Dr. Michelle D. Patel

I am an ophthalmologist specializing in both pediatric and neuro-ophthalmology. My expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of neurological conditions affecting the eyes of both adults and children. My clinical interests include pediatric and adult nystagmus, strabismus, brain tumors, autoimmune demyelinating diseases, spina bifida, craniosynostoses, hydrocephalus, neonatal hypoxic ischemic injury, spina bifida, cortical visual impairment, papilledema, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) and all optic neuropathies. The large majority of my patients are children with/or at risk for neurologic disease or adults with developmental delay. My clinic visits often include ancillary testing ​such as visual fields and optical coherence tomography, which help me assess if there is a risk for vision loss. I like to try to avoid invasive testing and procedures or testing that requires anesthesia or sedation when possible. In my pediatric clinic, I like to collect and use old fashioned mechanical toys to test eye movements, which younger children usually enjoy. I will often have small prizes for younger (and older) children at the end of the visit. Dr. Dairi is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Nerve Atrophy. Her top areas of expertise are Papilledema, Increased Intracranial Pressure, Optic Nerve Atrophy, Brown Syndrome, and Trabeculectomy.

Chantal Boisvert is an Ophthalmologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Boisvert is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Nerve Atrophy. Her top areas of expertise are Strabismus, Optic Neuritis, Oculomotor Apraxia Cogan Type, and Optic Atrophy Type 1.

I was born and raised right here in Durham, NC. After attending college at Duke, I ventured north to Boston, where I completed most of my medical training, and was fortunate to meet and marry the love of my life, my husband Neil (also on faculty as a cardiologist here at Duke). I returned to Durham for my Glaucoma fellowship, briefly joined the faculty “across the street” at UNC-Chapel Hill, and then returned “home” to Duke Eye Center in 1995, where I have been on the faculty ever since. Dual fellowship-trained in both Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus as well as in Glaucoma, I have a clinical and research focus on pediatric glaucoma and cataracts, as well as retinopathy of prematurity, but enjoy providing care for myriad pediatric problems of the eyes, including treatment of “grown children” with ocular alignment issues. My modus operandi is very simple – I simply try hard to treat each and every patient the way I would like someone to treat me. It works every time, and I am privileged to be a clinician and educator at Duke Eye Center and in Duke University Health System. Dr. Freedman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Optic Nerve Atrophy. Her top areas of expertise are Retinopathy of Prematurity, Strabismus, Brown Syndrome, Trabeculectomy, and Cataract Removal.