Sonal S Tuli

Sonal S Tuli, MD

Professor And Chair; Director Of The Cornea And External Disease Service

Department: MD-OPHTHALMOLOGY

About Sonal S Tuli

I completed a residency in ophthalmology at Indiana University in 2000. Then, I completed a fellowship in cornea and external diseases at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida, and joined the University of Florida Department of Ophthalmology in 2001. I also completed a master’s degree in education in 2012 at the University of Florida. I was appointed interim chair of the Ophthalmology department in October 2013 and named chair in April 2015. I am board-certified in ophthalmology. My interests include cataracts, corneal transplants, ocular surface cancers, dry eye disease and infectious eye diseases. I provide adult and family-based ophthalmic care. I was appointed director of the division of cornea and external diseases in 2003 and have directed its fellowship program since 2003. I served as the director of the ophthalmology residency program from 2007 to 2017. I was a senator in the UF Senate for three years and was on the Faculty Council for six years. I am Vice-Chair of the Promotion and Tenure Committee and is on the Board of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology. I have taught courses at international, national, regional and local conferences, and at the University of Florida. I have more than 50 publications in peer-reviewed journals and am actively involved in clinical as well as laboratory research as a principal investigator or co-investigator. I am on the editorial board of peer-reviewed publications and a reviewer for several scholarly journals. At the national level, I am Vice-chair of the Practicing Ophthalmologists Curriculum Committee and just completed a term as the Chair of the Online Education Committee and the AAO educational representative to the Continuing Medical Education Task Force. I was invited and have served as an oral examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology since 2006.

Accomplishments

Senior Achievement Award
2018 · American Academy of Ophthalmology
Secretariat Award
2013 · American Academic of Ophthalmology
Recognition for the top instruction courses
2011-2013 · American Academy of Ophthalmology
Achievement Award
2010 · American Academy of Ophthalmology
Faculty Enhancement Opportunity Award
2010 · Unknown
Secretariat Award
2010 · American Academy of Ophthalmology
Top 10% of Instruction courses
2008-2019 · American Academy of Ophthalmology
Board Examiner
2007-current · Ophthalmology Certification Examination
Exemplary Teacher Award
2006-2013 · College of Medicine, University of Florida

Teaching Profile

Courses Taught
2020
PAS5010 Intro to Medicine 1
2019-2024
MDU4008 Aspects of the Art of Medicine
2018
MDT7550 Elect Top/Opthalmol
2018
GMS7980 Research for Doctoral Dissertation
2009
MEL7933 Elect Top/Opthalmol

Clinical Profile

Specialties
  • Ophthalmology
Subspecialties
  • Cornea and External Diseases Specialist
Areas of Interest
  • Adult cataract
  • Cataract removal
  • Cloudy cornea
  • Corneal transplant
  • Dry eye syndrome
  • Fuchs dystrophy
  • Keratoconus
  • Pterygium

Research Profile

Areas of Interest
  • Corneal scarring modulation
  • Herpetic eye diseases
  • Infectious corneal diseases
Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID)

0000-0002-1200-8152

Publications

2023
Comparison of the fluorescein angiography-guided and indocyanine green angiography-guided photodynamic therapy in the treatment of non-resolving central serous chorioretinopathy.
Scientific reports. 13(1) [DOI] 10.1038/s41598-023-28890-9. [PMID] 36717729.
2023
Overview of Corneal Transplantation for the Nonophthalmologist.
Transplantation direct. 9(2) [DOI] 10.1097/TXD.0000000000001434. [PMID] 36700069.
2022
Reticular epithelial edema after penetrating keratoplasty in a patient taking netarsudil.
Digital journal of ophthalmology : DJO. 28(8):34-37 [DOI] 10.5693/djo.02.2022.02.002. [PMID] 35854963.
2022
Therapy for contact lens-related ulcers.
Current opinion in ophthalmology. 33(4):282-289 [DOI] 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000861. [PMID] 35779052.
2022
Validation of the Postnatal Growth and Retinopathy of Prematurity (GROP) screening criteria.
Medical hypothesis, discovery & innovation ophthalmology journal. 11(2):77-84 [PMID] 37641787.
2021
Complications of Contact Lenses.
JAMA. 325(18) [DOI] 10.1001/jama.2020.20328. [PMID] 33974017.
2020
What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
JAMA. 324(8) [DOI] 10.1001/jama.2020.1286. [PMID] 32840599.
2019
Evaluation of computer-based retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) education for ophthalmology residents: a randomized, controlled, multicenter study.
Journal of AAPOS : the official publication of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. 23(2):86.e1-86.e7 [DOI] 10.1016/j.jaapos.2018.11.008. [PMID] 30885809.
2019
Infectious corneal ulceration: a proposal for neglected tropical disease status.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 97(12):854-856 [DOI] 10.2471/BLT.19.232660. [PMID] 31819296.
2018
In Vivo Knockdown of the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Latency-Associated Transcript Reduces Reactivation from Latency.
Journal of virology. 92(16) [DOI] 10.1128/JVI.00812-18. [PMID] 29875240.
2018
Surgical management of herpetic keratitis.
Current opinion in ophthalmology. 29(4):347-354 [DOI] 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000484. [PMID] 29708929.
2017
Dual-Phase Iontophoresis for the Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides.
Nucleic acid therapeutics. 27(4):238-250 [DOI] 10.1089/nat.2016.0654. [PMID] 28375679.
2016
Adeno-associated Virus Vectors Efficiently Transduce Mouse and Rabbit Sensory Neurons Coinfected with Herpes Simplex Virus 1 following Peripheral Inoculation.
Journal of virology. 90(17):7894-901 [DOI] 10.1128/JVI.01028-16. [PMID] 27334582.
2016
Crouzon Syndrome: Visual Diagnosis.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 30(3):270-3 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2015.07.007. [PMID] 26283152.
2016
Surgical management of corneal infections.
Current opinion in ophthalmology. 27(4):340-7 [DOI] 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000274. [PMID] 27096375.
2015
Brothers with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 29(1):97-103 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2014.04.006. [PMID] 24954735.
2014
A 4-year-old child who could not supinate her forearm.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 28(4):357-60 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2013.12.007. [PMID] 24593870.
2014
An uncommon cause for a preschool child’s chronic cough.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 28(3):267-71 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2013.10.003. [PMID] 24361051.
2014
Assessment of anti-scarring therapies in ex vivo organ cultured rabbit corneas.
Experimental eye research. 125:173-82 [DOI] 10.1016/j.exer.2014.06.014. [PMID] 24971495.
2014
Scleritis Caused by In Vitro Linezolid-Resistant Nocardia asteroides.
Case reports in ophthalmological medicine. 2014 [DOI] 10.1155/2014/326957. [PMID] 25400961.
2013
Newborn with an absent red reflex.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 27(1):51-5 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2011.10.010. [PMID] 22197583.
2013
Pain and decreased vision in a teenager.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 27(4):304-7 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2011.09.008. [PMID] 23791119.
2013
Reactivation of herpes zoster keratitis in an adult after varicella zoster vaccination.
Cornea. 32(4):508-9 [DOI] 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318277acae. [PMID] 23187165.
2013
The progression of haze formation in rabbit corneas following phototherapeutic keratectomy.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 54(7):4776-81 [DOI] 10.1167/iovs.13-11976. [PMID] 23800768.
2013
Topical Corticosteroids in the Management of Bacterial Keratitis.
Current ophthalmology reports. 1(4) [DOI] 10.1007/s40135-013-0026-0. [PMID] 24404432.
2012
A 6-year-old girl with restricted upward gaze of her right eye.
Pediatrics in review. 33(8):e53-6 [DOI] 10.1542/pir.33-8-e53. [PMID] 22855935.
2012
A 6-year-old with acute-onset generalized lymphadenopathy.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 26(6):465-70 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2012.07.001. [PMID] 22901313.
2012
A connective tissue growth factor signaling receptor in corneal fibroblasts.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 53(7):3387-94 [DOI] 10.1167/iovs.12-9425. [PMID] 22511630.
2012
A multicenter analysis of the ophthalmic knowledge assessment program and American Board of Ophthalmology written qualifying examination performance.
Ophthalmology. 119(10):1949-53 [DOI] 10.1016/j.ophtha.2012.06.010. [PMID] 22841987.
2012
Blepharoptosis: assessment and management.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 26(2):149-54 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2011.08.003. [PMID] 22360934.
2012
Five-year outcomes of eyes with glaucoma drainage device and penetrating keratoplasty.
Journal of glaucoma. 21(9):608-14 [DOI] 10.1097/IJG.0b013e31821db3e5. [PMID] 21602705.
2012
Index of suspicion.
Pediatrics in review. 33(11):525-30 [DOI] 10.1542/pir.33-11-525. [PMID] 23118319.
2012
Index of Suspicion. Case 1: Irritability and signs of peritonitis in a neonate. Case 2: Red eye, excessive tearing, photophobia, irritability, and splenomegaly in an infant. Case 3: 2-year-old girl who has cough, right pulmonary abnormalities.
Pediatrics in review. 33(3):135-41 [DOI] 10.1542/pir.33-3-135. [PMID] 22383516.
2012
Index of suspicion. Case 1: Persistent fever and cough following episodes of emesis in a 7-year-old girl. Case 2: Blurry vision and unilateral dilated pupil in a 14-year-old girl. Case 3: Swelling, pain, and erythema of the thumb in a 10-year-old girl with habits of nail biting and thumb sucking.
Pediatrics in review. 33(1):39-44 [DOI] 10.1542/pir.33-1-39. [PMID] 22210932.
2012
Newborn female with a midline perineal defect.
Clinical pediatrics. 51(2):188-90 [DOI] 10.1177/0009922810392776. [PMID] 21242201.
2012
Proteolytic processing of connective tissue growth factor in normal ocular tissues and during corneal wound healing.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 53(13):8093-103 [DOI] 10.1167/iovs.12-10419. [PMID] 23139278.
2011
Clinical and microbiological characteristics of fungal keratitis in the United States, 2001-2007: a multicenter study.
Ophthalmology. 118(5):920-6 [DOI] 10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.09.011. [PMID] 21295857.
2011
Fungal keratitis.
Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.). 5:275-9 [DOI] 10.2147/OPTH.S10819. [PMID] 21468333.
2011
Girl with a cat eye.
Clinical pediatrics. 50(11):1076-7 [DOI] 10.1177/0009922811407184. [PMID] 21525082.
2011
Occlusive patch therapy for reduction of seizures in Dravet syndrome.
Clinical pediatrics. 50(9):876-8 [DOI] 10.1177/0009922810384726. [PMID] 21127079.
2011
Pediatric residents’ learning styles and temperaments and their relationships to standardized test scores.
Journal of graduate medical education. 3(4):566-70 [DOI] 10.4300/JGME-D-10-00147.1. [PMID] 23205211.
2011
Pseudodendritic fungal epithelial keratitis in an extended wear contact lens user.
Eye & contact lens. 37(1):36-8 [DOI] 10.1097/ICL.0b013e3181f05aae. [PMID] 20864894.
2011
Visual diagnosis: a 10-year-old boy with a persistent rash since birth.
Pediatrics in review. 32(11):e102-4 [DOI] 10.1542/pir.32-11-e102. [PMID] 22045901.
2010
Improving quality and patient satisfaction in a pediatric resident continuity clinic through advanced access scheduling.
Journal of graduate medical education. 2(2):215-21 [DOI] 10.4300/JGME-D-09-00087.1. [PMID] 21975623.
2010
Trends in fungal keratitis in the United States, 2001 to 2007.
Ophthalmology. 117(12):2263-7 [DOI] 10.1016/j.ophtha.2010.03.048. [PMID] 20591493.
2010
Uveitis presenting with decreased vision and leukocoria.
Journal of pediatric health care : official publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners. 24(6):403-7 [DOI] 10.1016/j.pedhc.2010.06.011. [PMID] 20971415.
2009
Blueberry eye: acquired total anterior staphyloma after a fungal corneal ulcer.
Cornea. 28(2):231-2 [DOI] 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318183a3d1. [PMID] 19158574.
2008
Different tropism of adenoviruses and adeno-associated viruses to corneal cells: implications for corneal gene therapy.
Molecular vision. 14:2087-96 [PMID] 19023450.
2008
Reduction in severity of a herpes simplex virus type 1 murine infection by treatment with a ribozyme targeting the UL20 gene RNA.
Journal of virology. 82(15):7467-74 [DOI] 10.1128/JVI.02720-07. [PMID] 18508896.
2007
Delayed ectasia following LASIK with no risk factors: is a 300-microm stromal bed enough?
Journal of refractive surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995). 23(6):620-2 [PMID] 17598583.
2007
Fungal keratitis and contact lenses: an old enemy unrecognized or a new nemesis on the block?
Eye & contact lens. 33(6 Pt 2):415-7; discussion 424 [PMID] 17975436.
2007
Science and strategy for preventing and managing corneal ulceration.
The ocular surface. 5(1):23-39 [PMID] 17252163.
2007
Shewanella putrefaciens keratitis in the lamellar bed 6 years after LASIK.
Journal of refractive surgery (Thorofare, N.J. : 1995). 23(8):830-2 [PMID] 17985805.
2006
Fungal keratitis: emerging trends and treatment outcomes.
Eye & contact lens. 32(6):267-71 [PMID] 17099386.
2006
Immunohistochemical localization of EGF, TGF-alpha, TGF-beta, and their receptors in rat corneas during healing of excimer laser ablation.
Current eye research. 31(9):709-19 [PMID] 16966143.
2003
Connective tissue growth factor expression and action in human corneal fibroblast cultures and rat corneas after photorefractive keratectomy.
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 44(5):1879-87 [PMID] 12714619.
2003
Curvularia keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis from a feline source.
Journal of cataract and refractive surgery. 29(5):1019-21 [PMID] 12781293.
2003
Growth factor, cytokine and protease interactions during corneal wound healing.
The ocular surface. 1(2):53-65 [PMID] 17075633.
2003
Infectious keratitis after LASIK.
Ophthalmology. 110(3):503-10 [PMID] 12623812.
2001
Long-term survival of allogeneic donor cell-derived corneal epithelium in limbal deficient rabbits.
Current eye research. 23(5):336-45 [PMID] 11910522.
1998
Photorefractive keratectomy for residual myopia after radial keratotomy. PRK After RK Study Group.
Journal of cataract and refractive surgery. 24(3):303-11 [PMID] 9559463.

Grants

Sep 2023 ACTIVE
Parasitic Ulcer Treatment Trial
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UNIV OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO via NATL INST OF HLTH NEI
Jun 2023 ACTIVE
A Double-Masked, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, 12-Week Administration With Two-Week Gradual Dose Taper Phase and 38-Week Follow-Up Phase, Phase 3 Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Ripasudil (K-321) Eye Drops After Simultaneous Cataract Surgery and Descemetorhexis in Subjects with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: PPD INVESTIGATOR SERVICES LLC via KOWA RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Apr 2023 ACTIVE
A Double-Masked, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, 12-Week Administration With Two-Week Gradual Dose Taper Phase and 38-Week Follow Up Phase, Phase 3 Study to Investigate the Safety and Efficacy of Ripasudil (K-321) Eye Drops After Descemetorhexis in Subjects with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: PPD INVESTIGATOR SERVICES LLC via KOWA RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Mar 2023 ACTIVE
Efficacy, Safety and Pharmacokinetics of 3 Doses of REC 0/0559 Eye Drops for the Treatment of Stage 2 (Moderate) and 3 (Severe) Neurotrophic Keratitis in Adult Patients
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: SYNEOS HEALTH via RECORDATI RARE DISEASES
Apr 2021 – Dec 2023
Mitigation of Equine Recurrent Uveitis through topical suppressor of Cytokine Signaling-1 mimetic peptide
Role: Co-Project Director/Principal Investigator
Funding: GRAYSON JOCKEY CLUB RES FOU
Dec 2020 ACTIVE
A Double-Masked, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group, 12-week, Phase 2 study to investigate the safety and Efficacy of Ripasudil (K-321) Eye Drops After Descemetorhexis in Patients with Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: PPD INVESTIGATOR SERVICES LLC via KOWA RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Aug 2017 – Jun 2021
Long-term Suppressive Valacyclovir Treatment for Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE via NATL INST OF HLTH NEI
May 2016 – Mar 2021
An Observational, Multicenter Study of the Prevalence of Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis (CTX) in Patient Populations Diagnosed with Early-Onset Idiopathic Bilateral Cataracts Protocol Number 018CTXX15001
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: CTI CLINICAL TRIAL SERVICES via TRAVERE THERAPEUTICS
Dec 2014 – Dec 2017
Clinical Evaluation of the RPS-OH to detect Herpes Simplex Virus
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: RAPID PATHOGEN SCREENING
Sep 2014 – Aug 2016
Regulation of Stromal Wound Healing by Growth Factors
Role: Project Manager
Funding: NATL INST OF HLTH NEI
Feb 2011 – Feb 2020
Stanley Glaucoma Fund
Role: Project Manager
Funding: UF FOUNDATION
Aug 2007 – Dec 2020
Lion's Eye Foundation Award
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: NORTH FL LIONS EYE FOU
Jul 2007 – Dec 2020
Unrestricted Research Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: RESEARCH TO PREVENT BLINDNESS
Jul 2007 – Oct 2020
Retina Disease Research & Education- Equipment Purchases
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UF FOUNDATION
May 2007 – Jun 2022
Overstreet Retinal Eye Disease Research
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding: UF FOUNDATION

Education

Master of Education (M.Ed.)
2014 · University of Florida
Fellowship – Ophthalmology
2001 · Bascom Palmer Eye Institute
Residency – Ophthalmology
2000 · Indiana University
Internship – Internal Medicine
1997 · William Beaumont Hospital

Contact Details

Addresses:
Business Mailing:
PO BOX 100284
DEPARTMENT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
GAINESVILLE FL 326100284
Business Street:
6201 W.Newberry Road-UF AT OAKS
100393
GAINESVILLE FL 32605