Dr. Russell Vangelder

Dr. Russell N. Van Gelder is a board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in uveitis and ocular inflammatory disease, including conditions such as iritis, pars planitis, retinitis, choroiditis, and scleritis, as well as medical retinal disease. He provides patient care at the Eye Institute at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Dr. Van Gelder's approach is guided by his philosophy of giving each patient the care he would give his own family, applying the best scientific evidence and most appropriate treatments, and helping patients make well-informed medical decisions.

Dr. Van Gelder completed his residency in ophthalmology at Washington University and a fellowship in uveitis and medical retina at the Barnes Retina Institute. He is the Boyd K. Bucey Memorial Chair and Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Van Gelder leads a research laboratory focused on understanding the mechanisms of uveitic disease, including discovery of novel pathogens and the role of auto-antibodies in uveitis, as well as non-visual photoreception. He is an active clinician-scientist who sees patients with ocular inflammatory disease and divides his time among clinical care, research, teaching, and administrative duties.