Vatinee Y. Bunya, MD, MSCE
Harold G. Scheie Chair & Associate Professor of Ophthalmology
Director, Women in Ophthalmology Mentoring Initiative, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania
Physical Safety & Awareness Committee Member, Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania
Committee Member, Penn Presbyterian WorkPlace Violence Committee
Director of Clinical Research, Scheie Eye Institute
Member, Faculty Wellness Committee, Perelman School of Medicine
Penn Cobalt Community Page Sponsor, University of Pennsylvania
Director, Penn Dry Eye & Ocular Surface Center
Department: Ophthalmology
Contact information
Scheie Eye Institute
51 North 39th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
51 North 39th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Publications
Education:
BA (Molecular Biology)
Princeton University, Cum Laude, 1996.
MD (Medicine)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2001.
MSCE (Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology)
University of Pennsylvania, 2019.
BA (Molecular Biology)
Princeton University, Cum Laude, 1996.
MD (Medicine)
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2001.
MSCE (Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology)
University of Pennsylvania, 2019.
Post-Graduate Training
Transitional Intern, Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA, 2001-2002.
Ophthalmology Resident, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 2002-2005.
Co-Chief Resident, Wills Eye Institute, 2004-2005.
Cornea Fellow, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 2005-2006.
Transitional Intern, Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, CA, 2001-2002.
Ophthalmology Resident, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 2002-2005.
Co-Chief Resident, Wills Eye Institute, 2004-2005.
Cornea Fellow, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, 2005-2006.
Certifications
American Board of Ophthalmology, 2007.
Permanent linkAmerican Board of Ophthalmology, 2007.
Description of Research Expertise
Dr. Bunya has extensive experience in the study of dry eye and diseases that affect the ocular surface and eyelids. She also has a special interest in the study of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease that classically causes dry eye and dry mouth. Dr. Bunya has been the principal investigator for several dry eye clinical trials. She currently is working to develop better ways to measure dry eye and to screen patients for Sjogren's syndrome.Key Words
Dry eye, Sjogren's syndrome, meibomian gland dysfunction
Description of Clinical Expertise
Dr. Bunya is the Co-Director of the Penn Dry Eye & Ocular Surface Center. She cares for patients with dry eye, Sjogren's syndrome, and other disorders that affect the ocular surface.Selected Publications
Ha-Neul Yu 1, Fangming Jin 2, Aida Abashawl 3, Ahlam Awad Mohammed 3, Sarity Dodson 4, Wondu Alemayehu 4, Alemu Gemechu 4, Aemero Abateneh Mengesha 3 5, Dereje Adugna Kumsa 6, Vatinee Y Bunya 2, Maureen G Maguire 2, Matthew J Burton 7 8, John H Kempen 9 10 11 12 13, Gui-Shuang Ying 2; FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial Research Group : Baseline Predictors for the Postoperative Trachomatous Trichiasis Following Lid Rotation Surgery in the FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial. Ophthalmic Epidemiology 28: 1-10, Apr 2026.John H Kempen 1, Aida Abashawl 2, Ahlam Awad Mohammed 3, Sarity Dodson 4, Wondu Alemayehu 4, Fangming Jin 5, Alemu Gemechu 4, Aemero Abateneh Mengesha 6, Dereje Adugna Kumsa 7, Yineng Chen 5, Kathleen McWilliams 5, Berhanu Tulu 2, Genemo Abdela 2, Alemayehu Megersa 4, Tolossa Cheru 4, Gadisa Mohammad 4, Tony Succar 8, Vatinee Y Bunya 5, K Davina Frick 9, Maureen G Maguire 5, Matthew J Burton 10, Gui-Shuang Ying 11; FLAME Trial Research Group: Evaluation of fluorometholone as adjunctive medical therapy for trachomatous trichiasis surgery (FLAME): a parallel, double-blind, randomised controlled field trial in the Jimma Zone, Ethiopia. Lancet Global Health 14(3): e395-e406, Mar 2026.
David Hsu, Yinxi Yu, Esen K Akpek, Lee W Guo, Tiffany Liu, Mina Massaro-Giordano, Soo Abboud, Franz Fogt, Devica Bhutani, Emma Iacobucci, Jay Pendyala, Frederick B Vivino, Alan N Baer, Gui-Shuang Ying, Vatinee Y Bunya : Prevalence of novel Sjögren's antibodies in a multi-center cohort of dry eye patients. Ocular Surface 39: 58-65, Jan 2026.
Johr CR, George MD, Bunya VY, Sandorfi N, Massaro-Giordano M, Vivino FB: Diagnostic Use of Testing for Novel Murine Autoantibodies for Sjögren Disease in the Rheumatology Outpatient Setting. Arthritis Care Res Nov 2025 Notes: Online ahead of print.
Zhao AT, He J, Asbell PA, Bunya VY, Ying GS, and the DREAM Research Group: Association of Cataract History with Dry Eye Disease Signs and Symptoms in the DREAM Study. Clin Ophthalmol Page: 2709-2718, August 2025.
Kempen JH, Chen Y, Abashawl A, Mohammed AA, Dodson S, Alemayehu W, Gemechu A, Mengesha AA, Kumsa DA, Succar T, McWilliams K, Jin F, Bunya VY, Maguire MG, Burton MJ, Ying GS, FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial Research Group : Outcomes of posterior lamellar tarsal rotation vs bilamellar tarsal rotation for trachomatous trichiasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 19(7): e0013152, July 2025.
Shen C, He J, Asbell PA, Bunya VY, Ying GS; Dry Eye Assessment and Management Study Research Group: Association between Race and Ethnicity and Severity of Dry Eye Disease. Ophthalmology Page: 620-622, May 2025.
Gupta AS, Linaburg TJ, Iacobucci E, Augello PA, Qin VL, Ying GS, Bunya VY, Massaro M: Varenicline Solution Nasal Spray for the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease in Sjogren's Disease: A Pilot Study. Clin Ophthalmol Page: 1073-1084, Mar 2025.
Jacob A, He J, Peck A, Jamil A, Bunya V, Alexander JJ, Ambrus JL: Metabolic changes during evolution of Sjögren's in both an animal model and human patients. Heliyon Dec 2024.
Mohammed AA, Abashawl A, Dodson S, Alemayehu W, Gemechu A, Mengesha AA, Kumsa D, Succar T, Chen Y, McWilliams K, Bunya VY, Maguire MG, Burton MJ, Ying GS, Kempen JH; FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial Research Group: The FLuorometholone as Adjunctive MEdical Therapy for Trachomatous Trichiasis Surgery (FLAME) Trial: Study Design. medRXiv July 2024.
