Biography
Steve Charles, MD is one of the world’s leading vitreoretinal surgeons and has developed many of the techniques and devices used by all vitreoretinal surgeons. He has performed over 26,000 vitreoretinal surgeries, lectured and operated in over 20 countries, delivered 14 named lectures, 950 lectures, authored a leading textbook in the field which is now in the 4th edition, authored 140 articles in the medical literature and 41 book chapters. He is on the editorial board of Retina and a reviewer for, Ophthalmology, Archives of Ophthalmology, American Journal of Ophthalmology British Journal of Ophthalmology, and other peer reviewed journals. He is a mechanical and electrical engineer, has over 50 patents and is a consultant for Alcon Laboratories and OptiMedica. He is the Chairman and Founder of MicroDexterity Systems, developing robots for dexterity enhancement for minimally invasive knee and hip replacement, spine surgery, and skull base neurosurgery. Charles has received the Wacker Medal from the Club Jules Gonin, the first Founders Medal from the Vitreous Society, was inducted into the University of Miami School of Medicine Medical Alumni Association Hall of Fame, and was named by Ocular Surgery News as one of the top ten innovators in the past 25 years. He is a Clinical Professor at the University of Tennessee and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is a member of the Retina Society, Macula Society, Club Jules Gonin, American Society of Retinal Specialists, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Research interests
Research interests of Steve Charles, MD include vitreoretinal fluidics and the physics and engineering aspects of tissue cutting, application of 25 gauge vitrectomy to complex retinal detachments including PVR, giant breaks, and diabetic traction retinal detachments, improved tools and techniques for forceps membrane peeling, scissors segmentation and delamination of epiretinal membranes, laser delivery systems, surgical dexterity, dexterity enhancement, surgical robotics, man-machine interface design, control theory, and operating room & vitreoretinal surgical systems efficiency.

Representative publications
1. Charles S: Controlled drainage of subretinal and choroidal fluid. Retina 5(4):233-234, 1985
2. Charles S, Small K: Pathogenesis and Repair of Retinal Detachment. Chapter 3.19 in Oxford Textbook of Ophthalmology, Volume 2, pp 1261-1272. David L. Easty and John M. Sparrow, Editors. Oxford Medical Publications, Oxford University Press Inc., New York, 1999
3. Chang S, McCuen B, Charles S: New Techniques for Hemostasis During Diabetic Vitrectomy. Retina, The Journal of Retinal and Vitreous Diseases, Volume 23, No. 1, pp 120-122, February 2003.137.
4. Charles S: Techniques and Tools for Dissection of Epiretinal Membranes. Graefe’s Archives for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, Volume 241, No. 5, pp 347-352, May 2003.
5. Charles S: An Engineering Approach to Vitreoretinal Surgery. CME article in Retina, The Journal of Retinal and Vitreous Diseases. Volume 24/No. 3 pp 435-444, June 2004
6. Charles S, Al-Jazzaf A, Netland P: Incidence and Management of Elevated Intraocular Pressure After Silicone Oil Injection. Journal of Glaucoma, Volume 14, No.1, pp 40-46, February 2005
7. Charles S, Spaide R, Fine H: A Debate on the Pros and Cons of 23-gauge versus 25 gauge Vitrectomy. Peer Reviewed article in Retinal Physician, Volume 3, No. 1, pp 24-28, January/February 2006.
8. Charles S, Fanning G: Anesthesia Considerations for Vitreoretinal Surgery. Ophthalmology Clinics of North America., Volume 19, No. 2, pp 239-243, June 2006.
9. Charles S, Calzada J, Wood B: Vitreous Microsurgery, Fourth Edition, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, August 2006. Published in Turkish and Chinese 2008.
10. Arbisser L, Charles S, Howcroft M, and Werner L: Management of Vitreous Loss and Dropped Nucleus During Cataract Surgery. Ophthalmology Clinics of North America, Volume 19, No. 4, pp 495-506, December 2006
11. Charles S, Rosenfeld P, Gayer S: Medical Consequences of Stopping Anticoagulant Therapy Before Intraocular Surgery or Intravitreal Injections, Retina, Volume 27, No. 7, pp 813-815, September 2007