About

Christopher D. Conrady is a clinician-researcher specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of uveitis and other infectious and inflammatory eye diseases. He provides medical and surgical treatment of retinal diseases, including retinal detachments, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and dislocated intraocular lenses. Dr. Conrady earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and completed a residency at the University of Utah School of Medicine and John A. Moran Eye Center. He completed a uveitis fellowship at the Moran Eye Center before heading to the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center for a surgical retina fellowship, where he trained in repairing retinal detachments and dislocated lenses, as well as managing intraocular infections and lymphoma. Previously, he held a clinical and research faculty appointment at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, earning awards for his research and being elected to prestigious societies such as the Retina Society. At the University of Utah, he serves as principal investigator for a laboratory studying inflammatory eye diseases, including acute retinal necrosis, a blinding herpes virus infection of the retina. His research interests include understanding the genetic predisposition and immune responses to viral infections of the retina to identify therapeutic targets and improve visual outcomes. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and serves as a reviewer for scientific journals, as well as a writer for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Research topics

• Ophthalmology
• Medicine
• Virology
• Internal medicine
• Neuroscience
• Pathology
• Intensive care medicine
• Biology
• Pharmacology
• Surgery

Selected publications

• Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Chronic Syphilitic Uveitis

  Ocular Immunology and Inflammation · 2026-02-12

  article

  PURPOSE: To investigate clinical features and identify risk factors associated with chronic syphilitic uveitis. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients diagnosed with syphilitic uveitis at the University of Illinois Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center between January 2015 and July 2024. Patients aged 18+ with syphilitic uveitis and at least 3 post-penicillin treatment follow-ups were included. Chronic uveitis was defined as inflammation persisting longer than 3 months or recurring within 3 months post-treatment. RESULTS: = 0.036, respectively). CONCLUSION: CME is significantly associated with the development of chronic syphilitic uveitis. Patients with worse presenting visual acuity and longer symptom duration prior to treatment may be at higher risk. These findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and prompt management in preventing chronic inflammation and preserving visual outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Chronic Syphilitic Uveitis

  Figshare · 2026-02-12

  articleOpen access

  To investigate clinical features and identify risk factors associated with chronic syphilitic uveitis. A retrospective chart review was performed of patients diagnosed with syphilitic uveitis at the University of Illinois Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center between January 2015 and July 2024. Patients aged 18+ with syphilitic uveitis and at least 3 post-penicillin treatment follow-ups were included. Chronic uveitis was defined as inflammation persisting longer than 3 months or recurring within 3 months post-treatment. Of 74 patients with syphilitic uveitis (mean age 46.7 years, 71.6% male), 54 patients had sufficient follow-up. Of these patients, 20 (37%) patients developed chronic uveitis, with panuveitis being the most common presentation (50%). The chronic group had significantly longer mean symptom duration before treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.006), worse visual acuity at diagnosis (<i>p</i> = 0.023), and higher rate of cystoid macular edema (CME) at diagnosis (<i>p</i> = 0.004) compared to the non-chronic group. Univariate analysis confirmed that CME (<i>p</i> = 0.007) and longer symptom duration (<i>p</i> = 0.002) correlated significantly with chronic uveitis. Multivariate analysis identified CME and longer symptom duration prior to treatment as significantly correlated with chronic uveitis (<i>p</i> = 0.043 and <i>p</i> = 0.036, respectively). CME is significantly associated with the development of chronic syphilitic uveitis. Patients with worse presenting visual acuity and longer symptom duration prior to treatment may be at higher risk. These findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and prompt management in preventing chronic inflammation and preserving visual outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Understanding the pathogenesis of uveitis in Ebola virus disease survivors: an observational cohort and cross-sectional study protocol for clinical, molecular virologic and immunologic characterisation

  UNC Libraries · 2026-01-06

  articleOpen access

  INTRODUCTION: The 2013-2016 Western African outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD), the largest recorded outbreak since the discovery of Ebola virus (EBOV) in 1976, destabilised local health systems and left thousands of survivors at risk for postacute sequelae, including vision-threatening uveitis. In an EVD survivor with severe panuveitis, the detection of persistent EBOV in the aqueous humour, long after clearance of acute viremia, focused clinical and research attention on the host-EBOV interaction in the unique terrain of ocular immune privilege. Despite the recognition that uveitis is common and consequential in EVD survivors, our understanding of pathogenesis is extremely limited, including the contributions of viral persistence and ocular-specific and systemic immune responses to disease expression. In this study protocol, we outline a multifaceted approach to characterise EVD-associated intraocular inflammation, including the clinical phenotype and complications; the presence of EBOV (or EBOV RNA/antigen) in ocular fluids and tissues; and associated local ocular-specific and peripheral immune responses. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We use an observational cohort design, which includes EVD survivors and close contacts of EVD survivors (ie, no documented history of EVD), and we propose disease (clinical examination and imaging), as well as molecular, virologic and immunologic characterisation, to meet research objectives. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has received Institutional Review Board approval from University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Emory University and Sierra Leone Ministry of Health. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.

  PublisherDOI

• Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Chronic Syphilitic Uveitis

  Open MIND · 2026-02-12

  article

  To investigate clinical features and identify risk factors associated with chronic syphilitic uveitis. A retrospective chart review was performed of patients diagnosed with syphilitic uveitis at the University of Illinois Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center between January 2015 and July 2024. Patients aged 18+ with syphilitic uveitis and at least 3 post-penicillin treatment follow-ups were included. Chronic uveitis was defined as inflammation persisting longer than 3 months or recurring within 3 months post-treatment. Of 74 patients with syphilitic uveitis (mean age 46.7 years, 71.6% male), 54 patients had sufficient follow-up. Of these patients, 20 (37%) patients developed chronic uveitis, with panuveitis being the most common presentation (50%). The chronic group had significantly longer mean symptom duration before treatment (<i>p</i> = 0.006), worse visual acuity at diagnosis (<i>p</i> = 0.023), and higher rate of cystoid macular edema (CME) at diagnosis (<i>p</i> = 0.004) compared to the non-chronic group. Univariate analysis confirmed that CME (<i>p</i> = 0.007) and longer symptom duration (<i>p</i> = 0.002) correlated significantly with chronic uveitis. Multivariate analysis identified CME and longer symptom duration prior to treatment as significantly correlated with chronic uveitis (<i>p</i> = 0.043 and <i>p</i> = 0.036, respectively). CME is significantly associated with the development of chronic syphilitic uveitis. Patients with worse presenting visual acuity and longer symptom duration prior to treatment may be at higher risk. These findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and prompt management in preventing chronic inflammation and preserving visual outcomes.

  DOI

• Time to Revisit the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study: Areas for Improvement in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Endophthalmitis

  Ophthalmology · 2026-05-20

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Suprachoroidal Triamcinolone Acetonide for the Treatment of Refractory Macular Edema Secondary to Non-Infectious Uveitis

  Research Square · 2025-10-26

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Pathogen-Associated Visual Outcomes Following Postprocedure Endophthalmitis

  American Journal of Ophthalmology · 2025-11-28 · 3 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Inflammation and Occlusive Retinal Vasculitis Post Faricimab

  JAMA Ophthalmology · 2025-01-23 · 14 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Importance: Randomized clinical trials have shown the safety and efficacy of faricimab as a novel vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin-2 inhibitor in the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and macular edema of various etiologies. However, more rare adverse events may not be considered in clinical trials. Objective: To describe 3 eyes that developed irreversible vision loss following initial mild intraocular inflammation (IOI) to faricimab. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective case series from a single academic tertiary referral center (University of Nebraska Medical Center) from October 2023 to August 2024 included 3 patients who developed occlusive retinal vasculitis (ORV) following an initial sensitization with intravitreal faricimab. Two eyes were being treated with faricimab for nAMD, and the other 2 eyes were treated for diabetic macular edema. Intervention: Patients exposed to faricimab after the prior development of mild IOI. Main Outcomes and Measures: Clinical symptoms, signs, and clinical course of patients who were diagnosed with ORV following rechallenge with faricimab. Results: Mild IOI developed in 4 eyes following faricimab, and ORV developed in 3 eyes with repeated challenge. This resulted in profound, irreversible vision loss, despite treatment with topical and systemic steroids. In the eye that did not develop ORV following rechallenge, there have been no repeated adverse events despite restarting intravitreal faricimab injections. Conclusions and Relevance: Given these observations with repeated challenge, caution is advisable when using the same biologic after the development of even mild IOI with prior injection. It appears an immunological memory response is elicited with these repeated exposures, resulting in the development of ORV.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Emerging Ocular Pathogen Resistance and Clinically Used Solutions: A Problem That Is More than Meets the Eye

  Pharmaceuticals · 2025-12-23 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Background/Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in ocular infections has become a serious concern with major implications for vision preservation. Bacterial AMR contributed to 4.71 million deaths worldwide in 2021, and ophthalmology mirrors these trends with multidrug resistance rates as high as 66% documented in some regions and persistently high methicillin resistance among common ocular pathogens. Across regions and care settings, traditional empiric therapies are losing effectiveness against an expanding range of pathogens, resulting in slower recovery, more complications, and, in many cases, permanent vision loss. This review aims to synthesize recent clinical, microbiologic, and pharmacologic evidence on ocular AMR, focusing on recent studies to capture current resistance patterns, therapeutic challenges, and evolving management strategies. Methods: Most included papers were published between 2020 and 2025, with additional foundational studies referenced where appropriate. Reports and systematic reviews addressing bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic ocular pathogens were evaluated to characterize current resistance mechanisms and management strategies across ocular pathogens. Results: The eye’s anatomic and physiologic barriers limit drug penetration, often promoting resistance and reducing therapeutic efficacy. Resistance mechanisms vary by pathogens; Pseudomonas keratitis is driven mainly by efflux pumps and biofilm formation, while CMV retinitis’ mutations in UL97 and UL54 are linked with clinical failure, and in MRSA associated Staphylococcus keratitis, the presence of mecA necessitates vancomycin-based therapy across bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, with mechanisms such as β-lactamase production, efflux pump overexpression, target-site mutation, and biofilm formation contributing to poor response to standard therapy. MDR Pseudomonas keratitis remains the leading cause of rapidly progressive corneal infection with high risk of perforation and vision loss, while resistant CMV retinitis continues to threaten sight in immunocompromised patients despite antiviral advances. MDR organisms are recalcitrant to treatment and may lead to longer treatment courses and potentially worse outcomes and are discussed in detail within the manuscript. Conclusions: Ocular AMR represents an urgent and expanding clinical challenge. This review centers on the two most encountered multidrug-resistant organisms and their corresponding ocular sites, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (anterior segment) and CMV (posterior segment), while contextualizing them within the broader spectrum of resistant bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens. Despite growing awareness of AMR in ophthalmology, comprehensive surveillance data and longitudinal epidemiologic studies remain limited, making it difficult to track evolving resistance trends or guide region-specific therapy. Preserving vision in the AMR era will require faster diagnostics, improved ocular drug-delivery systems, and pathogen-specific therapies.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Use of Bibliometrics for Evaluating Research Impact

  American Journal of Ophthalmology · 2025-11-22

  article
  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Innate Immunity to Viral Infection of the Retina

  NIH · $708k · 2025–2028

Frequent coauthors

• Daniel J.J. Carr

  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

  23 shared

• Steven Yeh

  University of Nebraska Medical Center

  16 shared

• Albert T. Vitale

  11 shared

• Akbar Shakoor

  10 shared

• Min Zheng

  Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

  9 shared

• Rajesh C. Rao

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  8 shared

• Paul S. Bernstein

  University of Utah

  7 shared

• Cagri G. Besirli

  University of Michigan–Ann Arbor

  7 shared

Education

• M.D.

  University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

• Other

  University of Utah School of Medicine and John A. Moran Eye Center

• Other, Uveitis

  Moran Eye Center

• Other, Surgical Retina

  University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center

Awards & honors

• New Investigator Award
• Physician-Scientist Award
• Council of Vision Editors Fellowship
• Retina Society