Dr. Sjaarda

Dr. Raymond Sjaarda is a retina specialist and vitreoretinal surgeon who has been in private practice in Maryland for 25 years, and cofounded Retina Specialists with Dr. Thompson in 1996. He has been a teacher of ophthalmologists and retina specialists in-training with many of the post-graduate programs in Baltimore. In addition to this, he has been involved in active research throughout his career.

Dr.Sjaarda is first and foremost a very active clinician. He specializes in disorders of the retina and vitreous including age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, macular hole, epiretinal membranes, retinal detachment, retinal tears, vein and artery occlusions, and other less common disorders. He examines and treats patients at his three locations in Towson, Columbia, and Frederick daily, participating in over 6000 visits annually. He has performed tens of thousands of outpatient surgeries and minor procedures. He utilizes the latest technology for diagnostics and therapeutics. He remains passionately committed to providing the most advanced care in a humane and personal setting.

Dr. Sjaarda has been an active researcher throughout his career. He has served as a primary investigator or sub investigator on dozens of clinical trials for national and international collaborative trials in macular degeneration, branch vein occlusion and diabetic retinopathy among other areas of research. He has performed and continues to perform original research, and has authored or co-authored numerous scientific articles published in prestigious medical journals. He has presented this work at national and international ophthalmology and retina specific meetings. For these efforts he has been awarded the Achievement (Honor) Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Achievement Award and Senior Achievement Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists.

Dr. Sjaarda has been involved with medical education. He has and continues to mentor and lecture to ophthalmology residents in Baltimore. He has served as volunteer faculty, assisting with patient care including diagnosis and treatment including surgery. He was twice awarded the Residency Teaching Award at GBMC by the Hopkins residents.

Dr. Sjaarda (pronounced sharda) is of Dutch heritage, third generation, and grew up in Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan for his undergraduate studies in cellular and molecular biology and microbiology, where he was a James B. Angell Scholar. He was graduated from Duke University Medical School in 1986 where he started his interest in ophthalmic research. Following internship he completed his ophthalmology residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He completed his training in vitreoretinal surgery with the late Ronald Michels, as well as Robert Murphy and Bert Glaser, all formerly associated with the Wilmer Eye Clinic of the Johns Hopkins Hospital.