Samir Melki MD PhD - Founder, Boston Eye Group
Curriculum Vitae

July 2000-Presently: Clinical Instructor of Ophthalmology

Harvard Medical School
Director, Boston Eye Group
Brookline, MA


Jan 2005-Presently: Ophthalmology Medical Director

UK Specialist Hospitals
London, UK


July 1999-July 2000: Chief Fellow, Cornea and Refractive Surgery

Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA.


July 1998-July 1999: Clinical Fellow, Cornea and Refractive Surgery

Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA.


July 1997-July 1998: Chief Resident, Ophthalmology

Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, DC.


July 1995-July 1997: Resident, Ophthalmology

Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, DC.


July 1994-July 1995: Transitional Intern

Chestnut Hill Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA.


Aug 1991-May 1994: M.D.

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Nashville, TN.


Dec 1988-Aug 1991: Ph.D., Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Nashville, TN.


Oct 1983-June 1986: BS, Biology

American University of Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon

• Runner-up, Best presentation, "Challenging Cataract Surgery Session" ASCRS, San Francisco 2006
• 1st surgeon to perform a phakic IOL in a Boston Hospital. Dec 2004.
• Runner-up, ASCRS video festival, Refractive Complications, San Diego CA, May 2004
• Advisory Board member, Amerisight Inc. 2004- present
• Advisory Board member, OR International, 2003 - present
• Visiting Professorship, Georgetown University Medical Center, 2004
• Best Paper of Session "M-LASEK" American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. May 2003
• Chief Fellow, Cornea & Refractive Surgery, Harvard Medical School (99-2000)
• Worthen Center Award for Excellence in Eyecare Research (June 1998)
• Chief Resident, Georgetown University Ophthalmology Department (1997-98)
• Worthen Center Award for Excellence in Eyecare Research (June 1997)
• Graduate Education Committee, Chestnut Hill Hospital, PA (1994-1995)
• Microbes and Defense Academic Society,Vanderbilt University (1992 )
  
  

• M-LASEK: a modification of excimer surface ablation allowing minimal alcohol usage to preserve corneal cell viability and minimize the risk of postoperative scarring
• Potential Acuity Pinhole (PAP) Test: A novel technique to predict visual acuity after cataract surgery. (Ophthalmology 1999; 106: 1262-1267)
• Melki LASIK Flap stabilizer: An instrument designed to hold the LASIK flap steady while maneuvers are performed (Rhein Medical)
• Melki LASEK double Well: A double well to allow differential alcohol exposure to the central cornea during the LASEK Procedure. (American Surgical Instruments)
• Melki LASEK dissector: A spatula used to dissect the corneal epithelium during LASEK. (American Surgical Instruments)
• Melki Cataract Irrigation/Aspiration System: A bimanual approach to cataract surgery to facilitate aspiration in small pupil cases. (American Surgical Instruments)
  
  

1. Abumrad NA, Melki SA, Harmon CA. Transport of Fatty Acid in the Isolated Rat Adipocyte and in Differentiating Preadipose Cells. Biochemical Society Transactions, 18(6): 1130-2, 1990.
2. Abumrad NA, Forest C, Regen DM, Barnella US, Melki SA, Metabolism of Oleic Acid in Differentiating BFC-1 Preadipose Cells. American Journal of Physiology, 261 (Endocrinol. Metab. 24): E76-E86, 1991.
3. Melki SA and Abumrad NA. Glycerolipid Synthesis in Isolated Adipocytes: Substrate Dependence and Influence of Norepinephrine. Journal of Lipid Research, 33(5): 669-78, 1992.
4. Melki SA and Abumrad NA. Expression of the Adipocyte Fatty Acid-Binding Protein with Streptozotocin-Diabetes: Effects of Insulin Deficiency and Supplementation. Journal of Lipid Research, 34 (9): 1527-34, 1993.
5. Melki SA, Safar A, Martin J, Ivanova A, Adi M. Potential Acuity Pinhole, A Simple Method to Measure Potential Acuity in Patients with Cataracts, Comparison to Potential Acuity Meter. Ophthalmology 1999; 106: 1262-1267.
6. Melki SA, Proano C, Azar DT. Optical Disturbances and their Management after Myopic LASIK. International Ophthalmology Clinics, Winter 2000, 40:1, 45-56.
7. Melki SA, Safar AS, Yaghouti F, Scharper P, Scharper M, Zeligs B, McDowell AL, Goldberg M, Lustbader J. Treatment of Experimental Bacterial Keratitis with Povidone-Iodine. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2000; 238(5): 459-62.
8. Mulroy, LM, Kim J, Wu I, Scharper P, Melki SA, Azar DT, Redmond RW, Kochevar I. Photochemical Keratodesmos (PKD) for Repair of Lamellar Corneal Incisions. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000; 41(11):3335-40.
9. Melki SA, Talamo JH, Demetriades AM, Jabbur NS, Essepian JP, O'Brien TP, Azar DT. Late Traumatic Dislocation of Laser in situ Keratomileusis Corneal Flaps. Ophthalmology. 2000 Dec;107(12):2136-9.
10. Melki SA, Azar DT. LASIK Complications: Etiology, Prevention and Management. Surv Ophthalmol. 2001 Sep-Oct;46(2):95-116. Review
11. Vajpayee RB, Mukerji N, Tandon R, Sharma N, Pandey RM, Biswas NR, Malhotra N, Melki SA. Evaluation of umbilical cord serum therapy for persistent corneal epithelial defects. Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2003: 87, 1312-1316.

1. Melki SA, Regen DM, Abumrad NA. Effect of Norepinephrine and Albumin on Fatty Acid Esterification in the Rat Adipocyte. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASEB). New Orleans, LA. June 1990.
2. Abumrad NA, Forest CD, Regen DM, Barnella US, Melki SA. Metabolism of Oleic Acid in differentiating BFC-1 Preadipose Cells. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASEB). New Orleans, LA. June 1990.
3. Melki SA. Diabetes Decreases the mRNA levels for the Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP) in Rat Adipose Tissue and the Effect is Reversed by Insulin. Graduate Student Research Day, Vanderbilt University. Nashville, TN. January 1991.
4. Melki SA. Regen DM, Abumrad NA. Norepinephrine Does Not Alter Kinetics (Km and Vmax) of Fatty Acid Esterification in Rat Adipocytes. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASEB). Atlanta, GA. April 1991.
5. Melki SA, Perdereau D, Girard J and Abumrad NA. Alterations in mRNA for Fatty Acid Binding Protein (FABP) and for Fatty Acid Synthetase (FAS) in Adipose Tissue from Diabetic Rats. 14th International Diabetes Federation Congress. Washington, DC. June 1991.
6. Melki SA. Lipid Metabolism In Adipocytes: I-Glycerolipid Synthesis; Kinetics and Influence of Norepinephrine. II-Effect of Streptozotocin-Diabetes on Adipose-Specific Gene Expression. Doctoral Dissertation Defense. Vanderbilt University. Nashville, TN. July 1991.
7. Melki SA. Adipocyte Gene Regulation by Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in Severely Diabetic Rats. Microbes and Defense Academic Society. Vanderbilt University. Nashville, TN. February 1992.
8. Melki SA, Chrousos GA, Wagner DG. Mild Diode Laser Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Fort Lauderdale, FL. May 1997.
9. Melki SA, Safar AN, Yaghouti F, Scharper P, Scharper M, Zeligs B, Goldberg M, Lustbader J. Treatment of Experimental Bacterial Keratitis with Povidone-Iodine. Georgetown University Ophthalmology Alumni Day. Washington, DC. June 1997.
10. Melki SA, Safar A, Martin J, Adi M. A Simple Method to Measure Potential Visual acuity in Patients with Cataracts. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). San Diego, CA. April 1998.
11. Safar AN, Melki SA, Adi M. Avoiding Myopic Shift by cutting power of the IOL 1-1.5 D when Implanted in the Ciliary Sulcus. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). San Diego, CA. April 1998.
12. Melki SA, Safar AN, Yaghouti F, Scharper P, Scharper M, Zeligs B, McDowell AL, Goldberg M, Lustbader J. Effect of Povidone-Iodine vs Ofloxacin on Experimental Staphylococcus Keratitis. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).Fort Lauderdale, FL. May 1998.
13. Zeligs BJ, MacDowell-CarneiroAL, Melki SA, Genuardi JA, Bellanti JA. In Vitro Studies of the Extracellular and Intracellular Antimicrobial Activity of Povidone-Iodine, Proceedings of the 38th Annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC). San Diego, CA. September 1998.
14. Melki SA, Safar A, Martin J, Adi M. Potential Acuity Pinhole: A Simple Method to Measure Potential Visual acuity in Patients with Cataracts, Comparison to PAM. American Academy of Ophthalmology. New-Orleans, LA. October 1998.
15. Melki SA, Mulroy L, Scharper P, Redmond R, Kochevar I, Azar DT. Photochemical Tissue Repair of Clear Cornea Incisions. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Fort Lauderdale, FL. May 1999.
16. Melki SA, Talamo JH, Demetriades AM, Jabbur NS, Essepian J, Azar DT. Traumatic Dislocation of LASIK Corneal Flaps. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Orlando, FL. October 1999.
17. Melki SA. LASIK Complications: Analysis of the Literature. ASCRS, Boston, MA. May 2000.
18. Melki SA, Azar DT, Kochevar, Mulroy L, Redmond R. Photochemical Corneal Tissue Bonding in Vivo. ASCRS,Boston, MA. May 2000.
19. Melki SA, Talamo JH, Demetriades AM, Jabbur NS, Essepian J, Azar DT. Traumatic Dislocation of LASIK Corneal Flaps. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery ASCRS, San Diego, CA, April 2001.
20. Melki SA. LASIK Complications: Analysis of the Literature. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.ASCRS, San Diego, CA, April 2001.
21. Nguyen A, Melki SA. Persistent Epithelial Defect after LASIK. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.ASCRS, San Francisco, CA, April 2003.
22. Melki SA, M-LASEK: Minimize alcohol, maximize survival. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.ASCRS, San Francisco, CA, April 2003.
23. Melki SA, M-LASEK: Minimize alcohol, maximize survival. LASEK World Congress. Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland OH, May 2003..
24. Melki SA. Haze-free Surface Ablation, Mitomicin C or LASEK. American University of Beirut. Beirut, Dec 2003
25. Melki SA. Haze-free Surface Ablation, Mitomicin C or LASEK. Georgetown University Medical Center. Washington DC.March 2004.
26. Melki SA. Amaurosis as an indicator of adequate suction during LASIK. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery ASCRS, San Diego, CA, May 2004.
27. Melki SA, Nguyen A. Management of the LASIK Buttonhole. American Academy of Ophthalmology. New Orleans. Oct 2004.
    
    

• 101 Pearls in Refractive Cataract and Corneal Surgery. Melki SA & Azar DT Eds. Slack inc. 2001 (1st ed.) 2006 (2nd ed.)
• Step by Step LASIK Surgery. Vajpayee RB, Sullivan L, Melki SA, Sharma N. Eds. Jaypee, 2003
• M-LASEK: Minimize alcohol, Maximize Survival. ASCRS Video Festival. San Francisco CA April 2003.
• The LASIK Buttonhole or the Bermuda Triangle. ASCRS Video Festival. San Diego CA May 2004.
• Management of the LASIK Buttonhole. Video. American Academy of Ophthalmology. New Orleans. Oct 2004.
  
  

1. Melki SA. Patient Selection key to Good PTK Outcomes. Ophthalmology Times, Feb 1999.
2. Melki SA. PRK Pain Has Physical, Emotional Sides. Ophthalmology Times, Feb 1999.
3. Melki SA. Strategies Offer Hope for Management of Haze, Scars. Ophthalmology Times, Feb 1999.
4. Melki SA. High Accuracy Key in Avoiding Clear Lens Complications. Ophthalmology Times, Feb 1999.
5. Melki SA. 7 Pearls Can Help Avoid LASIK Complications. Ophthalmology Times, Mar 1999.
6. Melki SA. What Causes LASIK Flap Problems, How to Correct them. Ophthalmology Times, May 1999.
7. Melki SA and Azar DT. Secondary Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses: Bag and Sulcus Fixation. In Intraocular Lenses In Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Azar DT Ed., W.B. Saunders Publishing, 2001
8. Vajpayee RB, Melki SA, Sharma N. Technique of Penetrating Keratoplasty. In Corneal Transplantation. Vajpayee RB Ed. Jaypee publishing, 2002.
9. Roque MR, Melki SA, Azar DA, Yeung E. Management of Flap Complications in LASIK. In LASIK: Fundamentals, Surgical Techniques and Complications. Azar DA, Koch DD Eds. Marcel Dekker publishing. 2003.
10. Khan B, Nguyen A, Melki SA. LASIK postoperative Complications. In Step by Step LASIK Surgery. Vajpayee RB Ed. Jaypee publishing, 2003.
11. Melki SA. A string of Lasik pearls. Review of Ophthalmology. April 2004
12. The Case for the Large Lasik Flap. Ocular Surgery News
    
    

Harvard Medical School, Course tutoring.

New England School of Optometry. Student tutoring in clinic.

Fixing the LASIK Flap. European Cataract and Refractive Society. Paris 2004. Senior Instructor in a 2-hr Instructional course

101 Pearls in Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery. American Academy of Ophthalmology (New Orleans, 2001, Orlando 2002). American Society of Refractive and Cataract Surgery Meeting. (Boston, 2000, San Diego 2001, Philadelphia 2002, San Francisco 2003, San Diego 2004, Washington DC 2005, San Francisco 2006)

Senior Instructor in a 2-hr course adapted from the book with the same title.


Preoperative assessment in Refractive Surgery. Optometry EyeSaver conference. Boston, MA January 2004.

Surface ablation in Refractive Surgery. Optometry EyeSaver conference. Boston, MA January 2004.

Refractive Surgery Co-management Course. For Eyes Optical. Boston MA. May 2001.

LASIK Controversies. American Society of Refractive and Cataract Surgery Meeting. (Boston, 2000)

Participant in a 2-hr course on the latest controversial issues in LASIK surgery.


Introduction to Anterior Segment Surgery. Georgetown University (February 1998)

A 3-hr didactic course to first and second-year residents to introduce them to the pearls and pitfalls of a starting anterior segment surgeon.


Ophthalmology Skills Transfer for First Year Residents. Georgetown University (July 1997)

Established an 8-hour introductory practical course for incoming ophthalmology residents to guide them through the transition into their first year.

• International Society of Refractive Surgery (1999- )
• American Academy of Ophthalmology (1995- )
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (1995- )
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (1996- )
• Vanderbilt Alumni Recruitment Committee (1995-1996)
• American Medical Student Association (AMSA), regional coordinator for the International Health Task Force (1992-93)
• International Health Committee (Vanderbilt, 1991-92)
  
  

• DSAEK
• Crystalens, ReSTOR Presbyopic IOLs
• Verisyse phakic IOL
• Implantable Staar Contact Lens
• Intralase Certification
• American Board of Ophthalmology (Board Certified, Nov 1999)
• VISX Laser Certification
• Bausch & Lomb Laser Certification
• Summit Technologies PRK Certification
• Chiron C-LASIK Microkeratome Certification
• Micro-MBA Course. American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators