Aziz A. Khanifar, M.D.

Retina Specialist & Vitreoretinal Surgeon

Fellowship
Duke Eye Center
Weill Cornell Medical College

Residency
Vanderbilt Eye Institute

“It’s equally important to follow and absorb the science—and listen to and devote sufficient time and attention to the patient. One ensures you’re providing the best possible medical care while the other is essential to developing the sort of relationship that promotes good communication and helps facilitate the best possible outcome.”

After earning a Bachelor of Engineering degree (with honors) at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Khanifar attended the University of Southern California where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree. He continued his post-doctoral training with an internship in Internal Medicine at Los Angeles County General Hospital, a residency in Ophthalmology at Vanderbilt Eye Institute, a fellowship in Medical Retina and Research at Duke Eye Center and a fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. Through a NIH-sponsored K30 award, he also earned a Certificate in Clinical Investigation from the Clinical & Translational Science Center at Weill Cornell. Prior to joining RGW, he completed a fellowship at Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México (APEC/Assoc. to Prevent Blindness in Mexico) through the Paul Kayser International Travel Scholar Award given by the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology.

Dr. Khanifar, the only full-time Hispanic retinal surgeon in the D.C. area, is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. He is a member of national and international professional societies and organizations and is conversant in Spanish.

Based on his research interests in retinal imaging and age-related macular degeneration, Dr. Khanifar is a leading presenter at national and international meetings. He has authored a number of articles, book chapters and other works, and serves as a reviewer for the journals Retina and Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus. He is held in the highest regard by his medical colleagues, having been chosen one of the area’s top ophthalmologists in the annual Washingtonian “Top Doctors” rankings by his peers.

Media Appearances & Activities/Accomplishments

Dr. Aziz A. Khanifar Recently Completed His Annual Update to a “Retinal Vein Occlusion Point of Care” Module That Can Be Found On Epocrates.com

Dr. Aziz A. Khanifar recently completed his annual update to a “Retinal Vein Occlusion Point of Care” module that can be found on Epocrates.com (https://online.epocrates.com/u/2911959/Retinal+vein+occlusion/Summary/Highlights). This is the most comprehensive update prepared since the module was initially written in 2008, primarily because the more accepted treatment for RVO is now intravitreal therapy with several different anti-VEGF agents. It provides a summary of signs, symptoms, diagnostic approaches and available treatment modalities for both branch and central vein occlusion.

Dr. Aziz A. Khanifar co-authors “Techniques to treat Macular Pucker” Article in April 2013 Retina Today

Dr. Aziz A. Khanifar co-authored an article in the April 2013 Retina Today entitled “Epiretinal Membrane Management.” The piece presented his criteria for determining if a patient is a good candidate for surgery, whether to use an angiogram in addition to Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and his preferred surgical approach.

Dr. Aziz Khanifar Appears Live on WUSA-CH. 9 News Show In Conjunction with International AMD Awareness Week

Dr. Aziz A. Khanifar made a live appearance on WUSA-TV’s “9 News Now at 5 p.m.” in conjunction with International AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) Awareness Week. Dr. Khanifar did an interview with the station’s anchor/health reporter, Anita Brikman, explaining the disease and discussing the new medications and treatments, including the Implantable Telescope.

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