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Allen Ho, MD, FACS, FASRS

Co-Director, Wills Eye Retina Service and Director, Retina Research

Subspecialty: Retina

Areas of Interest

  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Macular diseases
  • Surgical retinal diseases
  • Vitreoretinal diseases

Biography

Dr. Allen C. Ho is an internationally recognized retina specialist specializing in state of art patient care and is a leader in the development of new medical and surgical treatments for retinal diseases such as age related macular degeneration, macular diseases, diabetic retinopathy and surgical retinal diseases. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences, receiving highest distinction in all subjects. He graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and was elected Co-Chief Resident during his ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital. He completed a Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Diseases at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital where he was awarded a Heed Ophthalmic Fellowship. Currently, he is Attending Surgeon at Wills Eye Hospital and Director of Retina Research at Wills Eye Hospital and is Co-Director of the Wills Eye Hospital Retina Service. He is former Co-Director of the Wills Retina Fellowship, widely recognized as the premier retina training program in the country.

Dr. Ho is Professor of Ophthalmology at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Board Certified in Ophthalmology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is an active member and leader in several societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, The American Society of Retina Specialists, The Macula Society, The Retina Society, The Society of Heed Fellows, The Vail Vitrectomy Society, The Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and The Greater Philadelphia Ophthalmic Society (past President). He serves on the Executive Committee and is Past President of the Retina Society.

Dr. Ho has authored over 300 scientific publications and is Editor-in-Chief of Current Opinion in Ophthalmology and Chief Medical Editor of Retina Today, a global publication that features new treatments for retinal disease. He is an invited lecturer at national and international ophthalmic meetings and is author of The Wills Eye Hospital Color Atlas and Synopsis of Retinal Disease and Age Related Macular Degeneration Diagnosis and Treatment.  He has received the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Secretariat Award, AAO Senior Honor Award, American Society of Retina Specialists Senior Honor Award and Crystal Apple Award, NEOS Taylor Smith Award, Aspen Retina Society Founder’s Award, Vit Buckle Society's Lifetime Achievement Award, American Diabetes Association’s 75th Anniversary Distinguished Physician Award and has been named a Charter Member to The Retina Hall of Fame and The Ophthalmologist’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Ophthalmology on multiple occasions.

He serves as a Scientific Advisory Board member for the Alcon Vitreoretinal Surgical Advisory Committee, the Ophthalmic Devices Committee of the United States Food and Drug Administration and many surgical device and pharmaceutical companies pursuing improved treatments for macular and vitreoetinal disease.  He also serves as Principal Investigator and Study Scientific Steering Committee member of multiple collaborative clinical research programs locally and internationally.  Dr. Ho has been named to Castle Connolly’s “Best Doctors in America”, “America’s Top Ophthalmologists”, “Top Doctors of New Jersey” and “Top Doctors of Philadelphia” as elected by peer physicians. He is a volunteer for Eye Care America, serving underinsured Americans with medical need and a member of the Board of the American Diabetes Association of Greater Philadelphia whose mission is to improve the care and quality of life of individuals afflicted by diabetes mellitus.

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Credentials

Board Certification
American Board of Ophthalmology – 1993

Academic Affiliation
Professor of Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Education
  • Fellowship:  Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, Retina – 1994
  • Residency:  Wills Eye Hospital – 1992
  • Medical School:  Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons – 1988
  • Undergraduate:  Cornell University – 1984

Honors and Awards

Philadelphia magazine “Top Doctors” 2011-2024
Castle Connolly “America’s Top Doctors” 2014-2024
The Ophthalmologist 2022-2023 Power List of Most Influential Ophthalmologists in the World
American Society of Retina Specialists’ Crystal Apple Award

Retina Society, President
Retina ALLIANCE Society Presidents (Retina, Macula and ASRS)
AAO IRIS Registry Committee
AAO Society Leadership Board
American Diabetes Association, Philadelphia Leadership Board
Eyecelerator Innovation, Program Director
Editor in Chief, Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
Chief Medical Editor, Retina Today

Language Spoken

English

Publications

To search for journal publications by this doctor, visit the National Library of Medicine

Wills Eye Hospital
840 Walnut Street, Suite 1020
Philadelphia, PA 19107 Google Maps

Wills Eye Surgical Network - Main Line
10 Presidential Blvd., Suite 200
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

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