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
Corneal Edema
Providers Michael C. Wu, M.D.

Fuchs Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy and Corneal Edema

Situated at the front of the eye, the cornea is the transparent dome overlying the colored iris of the eye. The cornea is composed of thin layers of tissue that allow light into the eye and focus the rays of light entering the eye. The cornea and the lens of the eye, a separate structure located just behind the iris, are... Read more
Featured Provider
Erin P. Herlihy, M.D.
Dr. Herlihy is a UW assistant professor of ophthalmology and a physician at Seattle Children's. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Loyola ...
View full bio
Featured Video
Restoring Vision: A Look Into the UW Medicine Eye Institute
With 22 ophthalmologists on staff, the institute is known for multidisciplinary collaborative care of both common and complex eye conditions. Watch as a diabetic patient undergoes cataract surgery, and a woman has micrographic surgery to remove cancerous tissue from her eyelid. The institute is leading research efforts to improve treatment for eye diseases and also training the next generation of ophthalmologists at the University of Washington's School of Medicine.