Gary Wörtz, MD

• Asbury University

  1996 – 2000

  Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude

• University of Louisville

  2000 – 2004

  School of Medicine, Medical Doctor, Cum Laude

• University of Kentucky Medical Center, Transitional Internship

  2004 – 2005

  Transitional Internship

• University of Kentucky Medical Center

  2005 – 2008

  Residency in Ophthalmology

• University of Kentucky Medical Center

  2007 – 2008

  Chief Resident in Ophthalmology

• Commonwealth Eye Surgery

  2014 – 2015

  Fellowship in Corneal Refractive Surgery

• Certificate: MIT/Sloan Executive Eduction: Innovation of Products and Services: MIT’s approach to Design Thinking

  2016
• Certificate: Harvard Medical School Executive Education: AI in Health Care: From Strategies to Implementation

  2025

• American Board of Ophthalmology

  2010-2020
• Recertification American Board of Ophthalmology

  2020-2030
• World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences

  2023- Present

• Commonwealth Eye Surgery, Lexington, KY

  2014 – Present
• Omega Ophthalmics, Founder & Chief Medical Officer

  2011 – Present
• Koffler Vision Group, Lexington, KY

  2011 – 2014
• Bluegrass Eye Surgery, Central Kentucky

  2008 – 2016
• Attending Surgeon, VA Medical Center, Lexington, KY

  2008 – 2011
• Eyecare Network, Maysville, KY

  2009 – 2011
• Nature Coast Eye Care Institute, Perry, FL

  2009 – 2010

• Clinical ophthalmology with emphasis on refractive cataract surgery
  • Passionate about continuous process improvement in achieving improved safety and
    better outcomes and efficiencies in refractive cataract surgery.
  • Co-founder of Arcuate Innovations, an online tool for surgical planning of arcuate
    incisions for femtosecond laser cataract surgery, found online at LRIcalc.com.
• Intraocular Lens Design and Development
  • Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Omega Ophthalmics, LLC
  • Developing and commercializing patented new class of refractive lens technology
  • Personally performed world’s first human implantation of the Omega Gemini Refractive
    Capsule in November, 2016

• Johnson & Johnson Vision, Alcon, Allergan, Topcon, Carl Zeiss Meditech, Shire, Tearlab, BioTissue, Ocular Therapeutix, Omega Ophthalmics, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals

• Power List 100 Member 2022: Presented by “The Ophthalmologist”

  April 2022
• Millennial Award: Presented at the Millennial Eye Live, Austin, TX

  March, 26, 2022
• ASCRS Annual Meeting First Place Award: Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Compounded Ophthalmic Solution for the Treatment of Presbyopia; Sarkisian S, Tyson S, Mann P, Wortz G, Barker L, Tremblay D, Goldberg D

  2021
• Manfred A. Von Fricken, MD keynote lecture, “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Space Race for the Future of Ophthalmic Innovation”, Washington Retina Symposium

  October 6, 2018
• Ocular Surgery News “Premier Surgeon 300” award for top “Innovators in Refractive Cataract Surgery”

  2016
• Top Doctors in Ophthalmology. Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd. Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists

  2016 – Present
• Recipient of Top 40 under 40 ophthalmologist globally by The Ophthalmologist

  2015
• First place recipient, American College of Eye Surgeons 2008 Bloomberg Memorial Resident Competition for Cataract and Implant Surgery

  2008
• Alpha Omega Alpha Special Senior Award, University of Louisville, School of Medicine

  2004
• “Whose Who Among American Medical Students”

  2004
• “The Outstanding Senior Award in Chemistry”, Asbury University

  2000

• American Board of Ophthalmology – Fellow
• American Academy of Ophthalmology – Fellow
• American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)

  2026 – Present

  ASCRS Digital Committee Member

• World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences- Founding Member
• AECOS (American European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery)
  • Executive Committee Member 2023 – Present
  • Chair of the Education Committee 2024 – Present
• ACES (American College of Eye Surgeons) Board Member

  2023- 2026
• Society for Excellence in Eyecare (SEE) – Board Member

  2026- Present
• Vanguard Ophthalmology Society member
• CEDARS/ASPENS member

  Chair of the CEDARS/ASPENS Mentorship program

• Mensa lifetime member

• Kentucky (Active)
• Florida (Active)
• Georgia (Inactive)

• Interventional Mindset
• Chief Medical Editor, Millennial Eye

  2017-2020
• Ocular Surgery News
• Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today
• Advanced Ocular Care
• Collaborative Eye
• Editor and host of podcast, “Ophthalmology Off the Grid”

Clinical Research

• Tear Lab – A Post-Market Osmolarity Prevalence Study for the TearLab Osmolarity System

  2011 – Sub-Investigator

  The primary objective of this study is to determine overall prevalence of normal and abnormal tear fluid osmolarity in the patient population of clinicians who use the TearLab Osmolarity System when used within its FDA 510(k) cleared product labeling (FDA k083184).

• EyeVis – “ONIT” – Oral Nutrition Impact on Tear Film

  2012 – Sub-Investigator

  The eight-week feasibility study is to determine if subjects presenting with dry eye with confirmed reduction of four out of the seven diagnostic markers and symptoms respond to nutritional therapy.

• SARcode Bioscience – SONATA

  2012 – Principal Investigator

  A Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, and placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety of a 5.0% concentration of lifitegrast ophthalmic solution compared to placebo in subjects with dry eye.

• SARcode Bioscience – OPUS II

  2013 – Principal Investigator

  A Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, and placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy of a 5.0% concentration of lifitegrast ophthalmic solution compared to placebo in subjects with dry eye currently using artificial tears.

• Valeant Pharmaceuticals – CeraVe Study

  2013 – Principal Investigator

  A single-center, open-label study evaluating the ophthalmologic effects on subjects who have CeraVe Eye Repair Cream applied around the periorbital skin during the pre-launch phase.

• Ocular Therapeutix – Dexamethasone Punctum Plug Study

  2014 – Principal Investigator

  A Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, and placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of a dexamethasone punctum plug for the control of postoperative inflammation and pain after routine cataract surgery.

• FERA Pharmaceuticals – Investigator Initiated Trial

  2013 – Sub-Investigator

  A randomized, investigator-masked evaluation in a 1:1 comparison of hydrocortisone ophthalmic ointment 0.5% versus placebo (same vehicle used to formulate the hydrocortisone ophthalmic ointment).

Publications and Presentations

• Caribbean Eye 2026 Presentation – Comparative Outcomes of Robotic Laser Arcuate Keratotomy and Toric Intraocular Lenses for Lower Magnitude Astigmatism at Cataract Surgery

  February 2026

  Presentation comparing outcomes of robotic laser arcuate keratotomy versus toric intraocular lenses for managing low astigmatism during cataract surgery.

• Clinical Ophthalmology – Influence of Refractive Error, Age, and Ophthalmic Anatomy on Refractive Surgery Choices

  2026

  Peer-reviewed publication analyzing how refractive error, age, and anatomical factors influence refractive surgery decision-making.

• Peer-reviewed publication analyzing how refractive error, age, and anatomical factors influence refractive surgery decision-making.

  2025

  Study evaluating outcomes of robotic laser arcuate keratotomy compared to toric intraocular lenses for low astigmatism correction during cataract surgery.

• Ophthalmology Times – Dialing in Precision: Astigmatism Management with Arcuate Incisions

  August 2025

  Article discussing precision techniques and advancements in managing astigmatism using arcuate incisions.

• Ocular Surgery News / Healio – Mentorship That Matters

  July 2025

  Editorial exploring the importance of mentorship in shaping the future of ophthalmology.

• AECOS Deer Valley – Severe Irregular Astigmatism Case Presentation

  July 2025

  Case presentation addressing management strategies for severe irregular astigmatism in post-RK cataract patients.

• Commonwealth Eye Surgery Lecture Symposium – The Future of Eye Care: Embracing Artificial Intelligence

  June 2025

  Lecture on the integration of AI technologies in ophthalmology and future care models.

• Wake Forest Eye Center Annual Meeting – Cataract Surgery in Compromised Corneas & Lessons from an Eye Surgeon

  May 2025

  Lectures covering complex cataract cases and practical insights from surgical experience.

• ASCRS LensAR Users Meeting – AK vs Toric IOL: Correcting Sight with Light

  April 2025

  Presentation comparing astigmatism correction techniques using arcuate keratotomy versus toric IOLs.

• Real World Ophthalmology – Managing the Unhappy Presbyopic IOL Patient

  April 2025

  Discussion on strategies to address dissatisfaction in presbyopia-correcting IOL patients.

• YoungMD Connect – Techniques for Managing Dense Cataracts

  March 2025

  Educational session on surgical approaches for dense cataracts and innovation in practice.

• AECOS Aspen – Perfecting Cataract Surgery (Video Presentation)

  February 2025

  Case-based video presentation focused on optimizing cataract surgery outcomes.

• Alcon National Webinar – Insider Perspectives Part 2

  February 2025

  Moderated webinar discussing clinical insights and scientific advancements in ophthalmology.

• CEDARS/ASPENS – Yamane Modification (Video Presentation)

  December 2024

  Video presentation demonstrating surgical technique modification for IOL fixation.

• AECOS Deer Valley – The YAG Laser and How to Use It

  July 2024

  Educational session on YAG laser applications and best practices.

• CRST – The Paradox of Patient Satisfaction

  May 2024

  Article exploring emotional intelligence and patient satisfaction in cataract and refractive surgery.

• University of Iowa Grand Rounds – Lessons from an Eye Surgeon

  February 2024

  Guest lecture sharing clinical insights and surgical experience.

• AAO Innovation Journal Club – Innovations in Cornea

  October 2023

  Discussion on emerging technologies and innovations in corneal care.

• CRST Digital Supplement – Femtosecond Laser Arcuate Incisions for Low Astigmatism

  May 2023

  Publication on laser-assisted techniques for managing low corneal astigmatism.

• Clinical Ophthalmology – Outcomes of Femtosecond Laser Arcuate Incisions

  2020

  Study evaluating effectiveness of femtosecond laser arcuate incisions in treating low corneal astigmatism.

• Current Ophthalmology Reports – Refractive IOL Pipeline: Innovations, Predictions, and Needs

  2017

  Review of emerging technologies and future trends in refractive intraocular lenses.

• Journal of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology – Sustained Release Dexamethasone Study

  2016

  Phase 3 clinical study evaluating safety and efficacy of sustained-release dexamethasone following cataract surgery.

• Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today – How to Bring an Idea to Life

  February 2014

  Cover story outlining innovation pathways in ophthalmology.

• Millennial Eye – So You Have an Idea?

  September 2013

  Article discussing how to develop and execute new ideas in clinical practice.

• EyeWorld – Refractive Challenges Require Out-of-the-Box Thinking

  September 2013

  Editorial on innovative approaches to complex refractive cases.

• Journal of Medical Practice Management – Reducing Liability Risk Through Informed Consent

  2011

  Publication examining legal risk reduction through improved informed consent practices.

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• Wortz GN, VanMeter WS, “Central Corneal Opacification Resulting from Recent Chemotherapy in Corneal Donors”

  2007

  Eye Bank Association of America 2007 Fall Symposium

• Wortz GN, Steinle N, Sanders S, Crandall J, “Tube Shunt for the 21st Century”

  January 2007

  University of Kentucky Department of Ophthalmology Grand Rounds

• Wortz, GN “Idiopathic Uveitis”

  January 2006

  University of Kentucky Department of Ophthalmology Grand Rounds

• Burch PT, Scott MJ, Wortz GN, Peyton JC, Cheadle WG: Mortality after Cecal Ligation and Puncture Correlates with Increased Adherence of E. coli to Intestinal Mucosa.

  2002

  Shock 17 (Suppl):29, 2002