Hylton R. Mayer, M.D. is a board-certified ophthalmologist- an experienced cataract surgeon and a fellowship-trained glaucoma specialist who has cared for patients at Eye Doctors of Washington since 2010. Prior to joining Eye Doctors of Washington, Dr. Mayer was an Assistant Professor at the Yale University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, where he was the Director of the Cataract Surgery Section and Glaucoma Fellowship Program Director. Dr. Mayer has been recognized as a “Rising Star” and “SuperDoctor” by the Washington Post. Dr. Mayer has served as the President of the Washington DC Ophthalmology Society and is the current Medical Director of the Palisades Eye Surgery Center. He is a team eye doctor for the Washington Capitals NHL hockey team and the DC United MLS soccer team.
Dr. Mayer is an expert in complex cataract surgery and in the medical and surgical management of glaucoma. Dr. Mayer utilizes advanced technologies to create a patient-focused cataract surgical experience- including the use of CATALYS®, laser-assisted cataract surgery, and a variety of customizable cataract surgery options including toric lenses for astigmatism correction, multifocal lenses, extended depth of focus lenses, and light adjustable lenses. He also offers the latest medical, laser, and surgical options for glaucoma patients, including the use of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT), a variety of Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGS), traditional trabeculectomy, and glaucoma drainage implant surgery.
Dr. Mayer has sought to continuously improve upon his clinical care, learning and incorporating the latest clinical and surgical options for his patients. Dr. Mayer was among the first surgeons in the DC area to perform Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery and to utilize the Light Adjustable Lens technology (LAL). While at Yale, Dr. Mayer was one of the first surgeons in Connecticut to perform a new minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, the Trabectome. He was the first surgeon in Washington DC to perform the iStent minimally invasive glaucoma surgery, the first surgeon in the DC area to combine the use of the iStent and Endocyclophotocoagulation in a novel procedure known as the ICE procedure (iStent Cataract surgery and Endocyclophotocoagulation), and the first surgeon to use the Hydrus microstent. Dr. Mayer was also among the first surgeons in DC to offer numerous other Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgeries (MIGS) including KDB goniotomy, the OMNI surgical system, and the Xen gel stent.
Dr. Mayer graduated cum laude from Centre College, where he was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Societies. While at Centre College, Dr. Mayer was a Division III collegiate soccer player, for which he was recognized as Centre College’s Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and selected to the GTE Academic All-American District Team. Dr. Mayer was inducted into Centre College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Dr. Mayer is a graduate of the Medical College of Ohio (now the University of Toledo School of Medicine), where he received a Presidential Scholarship and was named to the AOA Honor Medical Society. Dr. Mayer obtained his ophthalmology residency training at the Yale University School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology. Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Mayer undertook a fellowship in the medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma under the mentorship of internationally renowned glaucoma specialists, Dr. M. Bruce Shields and Dr. James C. Tsai.
After his glaucoma fellowship, Dr. Mayer joined the faculty at Yale, where he was dedicated to the education of resident physicians and medical students as the Director of the Glaucoma Fellowship Program and Assistant Director of Ophthalmologic Medical Studies. He was also a clinical leader as the Director of the Yale Cataract Surgery Section and Yale Glaucoma Screening Program. Dr. Mayer served the Yale community on numerous other academic and clinical committees.
Dr. Mayer has participated in multiple medical and surgical clinical trials. He has published numerous book chapters, review articles, and original research papers, has been an invited lecturer at regional and national meetings, and has been a reviewer for a variety of medical journals.
Dr. Mayer lives in Virginia with his wife, a pediatric nephrologist, and three children. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching his kids various sports and activities, playing sports of all kinds, and puttering around on the guitar for an audience of birds and squirrels in his backyard.
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