Michael C. Wu, M.D.

Dr. Wu is an Associate Professor in the UW Department of Ophthalmology and an attending physician at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Healthcare System, UW Medicine Eye Institute, UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center.

As a cornea specialist, Dr. Wu has advanced training in the surgical and medical management of corneal diseases, as well as in refractive surgery. Dr. Wu specializes in cataract and corneal transplant surgeries, including Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK or DSAEK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) corneal transplantation techniques.

His clinical interests include Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy, keratoconus, herpes simplex virus (HSV) keratitis, and corneal infections and ulcers. He also has an interest in cataract surgery, including cataract surgery in patients with corneal diseases.


Articles written for patients:

Corneal Transplantation

Fuchs Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy and Corneal Edema

Treatment Options for Corneal Edema

Patient Care Philosophy
To provide caring, thorough, attentive and detailed treatment to each patient, utilizing current treatment techniques, sound medical knowledge and advanced surgical procedures.

Scope Of Care
Ophthalmology, with subspecialty practice interest in cataract surgery, corneal transplantation, corneal surgeries, and diseases of the cornea.

Personal Interests
Dr. Wu enjoys spending his free time with his family.

Clinical Interests
Dr. Wu's expertise is in the cornea subspecialty of ophthalmology, including cataract surgery, corneal transplantation, and corneal diseases. His clinical interests include Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy, corneal edema after cataract surgery, keratoconus, and infections of the cornea (including bacterial infections of the cornea and herpes simplex keratitis).

Dr. Wu has surgical expertise in corneal transplantation techniques, including small-incision Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK or DSAEK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), traditional corneal transplants (penetrating keratoplasty or PK), phacoemulsification cataract surgery, and combined corneal and cataract surgery procedures for patients with concomitant corneal diseases and cataracts.

Research Interests
A primary interest is resident microsurgical education, including development of surgical simulation curricula. Ocular graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoetic cell transplantation is also a research interest.

Teaching Interests
Dr. Wu has a very strong interest in the education of ophthalmology residents and medical students, both in the classroom and in clinical settings. This includes a dedication to teaching cataract surgery and microsurgical suturing techniques to ophthalmology residents, as well as an interest in teaching residents about management of complex corneal diseases and corneal surgical procedures in the clinics and operating room.  

Dr. Wu has twice been awarded Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the UW ophthalmology residents for his commitment to resident education. He serves as director of medical student education in ophthalmology for the UW School of Medicine. 

He is also committed to the continuing medical education of practicing physicians, previously serving as the monthly program chair of the Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.

Languages
English

Expertise
Eye Care (Ophthalmology)