Martin Uram

Martin Uram (born July 8, 1952) is an American physician, ophthalmologist, and businessman who is an internationally recognized retinal and glaucoma surgeon. He is the inventor of the ophthalmic laser video endoscope Patent: Laser Video Endoscope 1992 #5,121,740, the novel surgical technique of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) Endoscopic CycloPhotocoagulation (ECP) and endoscopic vitreoretinal surgery Journal of Retina and Vitreous, Endoscopic Vitreoretinal Surgery. Uram was founder and Chairman of Endo Optiks corporation, manufacturer of complex optical and laser technology, that supports endoscopic ophthalmic surgery. He authored the standard textbook in the field, Endoscopic Surgery in Ophthalmology Martin Uram, M.D., M.P.H. Endoscopic Surgery in Ophthalmology. Copyright 2003 by LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 
Uram is the inventor of AG-920, an investigational drug used in the treatment of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other retinal disorders. He is founder and Chairman of American Genomics.
Uram was born in Pittsburgh. His father, Herbert was a physician and surgeon at West Penn Hospital for over 40 years and his mother, Beverly, also from Pittsburgh was an artist. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1972 and a Master of Public Health degree from Tulane University in 1973. He graduated from Hahnemann Medical College (now Drexel University School of Medicine) with an MD degree in 1977. Uram completed his ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia in 1981. 
Uram finished a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery and macular diseases at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in 1982. That year he initiated a private practice limited to the treatment of retinal and macular disorders in Manhattan and Little Silver, New Jersey. He became an attending surgeon on the retina service at Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital.
Early in his practice, Uram invented the ophthalmic laser video endoscope, a 0.89mm diameter microendoscope that permitted simultaneous imaging and laser delivery to ocular structures that were previously difficult or impossible to view Endoscope offers versatility over microscope for retinal surgeries. December 8, 2017. Modern Retina.. He also invented a console combining video technology, illumination, and a solid state laser Patent: Laser Endoscope System Console, 1995 #5,509,480.. Combining these technologies enabled a number of novel therapies in the management of glaucoma and retinal disorders.BVI Medical, Endo Optiks Clinical
In 1991, Uram founded Endo Optiks Corporation that manufactured and distributed the MicroProbe, fully integrated laser and endoscopy system worldwide. As video, laser, and imaging technologies advanced and international regulatory and reimbursement environments evolved over the course of twenty years, he was responsible for adapting Endo Optiks to these changes. In 1998 he designed and developed the E2 portable MicroProbe system and E4 endoscopy system that enabled Endo Optiks, Inc. to further expand distribution to developing countries. In 2014, the company assets were acquired by Beaver-Visitec, International, Inc. 
At the inception of Endo Optiks, Inc. glaucoma surgery was confined to intractable forms of the disease. Recognizing that there was an unmet need to treat glaucoma patients with mild to moderate disease, Uram studied ECP performed at the time of routine cataract surgery in the setting of medically controlled glaucoma. He recognized that this treatment paradigm could potentially be a safe and efficacious surgical solution for millions of patients with this progressive disease.
Uram authored the first “MIGS” (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery)Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery paper in 1995. Uram M. Combined Phacoemulsification, Ciliary Process Photocoagulation and Intraocular Lens Insertion in Glaucoma Management. Ophthalmic Surgery 1995;26:346-352 Uram received criticism from the glaucoma specialist community for introducing a procedure that could be performed by surgeons who did not specialize in Glaucoma. Today, mild-moderate glaucoma is routinely surgically treated at the time of cataract surgery and ECP is performed this way over 75% of the time in the US.New CPT Codes 2020 Many new, competing MIGS technologies have been fostered over the past 10 years and more continue to be developed. Consequently, in the United States, the management of mild-moderate glaucoma surgically has expanded beyond the expertise of the glaucoma specialist and is also performed by comprehensive ophthalmologists, cornea and cataract specialists.
This technology is also use by veterinarians and ECP has become a standard in the care of animals with glaucoma.Diode Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Veterinary Ophthalmology. Veterinary Medicine Journal;2015/IssueI/Art14.
Uram continued in clinical practice developing an international patient population who required his unique skills in endoscopic ophthalmic surgery to treat intractable forms of glaucoma in children and adults as well as those who previously failed multiple retinal detachment surgeries.
Uram has published over 20 peer reviewed scientific articles, authored the standard text in the field, Endoscopic Surgery in Ophthalmology published by Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins and has received seven United States patents.
Uram is married to Susan Greenberg MD, an oncologist and they have two adult children. Their son, Jesse Uram is an entertainment business executive and daughter Catherine Uram is a physician. 
* Achievement Award – 2010, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology 
* Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award – Medicine – 1994, Ophthalmic Laser Endoscope,
* Achievement Award – 2004, American Academy of Ophthalmology 
* New Jersey Top Doctor Achievement Award 2012 - 2020
* American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award 
* Achievement Award – American Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmology
* Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology - 1982
* Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners - 1978
Uram is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS), the American Society of Retinal Specialists (ASR S), the New York Laser Society and the New Jersey Ophthalmic Society. 
* Tan JCH, Francis BA, Uram M, et al. Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation and Pars Plana Ablation (ECP-Plus) to Treat Refractory Glaucoma. Journal of Glaucoma 20 
* Francis BA, Kwon J, Uram M, et al. Endoscopic Ophthalmic Surgery of the Anterior Segment. Survey of Ophthalmology 2013,110:305-326
* Uram M, Endoscopic Fluorescein Angiography of the Ciliary Body in Glaucoma Management. Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers 1996;27:174-178 
* Uram M, Endoscopic Fluorescein Angiography, Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers 1996;27:174-178 
* Uram M, Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in the Management of Aphakic and Pseudophakic Glaucoma. Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science 1996;37:262 
* Uram M, An Illuminated Laser Probe for Vitreoretinal Surgery. Archives of Ophthalmology, 1995;113:263-4 
* Uram M, Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Glaucoma Management. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, 1995;11:19-29 
* Uram M, Combined Phacoemulsification, Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation, and Intraocular Lens Insertion in Glaucoma Management. Ophthalmic Surgery 1995; 26:346-352 
* Uram M, Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Glaucoma Management: Indications, Results, and Complications. Ophthalmic Practice 1995;13:173-185 
* Uram M, Diode laser Endocyclodestruction. Ophthalmic Surgery 1994;25:268-269 
* Uram M, Laser Endoscope Management of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy. Ophthalmology 1994;1404 -1408 
* Uram M, Transcleral Nd:YAG Laser Cyclodestruction, Ophthalmic Surgery 1993;24 :133 
* Uram M, Ophthalmic Laser Microendoscope in the Management of Neovascular Glaucoma. Ophthalmology 1992; Volume 99, Number 12, December 1992 
* Uram M, Ophthalmic Laser Microendoscope Endophotocoagulation. Ophthalmology 1992; * Volume 99, Number 12, December 1992 
* M A Ross, L E Magargal, M Uram. Branch Retinal-Artery Obstruction: A Review of 201 Eyes. Ann Ophthalmol.1989 Mar;21(3):103-7. 
* L.E. Magargal, R.E. Goldberg, M.Uram, J.R. Gonder, G.C. Brown, Recurrent Microhyphema in the Pseudophakic Eye. Ophthalmology 1983;90:1231-4 
* Uram M, Sturge-Weber Syndrome: Cutaneous Manifestations. J. Clinical Neuro Ophthalmology. 1982;2:245-248 
* M. Lebwohl, D. DiStefano, M. Uram, L. Yannuzzi, Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum and Mitral Valve Prolapse. New England Journal of Medicine. 1982;307:228-31 
* Uram M, Letter to the Editor, Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum, New England Journal of Medicine. 1982;307:1453 
* Uram M. Letter to the Editor, Technology Assessment of Cyclophotocoagulation. Ophthalmology 110(5), 874, 2003
* Y. Fisher, A. Turtz, M. Gold, B. Cohen, M. Uram, Use of Sodium Hyaluronate in Reformation and Reconstruction of the Persistent Flat Anterior Chamber in the Presence of Severe Hypotony. * Ophthalmic Surgery. 1982; 13:819-21 
* Laser Video Endoscope 1992 #5,121,740
* Laser Endoscope System Console 1995 #5,509,480.
* Autoclavable Endoscope 2004 #6,997,868
* Contact Laser Surgical Endoscope and Associated Myringotomy Procedure 1999 #5,893,828
* Illuminating Endo-photocoagulating Probe 1994 #5,323,766
* Aspirating Endoscope 1993 #5,213,092
* Laser Video Endoscope 2019 #10,226,167
Category:American physicians
Category:American ophthalmologists
Category:American businesspeople
Category:People from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania