
Overview
Sezen Karakus, M.D., is an assistant professor of ophthalmology specializing in corneal and external eye diseases, with a particular focus on ocular surface conditions in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory disorders such as Sjögren's syndrome and ocular rosacea. Her expertise also extends to corneal diseases involving abnormal sensory nerves, such as neurotrophic keratitis and neuropathic corneal pain. She is skilled in performing routine and complex procedures, including cataract and intraocular lens surgeries, refractive surgeries, corneal transplants, ocular surface reconstructions and amniotic membrane transplantations. At the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medicine's Ocular Surface Diseases and Dry Eye Clinic, she plays an integral role as a team member, providing her clinical insights and expertise. Additionally, she serves as an ophthalmologist in the Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) program at Hopkins. This unique position allows her to address dysautonomia-related neuropathic eye pain and ocular surface diseases in patients with POTS, combining her eye specialization with a focus on this specific medical condition. As a clinician-scientist, her research revolves around ocular surface diseases. Dr. Karakus is actively investigating the role of the ocular surface microbiome in the pathogenesis of ocular rosacea. Her involvement in the NIH U24 Ocular Surface Microbiome Consortium allows her to collaborate with fellow experts in the field to standardize research methrods and develop validated protocols for studying the ocular surface microbiome. Another area of research interest for Dr. Karakus involves serological and tear biomarkers in Sjögren's disease. Through a longitudinal study, she aims to determine the utility of tissue-specific autoantibodies for early diagnosis of Sjögren's disease in patients with dry eyes. Understanding the broader impact of Sjögren's disease on the peripheral and central nervous systems is crucial, as it can manifest as severe ocular surface disease with diminished corneal sensation (neurotrophic keratitis) or intense eye pain without significant ocular surface disease (neuropathic corneal pain). Her clinical expertise and research contributions have earned Dr. Karakus recognition regionally and nationally, as evidenced by her role as a consultant in complex dry eye and ocular surface diseases. She takes pride in her dedication to advancing the understanding of ocular surface conditions and providing the best possible care for patients. By combining her specialization in corneal and external eye disease with her involvement in the POTS program and cutting-edge research on ocular surface diseases, Dr. Karakus strives to make a significant impact on patient care and contribute to the advancement of ophthalmology and related fields.
Dr. Karakus is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cicatricial Pemphigoid. Her top areas of expertise are Dry Eye Syndrome, Sjogren Syndrome, Cataract, Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye), and Corneal Transplant.
Her clinical research consists of co-authoring 28 peer reviewed articles and participating in 1 clinical trial. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years. In particular, she has co-authored 1 article in the study of Cicatricial Pemphigoid.
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Locations
10753 Falls Road, Pavilion II STE 455, Pavilion II STE 455, Lutherville, MD 21093
4940 Eastern Avenue, Bayview Medical Offices, Level 01 (G), Clinic 3, Baltimore, MD 21224
Clinical Research
Clinical research consists of overseeing clinical studies of patients undergoing new treatments and therapies, and publishing articles in peer reviewed medical journals. Providers who actively participate in clinical research are generally at the forefront of the fields and aware of the most up-to-date advances in treatments for their patients.
1 Clinical Trials
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Jennifer Thorne, M.D., Ph.D., is the Cross Family Professor of Ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute, where she is also chief of the Division of Ocular Immunology. Dr. Thorne holds a joint appointment as professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. An internationally recognized ophthalmologist, Dr. Thorne is an expert in the evaluation and management of patients with uveitis and other related immune-mediated disorders. Dr. Thorne also directs the Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid clinic, a multi-disciplinary specialty clinic designed to evaluate and treat patients with conjunctival diseases. Dr. Thorne's research interests include white dot syndromes including birdshot chorioretinitis, multifocal choroiditis and punctate inner choroiditis. She also studies juvenile idiopathic arthritis-related uveitis and treatment outcomes of immunosuppressive drug therapy. Dr. Thorne received her M.D. degree from the University of Virginia and completed her ophthalmology residency at the University of Pennsylvania's Scheie Eye Institute. She completed her uveitis fellowship at Wilmer and completed her Ph.D. in epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Thorne is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cicatricial Pemphigoid. Her top areas of expertise are Uveitis, Neuroretinitis, Punctate Inner Choroidopathy, and Cicatricial Pemphigoid.
The Milton S Hershey Medical Center Physicians Group
Seth Pantanelli is an Ophthalmologist in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Dr. Pantanelli has been practicing medicine for over 17 years and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cicatricial Pemphigoid. His top areas of expertise are Astigmatism, Cataract, Keratoconus, Cataract Removal, and Corneal Transplant.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Douglas A. Jabs, M.D., M.B.A. is an internationally-recognized expert in the evaluation and management of patients with uveitis and related immune-mediated ocular disorders, particularly on the use of immunosuppression to treat severe ocular inflammatory diseases. Founder of the Division of Ocular Immunology and Uveitis at Wilmer, he now is the Director of the Center for Clinical Trials and Evidence Synthesis at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Jabs is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cicatricial Pemphigoid. His top areas of expertise are Uveitis, CMV Retinitis, Scleritis, Cataract Removal, and Trabeculectomy.
Areas of Expertise
MediFind evaluates expertise by pulling from factors such as number of articles a doctor has published in medical journals, participation in clinical trials, speaking at industry conferences, prescribing and referral patterns, and strength of connections with other experts in their field.
Learn more about MediFind’s expert tiers
- Distinguished
- Dry Eye SyndromeDr. Karakus isDistinguished. Learn about Dry Eye Syndrome.
- Advanced
- Sjogren SyndromeDr. Karakus isAdvanced. Learn about Sjogren Syndrome.
- Experienced
- BlepharitisDr. Karakus isExperienced. Learn about Blepharitis.
- CataractDr. Karakus isExperienced. Learn about Cataract.
- Cicatricial PemphigoidDr. Karakus isExperienced. Learn about Cicatricial Pemphigoid.
- Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)Dr. Karakus isExperienced. Learn about Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye).
- Corneal TransplantDr. Karakus isExperienced. Learn about Corneal Transplant.
- Fuchs DystrophyDr. Karakus isExperienced. Learn about Fuchs Dystrophy.

