
Overview
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. El is highly rated in 12 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Papilledema, Increased Intracranial Pressure, Optic Nerve Atrophy, Strabismus, and Trabeculectomy.
Her clinical research consists of co-authoring 82 peer reviewed articles. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years.
Graduate Institution
Specialties
Licenses
Board Certifications
Fellowships
Hospital Affiliations
Languages Spoken
Gender
Insurance
Accepted insurance can change. Please verify directly with the provider.
Accepted insurance plans:
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- PPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- OTHER COMMERCIAL
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- PPO
- HMO
- INDEMNITY
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- POS
- PPO
- OTHER MEDICAID
- STATE MEDICAID
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- EPO
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
- EPO
- HMO
- INSURANCE PLAN
- MANAGED MEDICAID PLAN
- MEDICARE MAPD
- MEDICARE PDP
- MEDICARE SNP
- MEDICARE-MEDICAID PLAN
- OTHER MEDICARE
- OTHER MEDICARE PART D
Locations
2351 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Additional Areas of Focus
Dr. El has provided the following conditions as areas of focus. Please note that we may not have enough data to validate their experience in some of these conditions.
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.
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Cynthia Toth is an Ophthalmologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Toth is highly rated in 14 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Retinopathy of Prematurity, Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Vitrectomy, and Corneal Transplant.
Eye Care Associates OD PA
Scott Cousins is an Ophthalmologist in Durham, North Carolina. Dr. Cousins is highly rated in 15 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Geographic Atrophy, and Diabetic Retinopathy.
Duke Eye Center
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 highly rated in 21 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Retinopathy of Prematurity, Strabismus, Brown Syndrome, Trabeculectomy, and Cataract Removal.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dr. Mays A. El
How do I make an appointment with Dr. Mays A. El?
You can book an appointment with Dr. Mays A. El by calling their office at 919-681-3937. MediFind provides direct contact information so you can schedule visits, second opinions, or consultations without navigating third-party calendars.
Is Dr. Mays A. El a top-rated expert for Papilledema?
MediFind is an objective health platform that identifies experts based on real-world data. Dr. Mays A. El is classified as an Elite expert for Papilledema, meaning they are among the top experts in the country for this condition. This ranking is based on their volume of patients, published research, and peer connections.
What conditions does Dr. Mays A. El specialize in?
While Dr. Mays A. El is a Ophthalmology, they have specific expertise in Papilledema, Increased Intracranial Pressure, and Optic Nerve Atrophy. MediFind analyzes a doctor's articles and referral patterns to identify their specific areas of focus within Ophthalmology.
Does Dr. Mays A. El participate in research or clinical trials?
Yes. Dr. Mays A. El has published 82 articles and abstracts on conditions like Papilledema. You can view a list of Dr. Mays A. El's latest peer-reviewed publications and clinical trial participation on their profile to see if they are active in new treatments.
Does Dr. Mays A. El accept my insurance?
Dr. Mays A. El accepts most major insurance plans, including Aetna and Ambetter. We recommend calling the office directly at 919-681-3937 to verify that your specific plan is currently accepted before your visit.
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
- Elite
- PapilledemaDr. El isElite. Learn about Papilledema.
- Distinguished
- Brown SyndromeDr. El isDistinguished. Learn about Brown Syndrome.
- Increased Intracranial PressureDr. El isDistinguished. Learn about Increased Intracranial Pressure.
- Optic Nerve AtrophyDr. El isDistinguished. Learn about Optic Nerve Atrophy.
- StrabismusDr. El isDistinguished. Learn about Strabismus.
- Advanced
- GlaucomaDr. El isAdvanced. Learn about Glaucoma.
- Ocular Hypertension (OHT)Dr. El isAdvanced. Learn about Ocular Hypertension (OHT).
- Optic Atrophy Type 1Dr. El isAdvanced. Learn about Optic Atrophy Type 1.
- Optic NeuritisDr. El isAdvanced. Learn about Optic Neuritis.
- Temporal ArteritisDr. El isAdvanced. Learn about Temporal Arteritis.
- Tolosa Hunt SyndromeDr. El isAdvanced. Learn about Tolosa Hunt Syndrome.
- Experienced
- Adult-Onset Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy (AVMD)
- Baller-Gerold SyndromeDr. El isExperienced. Learn about Baller-Gerold Syndrome.
- EsotropiaDr. El isExperienced. Learn about Esotropia.
- Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy
- NeurofibromatosisDr. El isExperienced. Learn about Neurofibromatosis.
- Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1)Dr. El isExperienced. Learn about Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1).

