Michael Carper joined Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine in August as a clinical instructor. A neuro-ophthalmologist, he sees patients at Wilmer’s East Baltimore, Green Spring Station and Frederick locations.

What attracted you to the field of ophthalmology?

I have always been fascinated by the eye and the visual system. While my training was in neurology, I continued to be drawn to patients with neuro-ophthalmic conditions and found immense fulfillment in providing care to help restore vision.

How did you become interested in your specialty?

I find vision and the movement of the eyes complex and fascinating. I find learning about this and the diseases of the eyes to be academically stimulating and rewarding. There is high reliance on the physical exam as well as puzzle-solving in order to diagnose conditions.

What drew you to Wilmer?

I’m attracted to the variety and complexity of pathology seen, as well as Wilmer’s robust neuro-ophthalmology and ophthalmology departments. I appreciate the collegiate atmosphere of the physicians who practice here, as well as their ample support for clinical research.

What are you working on right now and how will it contribute to the advancement of ophthalmology?

I am in the process of analyzing data regarding idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in the setting of cerebrospinal fluid leak. Understanding how and why IIH occurs could help us identify potential predictors to screen and diagnose IIH earlier.

Where do you see opportunities for advancement or innovation in your specialty?

Presently, there is a lot of interest in two common diseases that we see — non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and Leber hereditary optic neuropathy — for which there are currently no acute or long-term therapies available. Gene therapy and novel treatments are being investigated for both, and I’m hopeful that we will be able to improve vision for patients with these conditions.