About

Victoria M. Addis, MD, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all stages of glaucoma, utilizing the latest medical, laser, and surgical therapies. Dr. Addis cares for patients at the Scheie Eye Institute and holds attending physician roles at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. She serves as the Residency Program Director for the Department of Ophthalmology and is Co-Director of the Measey Surgical Skills Center at the Widener Library. Her research interests include early glaucoma diagnosis, diagnostic techniques for monitoring glaucoma, and medical and surgical therapies for glaucoma. She is a sub-investigator on the Primary Open Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study, which aims to identify genetic risk factors contributing to the higher prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma among African Americans.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Biology
• Genetics

Selected publications

• Variant-to-gene mapping identifies <i>ARHGEF12</i> as a primary open-angle glaucoma effector gene operating within retinal ganglion cells

  bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 2026-02-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), a leading cause of irreversible blindness, has a strong genetic basis. The Primary Open-Angle African Ancestry Glaucoma Genetics study previously identified 46 risk loci. To pinpoint causal variants and their corresponding effector genes, we analyzed gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and conformation in two ocular cell-types: trabecular meshwork cells (hTMCs) and retinal ganglion cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-RGCs). We identified 24 candidate genes in hTMCs and 56 in hiPSC-RGCs. The ARHGEF12 gene was selected for further validation because it was nominated by local and distal promoter interactions in both cell-types and has reproducible prior evidence of its association with POAG. While its role in hTMCs is established, its function in RGCs is unclear. hiPSC-RGCs generated from a POAG donor homozygous for the risk allele showed reduced ARHGEF12 expression, altered morphology, and disrupted neuronal activity. This framework enables functional evaluation of additional POAG risk variants.

  PublisherDOI

• Sloping retina: a novel feature associated with primary open-angle glaucoma in an African ancestry cohort

  BMJ Open Ophthalmology · 2025-08-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  OBJECTIVE: To define sloping of the retina, a novel stereoscopic feature in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), and to evaluate its prevalence and associated risk factors in an African ancestry population. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Digital stereo disc images were graded for sloping by trained non-physician graders. We defined a sloping retina as one that slanted downward towards the disc margin instead of existing on the same plane as the disc margin. A 'sloping retina' approached the disc margin at an angle along at least one-third of the disc's circumference. The ocular and demographic risk factors of sloping were evaluated by univariable and multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of sloping in eyes with POAG was 22.0% (95% CI 20.6% to 23.4%). In a multivariable analysis, compared with eyes without sloping, eyes with sloping were less likely to have disc haemorrhages (p=0.03) and more likely to have a tilted disc (p<0.001), larger cup-to-disc ratio ((defined as 0.7-1), p=0.002), grey crescent (p=0.02), nasalisation of the vessels (p=0.01), moderate or deep cup depth (p<0.001) and conical cup shape (p<0.001). Sloping was not associated with any demographic characteristics in the multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: Associated with risk factors of advanced POAG, sloping presents as a novel feature that warrants further study to determine its mechanisms of development and prevalence in other study populations. Study limitations include: large difference in the number of eyes with and without sloping, potential morphological expressions of other phenotypes posing as sloping, impact of anatomical variability on grading, inherent biases when grading stereoscopic images and absence of a control or glaucoma suspect group. Future research into this phenotype in POAG patients might determine whether sloping retina is the result of or a precursor to glaucomatous damage, leading to a better understanding of POAG.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Risk factors associated with beta-peripapillary atrophy in individuals of African ancestry with primary open-angle glaucoma

  Eye · 2025-10-07 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Beta-Peripapillary Atrophy (beta-PPA) is an optic nerve head change associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). We evaluated demographic, ocular, and genetic risk factors for beta-PPA in individuals of African ancestry with POAG. METHODS: POAG cases were recruited from the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study. Beta-PPA was defined as hypopigmentation with visible choroidal vessels and sclera adjacent to the optic disc. Univariable and multivariable regression models assessed risk factors for the presence and extent of beta-PPA. RESULTS: Among 3381 eyes, 969 (28.6%) had beta-PPA. Beta-PPA was associated with older age (OR = 2.90, p < 0.001) and larger vertical cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) (OR = 1.58, p = 0.007), and was less common in females (OR = 0.53, p < 0.001). Beta-PPA presence was negatively associated with grey crescent (OR = 0.47, p = 0.01), neural rim notching (OR = 0.43, p = 0.01), and cylindrical (OR = 0.55, p < 0.001) or bean pot cup shapes (OR = 0.59, p < 0.001). Larger beta-PPA area was linked to older age (p = 0.008) and large vertical CDR (p = 0.03), but was less likely with conus pigmentosus (p = 0.001), deeper cup depth (p = 0.006), higher IOP (p = 0.005), and rounder discs (p = 0.01). Higher polygenic risk score (p = 0.007) and presence of the SNP rs34957764 in ROCK1P1 (p = 0.053) were associated with beta-PPA, but the same SNP was also associated with lesser area of beta-PPA (p = 0.03). Regions of beta-PPA correlated with greater RNFL loss (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Beta-PPA is strongly associated with older age and high CDR among individuals with POAG. These regions are vulnerable to RNFL loss.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A multi-cohort genome-wide association study in African ancestry individuals reveals risk loci for primary open-angle glaucoma

  UNC Libraries · 2025-02-01

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Predictors of Glaucoma Conversion in an African Ancestry Cohort: A Longitudinal Study

  American Journal of Ophthalmology · 2025-08-08 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Using Natural Language Processing to Identify Different Lens Pathology in Electronic Health Records

  American Journal of Ophthalmology · 2024-02-01 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Outcomes of Trabeculectomy and Predictors of Success in Patients of African Ancestry With Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

  Journal of Glaucoma · 2024-10-01 · 3 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  PRÉCIS: Trabeculectomy in African ancestry individuals with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) shows a 46% success rate and frequent complications, indicating that younger age and family history are significant predictors of surgical failure in this high-risk population. OBJECTIVE: To investigate outcomes of trabeculectomy ab externo in African ancestry POAG patients and to analyze the impact of demographic and phenotypic factors on surgical success and complication rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case-control study enrolled 63 eyes of 55 POAG cases who underwent trabeculectomy ab externo. Data on demographics, family glaucoma history, surgical specifics, and pre/postoperative measures (intraocular pressure, visual acuity, visual field, medication usage, complications within 1 year) were collected. The analysis included linear/logistic regression models adjusting for inter-eye correlation. RESULTS: Trabeculectomy yielded success without additional medication in 46%, qualified success with medication in 22%, and surgical failure necessitating further intervention in 32% within 1 year. Subjects experienced a reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) (46%), daily glaucoma medication (73%), and eye drop usage (67%) 1-year post-trabeculectomy (all P <0.001). However, there was a postoperative decline of 56% in visual acuity (VA) ( P <0.001) and a significant worsening of visual field parameters, including a 14% decrease in mean deviation ( P =0.02) and a 19% decrease in visual field index ( P =0.004). Fifty-nine percent of patient eyes experienced complications within 1 year of surgery. Univariate analysis of predictive factors for surgical outcomes revealed that younger age at surgery ( P =0.01) and family history of glaucoma ( P =0.046) were predictive of lower rates of surgical success. Multivariable analysis revealed worse preoperative VA (OR: 0.79 per 0.1 LogMAR increases, P =0.02) was associated with a lower likelihood of surgical success. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the low rates of trabeculectomy success and high rates of complications in an African ancestry population with POAG. While the procedure exhibited positive effects on IOP control and medication reduction, our analysis found that multiple factors, particularly age, family history, and worse preoperative VA play crucial roles in influencing surgical success.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Real-world assessment (RWA): validity evidence for cataract surgery with a tool your faculty will actually use

  Journal of Academic Ophthalmology · 2024-11-07 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background: We developed and implemented a real-world assessment tool (RWA) for resident surgery. It was designed to improve utility by reducing faculty and trainee cost (completion and training time, cognitive burden). RWA uses an entrustability scale where higher scores indicate a resident’s readiness for independent surgical practice. We describe a two-phase implementation of RWA and report validity evidence for cataract surgery assessment. Methods: RWA was developed iteratively with resident and faculty input and piloted at a single residency program in phase 1. Phase 2 implemented RWA at 11 ophthalmology residency programs. The main outcome measures were 1) number of surgical assessments submitted and 2) correlation between entrustment score on resident cataract surgery assessments and time in training. Results: After implementation of RWA, completed assessments increased for all participating programs. 1384 assessments of 111 residents by 112 faculty assessors were collected. Cross-sectional analysis of the assessments that examined cataract surgical procedural competency demonstrated that higher entrustment scores correlated with postgraduate year in training in both the single site (P= Conclusions: RWA demonstrates low cost, high acceptability, construct validity and reliability for cataract surgical skills assessment. Thus, RWA has shown high utility for assessment of cataract surgery. Because it is procedure agnostic it can be used to assess resident surgical skill for any procedure. RWA provides useful data for residency programs to monitor trainee development.

  PublisherDOI

• Low Body Mass Index Poses Greater Risk of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in African Ancestry Individuals

  American Journal of Ophthalmology · 2024-10-29 · 5 citations

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optic cup morphology associated with glaucomatous damage: Findings from the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) Study

  AJO International · 2024-07-14 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  While it has been well established that advanced glaucoma is associated with a large cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), it is not known if the shape of the cup, particularly excavated cups with expanded lower portions (bean-pot cups), play any additional role in glaucomatous damage. We investigated this among individuals of African ancestry, a population that is more vulnerable to glaucoma than any other ethnic group. Case-control study Institutional (University of Pennsylvania) 3,255 eyes from 1,734 glaucoma cases from the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study. Two graders independently assessed quantitative and qualitative aspects of the optic cup, with any discrepancies adjudicated by an ophthalmologist. The predominant cup shape (>50 %) was chosen in cases in which features of two or more cup shapes were present in the same eye. Comparisons of demographic and ocular characteristics among three cup shape groups (conical, cylindrical, and bean-pot) performed using generalized linear models, and generalized estimated equations applied to account for inter-eye correlation. Qualitative features of cup shape and phenotypic traits, in conjunction with demographic and genetic information. Of 3,255 eyes, a total of 1,339 (41.1 %) exhibit a conical cup shape, 1,470 (45.2 %) have a cylindrical cup shape, and 446 (13.7 %) display a bean-pot cup shape. Compared to other cup morphology, bean-pot cups are significantly associated with lower MD, larger CDR, higher IOP, thinner RNFL, and worse VA in logMAR (all p < 0.001). Genetic analysis does not show any association between various genetic variants and cup shape. Factors independently predictive of bean-pot cupping include younger age at diagnosis (aOR 0.96 per 1 year increase in age of enrollment, p < 0.0001), CDR (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.87, p < 0.0001), and the presence of certain optic disc features, including visible pores in the LC (aOR 2.76, p < 0.0001), nasalization of vessels (aOR 2.64, p < 0.0001), and vessel bayonetting (aOR 2.94, p < 0.0001). This study shows the clinical significance of different cup shapes in glaucoma in an African ancestry population and suggests that bean-pot cups are associated with the most severe glaucomatous damage, independent of cup-disc ratio. This association should be considered when determining prognosis following glaucoma interventions.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Prithvi S. Sankar

  Prevent Blindness

  110 shared

• Joan M. O’Brien

  University of Pennsylvania Health System

  103 shared

• Eydie Miller-Ellis

  University of Pennsylvania

  91 shared

• Rebecca Salowe

  University of Pennsylvania

  91 shared

• Roy Lee

  University of Pennsylvania

  65 shared

• Qi N. Cui

  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

  62 shared

• Amanda Lehman

  Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

  60 shared

• Gui‐Shuang Ying

  University of Pennsylvania

  49 shared

Labs

• Victoria M. Addis LabPI

Education

• B.A., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

  Princeton University

  2003

• M.D.

  Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University

  2010