Priyanka Kumar, MD

Priyanka Kumar, MD, is a pediatric ophthalmologist and attending surgeon in the Division of Ophthalmology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Dr. Kumar has a special interest in retinopathy of prematurity, strabismus in adults and children, amblyopia, anterior segment surgery, pediatric ocular trauma, and surgical and non-surgical management of pediatric cornea and ocular surface abnormalities.
She was drawn to ophthalmology because of the “beauty and complexity of the eye and the importance of vision on our quality of life,” Dr. Kumar says.
Working with children is especially fulfilling, in part because of their constantly evolving and dynamic visual systems, she says.
“This has its own unique challenges, but we have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the quality of life for each and every child, and in some cases, this is literally the difference between a non-seeing eye or eyes, versus a lifetime of functional vision.”
Along with her work at CHOP, Dr. Kumar is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Kumar is enthusiastic about the drive within the field for constant innovation and progress, both in technology and the practice of evidence-based medicine. Gene therapeutics and innovations with laser therapies and other surgical techniques hold great promise, she says.
MD - The Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Medicine - Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, CA
Ophthalmology - Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus - Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Attending Physician
Assistant Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Kumar P, Lambert SR. 2015. Evaluating the evidence for and against the use of IOLs in Infants and Young Children. Expert Review of Medical Devices. 2016. 13(4): 381-9.
Kumar P, Lambert SR. Referral basis for infantile cataracts. Poster presented at: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. 2016 May 1-5; Seattle, WA.
Kumar P, Lambert SR. Long-term follow-up after vertical muscle surgery to correct abnormal vertical head posture. Poster presented at: American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) Annual Meeting. 2016 April 6-10; Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Kumar P, Sharma S, Baynes K, Kaiser PK, Lowder CY, Srivastava SK. Analysis of Anterior Chamber Inflammation in Pediatric Uveitis by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. Poster presented at: Uveitis. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. 2015 May 5-9; Denver, CO, USA.
Kumar P, Shaikh A, Ghasia F. Distinctive features of microsaccades in amblyopia and refractive blur. Poster presented at: American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) Annual Meeting. 2015 March 25-29; New Orleans, LA, USA.
Kumar P, Sears J. Surgical management of choroidal coloboma and morning glory associated retinal detachment. Poster presented at: Retinal detachment and allied disease. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. 2014 May 4-8; Orlando, FL, USA.
2010, Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Medical Society, Pritzker School of Medicine
2010, Gold Humanism Honor Society, Pritzker School of Medicine
2008, Keith Edson Scholar, Pritzker School of Medicine
2007, Accelerated Medical Scholars Program (AMSP) Scholar, Pritzker School of Medicine
2007, Student Marshal, The University of Chicago
2006, Maroon Key Society Member, The University of Chicago
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) Honor Medical Society (AOA)
Gold Humanism Honor Society