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Sally S. Ong MD

TitleAssistant Professor
InstitutionWake Forest School of Medicine
Address
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD06/2020Clinical Fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery
    Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC06/2018Research Fellowship in Advanced Retinal Imaging
    Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC06/2017Residency in Ophthalmology
    Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham, MA06/2014Internship
    Duke-National University of Singapore, SingaporeMD06/2013Medicine
    Duke University, Durham, NCBS12/2007Biology
    Collapse awards and honors
    201918th Raymond R. Margherio Award, Retina Society 52nd Annual Meeting in London, UK
    2020Evangelos S. Gragoudas Award, the Macula Society 43rd Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA
    2017 - 2018Loris and David Rich Scholar, International Retinal Research Foundation
    2016Resident Excellence Award, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
    2024Alpha Omega Alpha , Wake Forest University School of Medicine
    2025Peer Choice Award: Basic Science, CTSI Research Scholar Showcase

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    Sally S. Ong, MD is a board-certified vitreoretinal surgeon and an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. She specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions, retinal detachments, macular hole, macular pucker/epiretinal membrane and other vitreoretinal conditions. She is originally from Malaysia and first came to the USA to attend college. She graduated with distinction from Duke University and received her medical degree from Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School. She then completed ophthalmology residency at the Duke University Eye Center where she received the Resident Excellence Award from the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. She received additional research training on advanced retinal imaging at Duke University as the Loris and David Rich Scholar (granted by the International Retinal Research Foundation) under the preceptorship of Cynthia A. Toth, MD. Dr. Ong has also completed subspecialty training in vitreoretinal surgery at the renowned Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

    Dr. Ong’s research interests include utilizing advanced retinal imaging to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of retinal conditions, and studying optimal surgical approaches to treat retinal detachments. She has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters, and is the Associate Editor of the Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. In 2019 and 2020, she won the prestigious 18th Raymond R. Margherio Award at the Retina Society 52nd Annual Meeting in London, UK and the Evangelos S. Gragoudas Award at the Macula Society 43rd Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA for her scientific findings on retinal microvascular differences in children with sickle cell disease. Dr. Ong is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Retina Specialists, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. She also serves on the Board of Women in Retina and the North Carolina Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons.

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
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    1. Ong SS, Varghese JS. Closing Gaps in Diabetic Retinopathy Screening in India Using a Deep Learning System. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Mar 03; 8(3):e250991. PMID: 40105846.
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    2. Ong SS. Expanding Vision Services at Federally Qualified Health Centers. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2025 Mar 01; 143(3):251-252. PMID: 39946106.
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    3. Gholami S, Jannat FE, Thompson AC, Ong SSY, Lim JI, Leng T, Tabkhivayghan H, Alam MN. Distributed training of foundation models for ophthalmic diagnosis. Commun Eng. 2025 Jan 22; 4(1):6. PMID: 39843622.
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    4. Ahmed I, Wakabayashi T, Gonzales AF, Ong SS, Light JG, Handa JT, Yonekawa Y, Scott AW. SURGICAL OUTCOMES OF RETINAL DETACHMENT ASSOCIATED WITH PROLIFERATIVE SICKLE CELL RETINOPATHY. Retina. 2024 Sep 01; 44(9):1565-1571. PMID: 39167578.
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    5. Ong SS, Tran D, Westlund E, Ahmed I, Russell GB, Gonzales A, Handa JT, Cai CX. Neighborhood-Level Social Determinants of Health and Presenting Characteristics for Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachments. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2024 Aug 08. PMID: 39115836.
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    6. Foster R, Ong S. Subretinal surprise: Subretinal tractional bands in diabetic tractional retinal detachment. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2024 Dec; 36:102104. PMID: 39188857.
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    7. Suarez MK, Wang SK, Hayes B, Greven MA, Shah RE, Greven C, Russell G, Ong SS. VISUAL OUTCOMES AFTER INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING VERSUS FLAP IN THE CLOSURE OF FULL-THICKNESS MACULAR HOLES. Retina. 2024 Jul 01; 44(7):1171-1179. PMID: 38437847.
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    8. Suarez MK, Martin TJ, Ong SS. Thickened Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Without Hypermyelination in Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay. J Vitreoretin Dis. 2024; 8(4):466-470. PMID: 39148574.
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    9. Browning DJ, Ong SS, Clarkson JG, Huang H. Charity Care in Ophthalmology, 2024. Am J Ophthalmol. 2024 Jun; 262:19-24. PMID: 38341168.
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    10. Shah YS, Abidi M, Ahmed I, Arsiwala-Scheppach LT, Ong SS, Wu D, Handa JT. Risk Factors Associated with Cystoid Macular Edema among Patients Undergoing Primary Repair of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment. Ophthalmol Retina. 2024 May; 8(5):456-464. PMID: 38036083.
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    11. Qin S, Martin TJ, Ong SS. Bilateral Optic Nerve Sheath Meningoceles in an Asymptomatic Patient. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2023 Nov 01; 141(11):e232469. PMID: 37971508.
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    12. Gholami S, Lim JI, Leng T, Ong SSY, Thompson AC, Alam MN. Federated learning for diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023; 10:1259017. PMID: 37901412.
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    13. Ong SS, Peavey JJ, Hiatt KD, Whitlow CT, Sappington RM, Thompson AC, Lockhart SN, Chen H, Craft S, Rapp SR, Fitzpatrick AL, Heckbert SR, Luchsinger JA, Klein BEK, Meuer SM, Cotch MF, Wong TY, Hughes TM. Association of fractal dimension and other retinal vascular network parameters with cognitive performance and neuroimaging biomarkers: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Alzheimers Dement. 2023 Oct 12. PMID: 37828734.
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    14. Zhou A, Ong SS, Ahmed I, Arevalo JF, Cai CX, Handa JT. Socioeconomic disadvantage and impact on visual outcomes in patients with viral retinitis and retinal detachment. J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect. 2022 Aug 02; 12(1):26. PMID: 35916989.
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    15. Viruni N, Ong SS, Wu JH, Liu TYA. Longitudinal Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Malignant Hypertension Choroidopathy: A Case Report. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan-Apr; 13(1):276-281. PMID: 35702524.
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    16. Ong SS, Ahmed I, Gonzales A, Aguwa UT, Beatson B, Dai X, Pham AT, Shah YS, Zhou A, Arsiwala LT, Wang J, Handa JT. Management of uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachments: a comparison of practice patterns and clinical outcomes in a real-world setting. Eye (Lond). 2022 Mar 25. PMID: 35338355.
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    17. Ong SS, Ahmed I, Gonzales A, Al-Fakhri AS, Al-Subaie HF, Al-Qhatani FS, Alsulaiman SM, Mura M, Maia M, Kondo Kuroiwa DA, Maia NT, Berrocal MH, Wu L, Zas M, Francos JP, Cubero-Parra JM, Arsiwala LT, Handa JT, Arevalo JF. Vitrectomy versus Vitrectomy with Scleral Buckling in the Treatment of Giant Retinal Tear Related Retinal Detachments: An International Multicenter Study. Ophthalmol Retina. 2022 Mar 15. PMID: 35304304.
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    18. Aboobakar IF, Ong SS, Nti A, Jiramongkolchai K, Arevalo JF. Treatment of Bilateral Endogenous Aspergillus Endophthalmitis with Multiple Intravitreal Voriconazole Injections with Good Visual Outcome. Case Rep Ophthalmol. 2021 Sep-Dec; 12(3):1002-1007. PMID: 35111037.
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    19. Beatson B, Pham A, Ong SS, Ahmed I, Arevalo JF, Handa JT. Repair of progressive retinal detachment complicating degenerative retinoschisis: surgical management and outcomes in phakic eyes. Int J Retina Vitreous. 2021 Nov 18; 7(1):69. PMID: 34794516.
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    20. Rahman EZ, Shah P, Ong JE, Goldberg M, Ong SS. Purtscher-like retinopathy in a patient with COVID-19 and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2021 Dec; 24:101229. PMID: 34796309.
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    21. Thangamathesvaran L, Ong SS, Wang J, Lance E, Tekes A, Scott AW. Evaluation of Macular Flow Voids on Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography [OCT-A] as Potential Biomarkers for Silent Cerebral Infarction in Sickle Cell Disease. Retina. 2021 Sep 23. PMID: 34608107.
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    22. Ong SS, Liu TYA, Li X, Singh MS. Choriocapillaris flow loss in center-involving retinitis pigmentosa: a quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography study using a novel classification system. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2021 May 31. PMID: 34057549.
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    23. Ong SS, Walter SD, Chen X, Thomas AS, Finn AP, Fekrat S. BILATERAL INTRAVITREAL 0.19-MG FLUOCINOLONE ACETONIDE IMPLANT FOR PERSISTENT NONDIABETIC CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA AFTER VITRECTOMY. Retin Cases Brief Rep. 2021 May 01; 15(3):261-265. PMID: 30015770.
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    24. Ong SS, Hsu ST, Ponugoti A, Toth CA, Vajzovic L. Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases. An Evaluation of the Microvasculature of Macular Nodules in Coats Disease Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Report of 3 Cases. 2021. View Publication.
    25. Ong SS, Hsu ST, Ponugoti A, Toth CA, Vajzovic L. An Evaluation of the Microvasculature of Macular Nodules in Coats Disease Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Report of 3 Cases. J Vitreoretin Dis. 2021; 5(5):431-437. PMID: 37008706.
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    26. Ong SS, Ahmed I, Scott AW. Association of Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy or Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy with Sickle Cell Disease. Ophthalmol Retina. 2021 Jan 19. PMID: 33476854.
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    27. Ong SS, Nti A, Arevalo JF. Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology. Albert D, Miller J, Azar D, Young LH (eds). “Sympathetic Ophthalmia.” Intermediate and Posterior Uveitis. 2020; 1-15.
    28. Ong SS, Vajzovic L. Retinal Vascular Disorders. Sheyman A, Fawzi A (eds). In Retina Atlas. Ed. Sandeep Saxena, Richard Spaide, Eric Souied and Timothy Lai. Coats’ disease. 2020; 67-75. View Publication.
    29. Vogel RN, Ong SS, Handa JT. Duke Manual of Vitreoretinal Surgery. Fekrat, S (ed). Trocar insertion. 2020.
    30. Ong SS, Scott AW. The OCT and OCT Angiography Guidebook. Ehlers JP, Modi Y, Srivastava SK, Kaiser PK (ed). Sickle cell retinopathy and carrier states. 2020.
    31. Ong SS, Patel TP, Singh MS. Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Imaging in Inherited Retinal Diseases. J Clin Med. 2019 Nov 28; 8(12). PMID: 31795241.
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    32. Ong SS, Hsu ST, Grewal D, Arevalo JF, El-Dairi MA, Toth CA, Vajzovic L. Appearance of pediatric choroidal neovascular membranes on optical coherence tomography angiography. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2020 Jan; 258(1):89-98. PMID: 31758259.
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    33. Ong SS, Linz MO, Li X, Liu TYA, Han IC, Scott AW. Retinal Thickness and Microvascular Changes in Children With Sickle Cell Disease Evaluated by Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and OCT Angiography. Am J Ophthalmol. 2020 01; 209:88-98. PMID: 31473216.
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    34. Ong SS, Cummings TJ, Vajzovic L, Mruthyunjaya P, Toth CA. Comparison of Optical Coherence Tomography With Fundus Photographs, Fluorescein Angiography, and Histopathologic Analysis in Assessing Coats Disease. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2019 02 01; 137(2):176-183. PMID: 30476946.
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    35. Toth CA, Ong SS. Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. 2019.
    36. Tran-Viet D, Kelly M, Ong SS . Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection, Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). Optimizing systems and setup for OCT and OCTA imaging of children and infants in the nursery, clinic and operating room. 2019; 6-17.
    37. Tran-Viet D, Kelly M, El-Dairi M, Ong SS, Toth CA . Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). OCT and OCTA image capture in the nursery, clinic and operating room. 2019; 18-27.
    38. Ong SS, Toth CA. Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). Coats disease and Coats plus syndrome. 2019; 149-153.
    39. Ong SS. Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). Persistent Fetal Vasculature. 2019; 252-255.
    40. Ong SS. Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). Chorioretinal coloboma. 2019; 256-260.
    41. Ong SS, El-Dairi M. Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). Myelinated nerve fiber layer. 2019; 261-263.
    42. Ong SS, Thomas AS. Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). Torpedo maculopathy. 2019; 264-266.
    43. Ong SS. Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection. Toth CA, Ong SS (eds). Pathologic myopia. 2019; 267-271.
    44. Ong SS, Postel EA. Sudden Unilateral Decrease in Vision in a Healthy Middle-aged Man. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2018 11 01; 136(11):1299-1300. PMID: 30193364.
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    45. Ong SS, Proia AD, Whitson HE, Farsiu S, Doraiswamy PM, Lad EM. Ocular amyloid imaging at the crossroad of Alzheimer's disease and age-related macular degeneration: implications for diagnosis and therapy. J Neurol. 2019 Jul; 266(7):1566-1577. PMID: 30155741.
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    46. Ong SS, Cummings TJ, Freedman SF. Cholesterol Crystals in the Anterior Segment in Coats' Disease. Ophthalmol Retina. 2018 08; 2(8):791. PMID: 31047531.
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    47. Ong SS, Mruthyunjaya P, Stinnett S, Vajzovic L, Toth CA. Macular Features on Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Imaging Associated With Visual Acuity in Coats' Disease. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018 06 01; 59(7):3161-3174. PMID: 30025132.
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    48. Ong SS, Doraiswamy PM, Lad EM. Controversies and Future Directions of Ocular Biomarkers in Alzheimer Disease. JAMA Neurol. 2018 06 01; 75(6):650-651. PMID: 29710250.
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    49. Ong SS, Thomas AS, Fekrat S. Improvement of Recalcitrant Diabetic Macular Edema After Peritoneal Dialysis. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2017 10 01; 48(10):834-837. PMID: 29020428.
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    50. Ong SS, Buckley EG, McCuen BW, Jaffe GJ, Postel EA, Mahmoud TH, Stinnett SS, Toth CA, Vajzovic L, Mruthyunjaya P. Comparison of Visual Outcomes in Coats' Disease: A 20-Year Experience. Ophthalmology. 2017 09; 124(9):1368-1376. PMID: 28461016.
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    51. Ong SS, Walter SD, Chen X, Vora GK, Daluvoy M, Proia AD, Mruthyunjaya P. Ocular Surface Epithelial Atypia Mimicking Squamous Neoplasia in Association With Ulcerative Colitis. Cornea. 2017 Apr; 36(4):502-505. PMID: 28129293.
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    52. Lad EM, Ong SS, Proia AD. Ocular histopathology in Eastern equine encephalitis: A case report. Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2017 Apr; 5:99-102. PMID: 29503959.
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    53. Ong SS, Vora GK, Gupta PK. Anterior Segment Imaging in Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia. J Ophthalmol. 2016; 2016:5435092. PMID: 27800176.
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    54. Lim A, Muir K, Giaconi J, Turner A, Hung C, Hu WD, Vickers L, Ong SS. Ophthalmology Clinical Trials Handbook. Vickers L, Bhatti MT (eds). Glaucoma. 2015; 245-89.
    55. Ong SS, Sanka K, Mettu PS, Brosnan TM, Stinnett SS, Lee PP, Challa P. Resident compliance with the american academy of ophthalmology preferred practice pattern guidelines for primary open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmology. 2013 Dec; 120(12):2462-2469. PMID: 23916487.
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    56. Mettu PS, Wielgus AR, Ong SS, Cousins SW. Retinal pigment epithelium response to oxidant injury in the pathogenesis of early age-related macular degeneration. Mol Aspects Med. 2012 Aug; 33(4):376-98. PMID: 22575354.
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