Meet Dr. Elena Bitrian

Dr. Elena Bitrian is a board-certified glaucoma specialist who cares for both adults and children, with a particular focus on pediatric glaucoma. An associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, she is an integral member of the Samuel & Ethel Balkan International Pediatric Glaucoma Center. Dr. Bitrian combines deep surgical expertise with a warm, bilingual bedside manner, guiding families through diagnosis, medical therapy, laser options, and complex operations when needed. Her research centers on the epidemiology of glaucoma and advances in surgical techniques, and she teaches and mentors the next generation of glaucoma specialists. Dr. Bitrian earned her medical degree and two master’s degrees at the University of Barcelona, completed ophthalmology residencies at Hospital Clinic de Barcelona and the University of Minnesota, and pursued glaucoma fellowship training at UCLA’s Jules Stein Eye Institute. Before joining Bascom Palmer, she provided care for adults and children with glaucoma at Mayo Clinic. She welcomes patients across the age spectrum and partners closely with a multidisciplinary team to protect vision for the long term.