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Faculty Members:
Laura Joan Balcer, M.D., M.S.C.E.
Professor of Neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Chief, Multiple Sclerosis Division, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Senior Scholar, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Department: Neurology
Contact information
Department of Neurology
3 East Gates Building
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
3 East Gates Building
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Office: 215-349-8072
Fax: 215-662-3362
Fax: 215-662-3362
Graduate Group Affiliations
Education:
B.S. (Biology)
College of William and Mary, 1987.
M.D. (Medicine)
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1991.
M.S.C.E. (Clinical Epidemiology)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2000.
B.S. (Biology)
College of William and Mary, 1987.
M.D. (Medicine)
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1991.
M.S.C.E. (Clinical Epidemiology)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2000.
Post-Graduate Training
Intern in Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1991-1992.
Resident in Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1992-1995.
Fellowship, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Scheie Eye Institute, Philadelphia, 1995-1996.
Intern in Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1991-1992.
Resident in Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 1992-1995.
Fellowship, Neuro-Ophthalmology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Scheie Eye Institute, Philadelphia, 1995-1996.
Certifications
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Certificate # 42767 , 2006.
Permanent linkAmerican Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Certificate # 42767 , 2006.
Description of Research Expertise
Dr. Balcer’s primary research focus is on the identification and development of clinical visual outcome measures for multiple sclerosis (MS) trials. Dr. Balcer’s group, funded jointly by the National Eye Institute and the National MS Society, focuses on determining which clinical tests best identify visual dysfunction in patients with MS. These studies have also examined the relation of visual function to neurologic impairment, magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, and health-related quality of life. Data from these and other investigations at U. Penn have led to the inclusion of low-contrast letter acuity as a secondary outcome measure in 2 international MS treatment trials. A new ocular imaging technique, optical coherence tomography (OCT), has been used to examine retinal nerve fiber layer and macular thickness as biologic markers of neuronal and axonal loss in patients with MS.Description of Clinical Expertise
Neuro-Ophthalmology; Neuro-Ophthalmologic features of multiple sclerosis (MS)Selected Publications
Ko M.W., Chang S.C., Ridha M.A., Ney J.J., Ali T.F., Friedman D.I., Mejico L.J., Volpe N.J., Galetta S.L., Balcer L.J., Liu G.T.: Weight gain and recurrence in idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a case-control study. Neurology 76: 1564-1567, 2011.Galetta K.M., Barrett J., Allen M., Madda F., Delicata D., Tennant A.T., Branas C.C., Maguire M.G., Messner L.V., Devick S., Galetta S.L., Balcer L.J.: The King-Devick test as a determinant of head trauma and concussion in boxers and MMA fighters. Neurology 76: 1456-1472, 2011.
Syc S.B., Warner C.V., Saidha S., Farrell S.K., Conger A., Bisker E.R., Wilson J., Frohman E.M., Balcer L.J., Calabresi P.A.: Cup to disc ratio by optical coherence tomography is abnormal in multiple sclerosis. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 302: 19-24, 2011.
Saidha S., Syc S.B., Eckstein C., Warner C.V., Farrell S.K., Oakley J.D., Durbin M.K., Meyer S.A., Balcer L.J., Frohman E.M., Ratchford J.N., Calabresi P.A.: Primary retinal pathology in multiple sclerosis as detected by optical coherence tomography. Brain 134: 518-533, 2011.
Pineles S.L., Birch E.E., Talman L.S., Sackel D.J., Frohman E.M., Calabresi P.A., Galetta S.L., Maguire M.G., Balcer L.J.: One eye or two: a comparison of binocular and monocular low-contrast acuity testing in multiple sclerosis. American Journal of Ophthalmology 152: 133-140, 2011.
Galetta K.M., Brandes L.E., Maki K., Dziemianowicz M.S., Laudano E., Allen M., Lawler K., Sennett B., Wiebe D., Devick S., Messner L.V., Galetta S.L., Balcer L.J.: The King-Devick test and sports-related concussion: study of a rapid visual screening tool in a collegiate cohort. Journal of the Neurological Sciences 309: 34-39, 2011.
Avery R.A., Liu G.T., Fisher M.J., Quinn G.E., Belasco J.B., Phillips P.C., Maguire M.G., Balcer L.J.: Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in children with optic pathway gliomas. American Journal of Ophthalmology 151: 542-549, 2011.
Soiberman U., Stolovitch C., Balcer L.J., Regenbogen M., Constantini S., Kesler A. : Idiopathic intracranial hypertension in children: visual outcome and risk of recurrence. Child's Nervous System 27: 1913-1918, 2011.
Davies E.C., Galetta K.M., Sackel D.J., Talman L.S., Frohman E.M., Calabresi P.A., Galetta S.L., Balcer L.J.: Retinal ganglion cell layer volumetric assessment by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in multiple sclerosis: application of a high-precision manual estimation technique. Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology 31: 260-264, 2011.
Pineles S.L., Wilson C.A., Balcer L.J., Slater R., Galetta S.L. : Combined optic neuropathy and myelopathy secondary to copper deficiency. Survey of Ophthalmology 55: 386-392, 2010.
