Harshvardhan Chawla, MD
Ophthalmologist
Specialties: Retina
Education & Honors
Harshvardhan Chawla, MD is a board-certified vitreoretinal surgeon. Dr. Chawla was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California. He earned his medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Dr. Chawla completed his ophthalmology residency at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, where he was selected as Chief Resident and received the James P. Hill, PhD Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology Research. He then completed an intensive two-year vitreoretinal fellowship with the University of Alabama at Birmingham / Retina Specialists of Alabama – renowned as one of the highest volume surgical programs in the United States. Based at the Callahan Eye Hospital (a level-one ocular trauma center), he gained special expertise in the management of complex retinal detachments, endophthalmitis and ocular trauma.
Awards, Clinical Research & Authorships
Dr. Chawla has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on medical and surgical diseases of the retina. Specific topics include retinal vascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, artificial intelligence-based diagnostics and retinal detachment prevention. As a Research Associate for the Helen Keller Research Foundation, Dr. Chawla published extensively and was selected to attend the International Society of Ocular Trauma symposium in Lisbon, Portugal. His work has been presented at national and international conferences including the Association for Research in Vision (ARVO), the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) and the American Ophthalmological Society (AOS).
His academic distinctions include:
– Chief Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
– James M. Hill, PhD Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
– Distinction in Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
– Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship, University of Southern California
– Phi Beta Kappa, University of Southern California
– Academic Achievement Award, University of Southern California
– Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Scholarship, University of Southern California
– Presidential Scholarship, University of Southern California
– Chief Resident, Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
– James M. Hill, PhD Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
– Distinction in Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
– Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship, University of Southern California
– Phi Beta Kappa, University of Southern California
– Academic Achievement Award, University of Southern California
– Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Scholarship, University of Southern California
– Presidential Scholarship, University of Southern California
Community Service, Affiliations & Hobbies
Dr. Chawla is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, and an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.
Personal Interests
He enjoys travel, fitness, watching Formula One racing and spending time with family and friends.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
- Morris RE, Kuhn F, Oltmanns MH, West MR, Baxter CR, Sapp MR, Chawla H. A Historical Review of Encircling Laser Retinopexy as a Prophylaxis for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment; and a Commentary on Recent Progress in Stickler Syndrome. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2026 Apr; 20: 588688.
- Chawla H, Morris RE, Sapp MR, Baxter CR, Sahawneh MJ, Kuhn F. Subacute Terson Syndrome in a Monocular Patient After Craniofacial Ballistic Injury. Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases. 2025 Oct; 24741264251385993.
- Morris RE, Sapp MR, Conn DR, Chawla H, Kuhn F. Can Laser Retinopexy Prevent Retinal Detachment in Asymptomatic, High-Risk Eyes? Clinical Ophthalmology. 2025 Oct; 19: 4011-4015.
- Morris RE, Kuhn F, Sapp MR, Chawla H. Vitrectomy as a Prevention for Retinal Detachment in High-Risk Eyes. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2025 Sep; 19: 3249-3253.
- Weiss JS, Rapuano CJ, Seitz B, Busin M, Kivelä TT, Bouheraoua N, Bredrup C, Nischal KK, Chawla H, Borderie V, Kenyon KR, Kim EK, Møller HU, Munier FL, Berger T, Lisch W. IC3D Classification of Corneal Dystrophies – Edition Cornea. 2024 Apr; 43(4): 466-527.
- Aucoin AJ, Chawla H, Holleman GT, Trivedi D, Sahu PD. Primary Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland with Sarcomatoid Differentiation: Case Report and Genomic Analysis. Orbit. 2024 Oct; 43(5): 640-644.
- Chawla H, Redrick HJ, Pannell JT, Goldblatt NP, Mazzulla DA, Benevento JD, Puri S. Incidence of Total Blindness After Central Retinal Artery Occlusion with Ocular Neovascularization. Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases. 2024 Jan; 8(1): 75-81.
- Chawla H, Hicks CP, Assi L, Epling JP, Al Dujaili LJ, Weiss JS. Prevalence of Glaucomatous-Appearing Discs in Patients Undergoing Artificial Intelligence Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy. JFO Open Ophthalmology. 2023 Sep; 3(1): 100037 [e-publication].
- Chawla H, Uhr JH, Williams JS, Reinoso MA, Weiss JS. Economic Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence Systems versus Manual Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in the United States. Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging Retina. 2023 May; 54(5): 272-280.
- Chawla H, Pahng JN, Benevento JD, Mazzulla DA, Puri S, Eustis HS. Subretinal Abscess Complicated by Post-Infectious Retinal Vasculitis Following Strabismus Surgery. Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus. 2023 May; 60(3): 26-30.
- Chawla H, Goldblatt JS, Morgan JE, Barron BA, Rao AK, Reinoso MA. Central Retinal Artery Occlusion with Concomitant Intracranial Hemorrhage Secondary to Streptococcus Gordonii Case Reports in Ophthalmological Medicine. 2023 May; e-Collection 9268480.
- Uhr JH, Chawla H, Williams BK, Cavuoto KM, Sridhar J. Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Visual Impairment in the United States. Ophthalmology. 2021 Jul; 128(7): 1102-1104.
Conference Presentations
- Kuhn F, Morris RE, Sapp MR, Chawla H. Vitrectomy as a Prophylaxis for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment (Oral). Vail Vitrectomy Symposium. Vail, CO; Feb 2025.
- Chawla H, Hicks CP, Mazzulla DA, Benevento JD, Puri S. Tractional versus Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment After Small-Gauge Vitrectomy for Endophthalmitis (Poster). Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA; May 2024.
- Hicks CP, Chawla H, Aucoin AJ, Byrd HE, Leon A, Fuerst RT, Kirchner KR. Eye Trauma in the City of New Orleans During Mardi Gras: A Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Analysis (Poster). Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA; May 2024.
- Chawla H, Aucoin A, Holleman G, Trivedi D, Sahu P. Novel GATA3 Biomarker and Sarcomatoid Differentiation in Primary Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland: Indicators of Differential Growth Patterns? (Oral). European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Naples, Italy; Sep 2023.
- Chawla H, Hicks CP, Assi L, Epling JP, Al Dujaili LJ, Weiss JS. Prevalence of Glaucomatous Appearing Discs in Patients Undergoing Artificial Intelligence Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy (Poster). European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) Congress. Prague, Czech Republic; Jun 2023.
- Chawla H, Goldblatt JS, Morgan JE, Rao AK, Reinoso MA. Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Secondary to Streptococcus Gordonii Endocarditis: Case Report and Clinical Implications (Oral). European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) Congress. Prague, Czech Republic; Jun 2023.
- Chawla H, Pahng JN, Benevento JD, Mazzulla DA, Puri S, Eustis HS. Subretinal Abscess Complicated by Post-Infectious Retinal Vasculitis Following Strabismus Surgery (Oral). European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) Congress. Prague, Czech Republic; Jun 2023.
- Chawla H, Redrick HJ, Pannell JT, Mazzulla DA, Benevento JD, Puri S. Incidence of Total Blindness After Central Retinal Artery Occlusion with Ocular Neovascularization (Poster). Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA; Apr 2023.
- Chawla H, Uhr JH, Williams JS, Reinoso MA, Weiss JS. Cost-Effectiveness of Artificial Intelligence-Based Screening versus Specialist Referral for Diabetic Retinopathy: The Impact of Anti-VEGF Therapy Selection (Oral). American Ophthalmological Society Annual Meeting. Colorado Springs, CO; May 2022.
Textbook Chapters
- Weiss JS and Chawla H. Descemet Membrane and Endothelial Dystrophies (Chapter 71). Mannis MJ, Holland EJ, eds. Cornea: Fundamentals, Diagnosis and Management. 6th Elsevier; 2025 [in press].
Lectures & Educational Symposia
- Chawla H, Oltmanns MH. Choroidal and Retinal Inflammation (Oral). Resident Lecture Curriculum, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham. Birmingham, AL; Oct 2024.
- Chawla H, Reinoso MA. Stickler Syndrome: Case Presentation and Management Pearls (Oral). George S. Ellis Sr. Endowed Lecture in Pediatrics (Resident & Fellow Case Session), Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. New Orleans, LA; Oct 2022.
Technical Workshops & Courses
- Vitrectomy and Intraocular Foreign Body Removal. Course Chairs: Kuhn F, Schrader W, Slezak Z. International Society of Ocular Trauma. Lisbon, Portugal; Jun 2025.