A surgeon, inventor, and leader in his field

Steve Charles, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist and leading vitreoretinal surgeon. He has developed many of the techniques and devices used by vitreoretinal surgeons worldwide. He has performed over 24,000 vitreoretinal surgeries, lectured and operated in 20 countries, delivered 12 named lectures, 950 lectures, authored a leading textbook in the field which is now in the 4th edition, authored 140 articles in the medical literature, and written 41 book chapters.

Dr. Charles is on the editorial boards of Retina, Vitreoretinal Surgery and Technology, and a reviewer for Ophthalmology, Archives of Ophthalmology, British Journal of Ophthalmology, and several other peer reviewed journals. He is also a mechanical and electrical engineer, has 48 patents, has helped start several medical device startup companies, and is a consultant for Alcon Laboratories and on the OptiMedica Medical Advisory Board.

He is the Chairman and founder of MicroDexterity Systems, a medical device company building medical robots for dexterity enhancement for minimally invasive knee and hip replacement, spine surgery, and skull base neurosurgery. Dr. Charles has been listed in Best Doctors in America and Best Ophthalmologists in America many times and has received the prestigious Wacker Medal from the Club Jules Gonin, the first Founders Medal from the Vitreous Society, was inducted into the University of Miami School of Medicine Medical Alumni Association Hall of Fame, and was named by Ocular Surgery News as one of the top ten innovators in the past 25 years.

Dr. Charles is a Clinical Professor at the University of Tennessee and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is a member of the Retina Society, Macula Society, Club Jules Gonin, American Society of Retinal Specialists, American Academy of Ophthalmology, his local and state medical and ophthalmology societies, and several engineering organizations. He has three daughters, one practices gynecology, another is in family practice and the youngest runs adventure challenge programs for a non-profit organization. Dr Charles is single, lifts weights, rides horses, plays tennis, water skis, and is an activist for human rights issues.