Dr. Hema Ramkumar was born and raised in Los Angeles. She completed her undergraduate education at Northwestern University with dual degrees in Developmental Neurosciences and International Studies with Honors. She obtained her medical degree at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine with Honors in Research. During medical school she received the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholarship at the National Eye Institute. Dr. Ramkumar selected the University of California, San Diego to complete her residency where she received the resident research award and was selected by peers and faculty to serve as Chief Resident. She completed sub specialty fellowship training in vitreoretinal surgery at Shiley Eye Institute and Jacobs Retina Center at UCSD, where she received the Thrasher Foundation Early Career Award.
She is a specialist in macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, complex retinal tears and detachments, floaters, ocular inflammation, macular holes, and retinal imaging. Her training also included the treatment of intraocular tumors, complex uveitis, inherited retinal diseases, and pediatric retinal diseases.
In addition to her clinical interests, Dr. Ramkumar has an extensive background in retinal research. She has over ten years of research experience investigating molecular causes, vitamin combinations, retinal imaging, and treatments for macular degeneration. Dr. Ramkumar has been published in over 30 peer reviewed articles in the top journals in the field and presented at numerous national and international meetings. As a reviewer of the most important peer-reviewed retinal journals and active investigator of clinical trials, Dr. Ramkumar critically evaluates and offers her patients the latest technology and advanced treatments. She is the principal investigator in grant-funded clinical trials evaluating omega-3 fatty acid metabolism in retinal diseases, retinal imaging technologies, and new macular degeneration treatments.
Dr. Ramkumar is a Diplomat of the American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and member of societies including the American Society of Retina Specialists and Orange County Society of Ophthalmology, Women in Ophthalmology, and Women in Retina. She is fluent in Spanish, Hindi, and Tamil, in addition to English. She is a wife and mother of two daughters. Her other interests include dancing, traveling, music, and hiking.
Specialties:
Macular Degeneration | Diabetic Retinopathy | Complex Retinal Tears & Detachments | Floaters | Ocular Inflammation | Macular Holes | Retinal Imaging
Scholarly Bibliography: Publications by Dr. Ramkumar
Publications
Ramkumar HL, Nguyen B, Bartsch D, Saunders L, Muftuoglu IK, You Q, Freeman WR. Reduced ganglion cell volume on optical coherence tomography in patients with geographic atrophy. In press, Retina 2017.
Verma R. Chen K, Ramkumar HL, Goldbaum M, Shields C. Optic Nerve Head Problem. Survey of Ophthalmology. In press, 2017.
Muftuoglu IK, Ramkumar HL, Bartsch DU, Meshi A, Gaber R, Freeman WR. QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE INNER RETINAL LAYER THICKNESSES IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION USING CORRECTED OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SEGMENTATION. Retina. 2017 Jun 23.
Reply. Muftuoglu IK, Alam M, You QS, Gaber R, Ramkumar HL, Mendoza N, Meshi A, Freeman WR. Retina. 2017 Sep;37(9):e110-e112. PMID:28820853 PMID: 28650925
You QS, Gaber R, Meshi A, Ramkumar HL, Alam M, Muftuoglu IK, Freeman WR. HIGH-DOSE HIGH-FREQUENCY AFLIBERCEPT FOR RECALCITRANT NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION. Retina. 2017 Jun 9. PMID: 28604541
Muftuoglu IK, Alam M, You QS, Gaber R, Ramkumar HL, Mendoza N, Meshi A, Freeman WR. LONG-TERM REMISSION OF NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION WITH AS-NEEDED ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY. Retina. 2017 Feb 17.
Ramkumar HL, Gudiseva HV, Suk, Kishaba KK, Suk J, Verma R, Tadimeti K, Thorson J, Ayyagari, R. “A Report on Molecular Diagnostic Testing for Inherited Retinal Dystrophies by Targeted Genetic Analyses” Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, Vol 21(2):1-8. 2017
Espina M, FF Tsai, HL Ramkumar, M Alam, Q You, N Mendoza, WR Freeman. “Sutured versus sutureless sclerotomies after 25 gauge vitrectomy.” Accepted, Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology, 2016.
Verma R, Ramkumar HL, Balu A, Grob S, Luo J, Zhao L, Zhang K, Granet DB. X-Linked Idiopathic Infantile Nystagmus (XLIIN): case report and review of literature. In Press, Current Ophthalmology Reports 2016.
Ramkumar HL, R Verma, H Ferreyra, SL Robbins. “Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer; (RNFL): A Comprehensive Review.” Accepted, International Ophthalmology Clinics 2016.
Ramkumar HL, Verma R, Crow J, Robbins S, Granet DB, Sheldon CA, Henretig FM, Liu GT. “A baby with a lot of nerve” Survey of Ophthalmology, Jul-Aug;61(4):506-11.
Ramkumar HL, Khatibi A, Freeman WR, Barteselli G, Ezon IC, Amini P, Sharpsten L, Arcinue CA, Nezgoda JT, Ferreyra HA, Goldbaum MH. “Visual Phenomena Perceived during Pars Plana Vitrectomy under Peribulbar Block and Monitored Anesthesia Care” British Journal of Ophthalmology, 2015 Sept 17.
Ramkumar HL, Kumar U, Epley D, Karth PA, and Shah VA. “Electroretinogram” American Academy of Ophthalmology. EyeWiki. 2014
Ramkumar HL, Karth PA, and Shah VA. “Electrooculogram” American Academy of Ophthalmology. EyeWiki. 2014
Ramkumar HL, Epley KD, Leng T, and Robbins S. “Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer” American Academy of Ophthalmology. EyeWiki. 2013
Ramkumar HL and Savino, PJ. “A novel mutation in a case of dominant optic atrophy?” Indian J Ophthalmol. 2014 Oct;62(10):1034-6.
Ramkumar HL and Savino, PJ. “Toxic Optic Neuropathy: An unusual case. ” Indian J Ophthalmol. 2014 Oct;62(10):1036-9.
Rao AA, Naheedy JH, Chem JY, Robbins SL, Ramkumar HL “A Clinical Update and Radiologic Review of Pediatric Orbital and Ocular Tumors”. Journal of Oncology, vol. 2013, Article ID 975908, 22 pages, 2013.
Ramkumar HL, Shen DF, Tuo J, Zhang J, Chew EY, and Chan CC. Nutrient supplementation with n-3, lutein, and zeaxanthin decrease A2E accumulation and VEGF expression in the retinas of Ccl2 /Cx3cr1 deficient mice on Crb1rd8 background” J Nutr. 2013 Jul;143(7):1129-35. doi: 10.3945/jn.112.169649. Epub 2013 May 15.
Ramkumar HL, Shen de F, Tuo J, Braziel RM, Coupland SE, Smith JR, Chan CC. IL-10 -1082 SNP and IL-10 in primary CNS and vitreoretinal lymphomas. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2012 Oct; 250(10):1541-8. Epub 2012 May 25. PMID: 22628023
Cao X, Ursea R, Shen D, Ramkumar HL, Chan CC. Hypocellular scar formation or aberrant fibrosis induced by an intrastromal corneal ring: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011 Aug 19;5:398. PMID: 21854565
Ramkumar HL, Brooks BP, Cao X, Tamura D, Digiovanna JJ, Kraemer KH, Chan CC. Ophthalmic manifestations and histopathology of xeroderma pigmentosum: two clinicopathological cases and a review of the literature. Surv Ophthalmol. 2011 Jul-Aug;56(4):348-61. Review. PMID: 21684361
Ramkumar HL, Zhang J, Chan CC. Retinal ultrastructure of murine models of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Prog Retin Eye Res. 2010 May;29(3):169-90. Epub 2010 Mar 3. Review. PMID: 20206286
Ramkumar H, Ahmed SM, Syed E, Tuazon J. Horseshoe kidney in an 80-year-old with chronic kidney disease. ScientificWorldJournal. 2009 Dec 16;9:1346-7. PMID: 20024508.
Ramkumar H, Basti S. Reversal of bilateral rosette cataracts with glycemic control. ScientificWorldJournal. 2008 Nov 19;8:1150-1. PMID: 19030758.
Krishnakumar S, Mohan A, Kandalam M, Ramkumar HL, Venkatesan N, Das RR. SRPK1: a cisplatin-sensitive protein expressed in retinoblastoma. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008 Feb;50(2):402-6. PMID: 17091485.
Adithi M, Kandalam M, Ramkumar HL, Subramanian A, Venkatesan N, Krishnakumar S. Retinoblastoma: expression of HLA-G. Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2006. Aug;14(4):207-13. PMID: 16911982.
Mohan A, Kandalam M, Ramkumar HL, Gopal L, Krishnakumar S. Stem cell markers: ABCG2 and MCM2 expression in retinoblastoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 2006 Jul;90(7):889-93. Epub 2006 Mar 23. PMID: 16556617.
Fawzi AA, Vo B, Kriwanek R, Ramkumar HL, Cha C, Carts A, Heckenlively JR, Foos RY, Glasgow BJ. Asteroid hyalosis in an autopsy population: The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) experience. Arch Ophthalmol. 2005 Apr;123(4):486-90. PMID: 15824221.
Poster and Paper Presentations
Greater Retinal Areas Examined In Optos Ultra-Widefield Retinal Images Than In Dilated Fundoscopic Exam For Pediatric Patients | Ramkumar HL, Koduri MP, Conger P, Robbins SL, Granet D, Freeman WR, Nudleman E.; Poster at the American Society of Retinal Surgeons Annual meeting, 2017
Increased Omega-6 Fatty Acid Concentrations in Preterm San Diego Infants | Koduri MP, Ramkumar HL, Kim J, Metallo C, Quehenberger O, Robbins S. Paper at to North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, 2017.
Reduced Ganglion cell volumetric assessment by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in patients with geographic atrophy. | Ramkumar HL, You Q, Bartsch D, Freeman WR. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2016 Poster
Vessels segmentation in color retinal images using ensemble of bagged decision trees and patched based principle component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. | Shahrian EV, Yousefi S, Mozayan, A, Ramkumar HL, Nezgoda JT, Bowd C, Medeiros FA, Zangwill LM, Weinreb RN, Goldbaum, MH. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2015 Poster
Application of Leung-Malik filters for vessel delineation in retinal images | Shahrian EV, Yousefi S, Belghith, A, Bowd C, Nezgoda, JT, Ramkumar HL, Medeiros FA, Zangwill LM, Weinreb RN, Goldbaum, MH. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Imaging 2015 Submitted as poster
Indication of Genetic Heterogeneity in Foveal Hypoplasia. | H.L. Ramkumar, J. Suk, P. Biswas, H. Ferreyra, S. Robbins, R. Ayyagari. Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium 2014. Poster
Patient Experience and Comfort during Vitrectomy Surgery with Monitored Anesthesia Care. | H.L. Ramkumar, A. Khatibi, I. Ezon, C. Arcinue, G. Barteselli, J.T. Nezgoda, W.R. Freeman, M. Goldbaum. International Society for Eye Research (ISER) XXI Biennial meeting 2014. Poster.
A Challenging Case of Bilateral Cryptophthalmos | Lee, H.L. Ramkumar American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2014 ASOPRS Spring Symposium. Poster
Visual Phenomenon Perceived during Vitrectomy Surgery with MAC Anesthesia | H.L. Ramkumar, A. Khatibi, I. Ezon, C. Arcinue, G. Barteselli, J.T. Nezgoda, W.R. Freeman, M. Goldbaum. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2014 Paper.
Nutrient Supplementation Improves Retinal Lesions of Ccl2 /Cx3cr1 Deficient Mice. | H.L. Ramkumar, J. Tuo, D. Shen, J. Zhang, X.-G. Cao, E.Y. Chew, C.-C. Chan. Poster; Presentation. ARVO Annual Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2011
The IL-10-1082 SNP and IL-10 and PDCD4 Expression in CNS and Retinal Lymphoma | H.L. Ramkumar, D. Shen, J. Tuo, J.R. Smith, S.E. Copland, C.C. Chan; Paper presentation; ARVO Annual Conference, May 2010; Howard Hughes Medical Institute Chevy Chase, MD May 2010
Cytokine Expression in Inflammatory Cells of Non-Infectious Uveitis | Shen, H. Ramkumar, X. Cao, J. Tuo, C.-C. Chan. Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Inst/NIH, Bethesda, MD. ARVO Annual Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2010
The Protective Role of Epigenetic Modulation against Oxidative Stress in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium | HL Ramkumar, G Dimri; Poster Presentation on Medical Student Summer Research Fellow Day; October 2008
Expression of Serine/Arginine-Rich Protein Specific Kinase 1 (SRPK1) in Retinoblastoma | Mohan, M. Kandalam, HL Ramkumar, L. Gopal, S. Krishnakumar; Poster Presentation at the ARVO Annual Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2006
Stem Cell Markers: ABCG2 and MCM2 Expression in Retinoblastoma | HL Ramkumar, S. Krishnakumar, Poster Presentation at the Chicago Area Undergraduate Research Symposium (CAURS) April 2006
