Eye Institute
UW Medicine Eye Institute   At the UW Medicine Eye Institute, our mission dovetails with our passion: to improve patients’ vision. We are exceptionally well-equipped for this mission, because your doctors are also your researchers — and research leads to great patient care. Learn more about their work, and learn how you can help.

We provide state-of-the-art care for people with:
Our areas of emphasis also include:
  • Comprehensive eye health
  • Cornea and external disease
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Oculofacial (cosmetic and traumatic) surgery 
  • Oculofacial plastic and orbital surgery
  • Oncology and ocular tumors
  • Optometric services
  • Pediatric Ophthalmology
  • Refractive surgery
  • Strabismus
  • Uveitis
Our dedicated physicians, surgeons and researchers care for patients in the Ninth & Jefferson Building at Harborview Medical Center, just off Interstate 5 on Seattle’s First Hill. Patients can park conveniently in the building’s underground garage. Institute physicians and staff will continue to treat patients at the Eye Center at UW Medical Center, as well.


Eyes on James Optical Shop


Eyes on James is our full-service optical shop located at street level in the Ninth & Jefferson Building at the intersection of James Street and Terry Avenue. The shop offers eye exams, specialty glasses and contact lenses. For additional information, call 206.897.4774.

Visit our Eyes on James web site.

Whether your eye problem is simple or complex, the UW Medicine Eye Institute looks forward to offering you first-rate service and terrific results.
Featured Article
Treatment Options for Corneal Edema
Providers Michael C. Wu, M.D.

Very mild corneal edema may not require treatment. An ophthalmologist may treat early corneal edema with hyperosmotic saline eye drops to draw off excess fluid from the cornea. Patients with Fuchs dystrophy who experience blurring of vision in the early morning can also direct a hair dryer at the eye from arm’s length, using air without heat, to draw off moisture in the early mornings. Corneal... Read more
Featured Provider
Mark Slabaugh, M.D.
Mark Slabaugh, M.D. Dr. Slabaugh is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Washington.  A UW School of Medicine graduate, he also completed ...
View full bio
Featured Video
Life Changing LASEK Procedure
Brian Finrow started wearing glasses when he was 12. As an adult, he said, they got in the way of skiing – goggles over glasses? – and other activities. A pal referred him to Dr. Tueng Shen, a refractive surgery specialist at the University of Washington Medical Center. Finrow opted to have his vision corrected via LASEK, which involves no cutting of the cornea, so is less prone to complications than the older LASIK procedure. One of Finrow’s favorite activities now is buying sunglasses.