty Director for the Resident Surgical Training Laboratory. In 1998, Dr. Conner obtained his BS in Chemical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude, from West Virginia University (WVU) College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Morgantown, West Virginia.  He received his MD/PhD (PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology) from WVU’s School of Medicine in 2007.  From 2007-2008, he completed an internship, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.  From 2008-2011, he was a resident in University of Cincinnati’s Department of Ophthalmology.  Dr. Conner, in 2011-2012, participated in a Glaucoma Fellowship, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Conner’s research is focused on glaucoma.  His most recent research awards include:

• * Co-Investigator, “Managing Glaucoma in the Digital Age: A New Tonometer to Connect Patients to their Caregivers,” NSF Award (2020)
• * Co-Investigator, “On the quantitative analysis of a new tonometer to manage/prevent glaucoma,” University of Pittsburgh Center for Medical Innovation (2018)
• * Co-Investigator, “Translation of Novel Eye Drop Formulation for Glaucoma,” Coulter Foundation TPII Award (2015)
• * Principal Investigator, David L. Epstein, MD Chandler-Grant Glaucoma Society Clinician-Scientist Research Award (2015)
• * Principal Investigator, “Injected Versus Sponge-Applied MMC in a Rabbit Model of Trabeculectomy,” American Glaucoma Society MAPS Award (2014)
• * Co-Investigator, “Modulation of Glaucoma Filtration Surgery Healing Response through Local TNF-Alpha Inhibition in New Zealand White Rabbit Model,” American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation Research Grant (2014)
• * Co-Investigator, “Effects of Ocular Hypertension on Visual Brain Damage,” BrightFocus Foundation National Glaucoma Research Award (2013)
• * Co-Investigator, “Structural Metabolic and Functional Relationships between the Eye and the Brain in Glaucoma,” University of Pittsburgh BaCCoR Pilot Award (2013)

He also served as the site investigator on several UPMC Eye Center studies:

• * XEN-45 Gel Stent versus Trabeculectomy in Glaucoma: Gold-Standard Pathway Study (GPS) (2018-2020)
• * The AGS Second Aqueous Shunt Implant vs. Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation Treatment Study (2016-2020)
• * Observational/Prospective Study for Benchmarking the Management of Glaucoma with Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT); trabecular stent bypass microsurgery iStent); trabeculotomy procedures (trabectome, Trab-360, and Kahook blade) and Cyclodestructive procedures (diode CPC and micropulse diode CPC), using the Diopsys Visual Evoked Potential/Pattern ERG protocols (2016-2020)
• * The Efficacy and Safety of Bimatoprost SR in Patients with Open-angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension (2014-2020)

Dr. Conner is a member of the American Board of Ophthalmology, the Chandler Grant Glaucoma Society, the American Glaucoma Society, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. He is a board member for the Pittsburgh Ophthalmology Society. He is a co-author, Chandler and Grant’s Glaucoma, 6^th Edition (Slack, 2018), and a co-author, Yanoff and Duker’s Ophthalmology, 5^th Edition (Saunders, 2018).  He has over 50 published conference proceedings, and 24 peer reviewed scientific publications.

View a list of Dr. Conner’s publications here.