Carol L Karp, MD

Carol L. Karp, M.D, is an expert in the management of ocular surface tumors and anterior segment surgery. In the late 1990s, she pioneered the use of interferon for the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia. She designed protocols to study the drug in patients with ocular surface tumors curing them of their cancer without surgery. She has continued to explore novel methods to treat surface cancers. In addition, she has innovated the use of high-resolution anterior segment OCT which has helped to revolutionize advances in the management of ocular surface tumors. A leader in the area of ocular surface oncology, her research has produced numerous landmark articles and her work has helped to change the standard of care of these lesions. 

Dr. Karp is the definition of a physician-scientist. In addition to improving the care of patients with ocular surface tumors around the world, her 150+ peer-reviewed publications and more than 25 chapters confirm her excellence as an academician. She has made the diagnosis of ocular surface tumors easier and the treatment more accessible. She will be the recipient of the 2022 Castroviejo Medal, given to the most outstanding individual in the field of cornea and anterior segment of the eye – only the third woman to receive the award. She is also the president-elect of the Pan-American Society of Ophthalmology with members in more than 35 countries in the Western Hemisphere and co-director of Bascom Palmer’s Inter-American Course in Clinical Ophthalmology (Curso), the largest meeting in the United States held for Spanish-speaking ophthalmologists. Dr. Karp was named to The Ophthalmologist Power Lists: 2019, 2021.