Lakshmana Kooragayala, M.D.
Ophthalmologist
SPECIALTIES
Medical and Surgical Retina
LOCATIONS
About Lakshmana Kooragayala, M.D.
Born in Anathapur, India, Dr. Lakshmana Kooragayala, “Dr. K,” faced a major life decision at a relatively early age. Choosing to follow a career path in science, he entered medical school at The Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal, India at the age of 17, graduating in 1985. It was during his one-year internship that followed when he first became enamored with the human eye.Dr. K gleams, stating, “I became immediately fascinated with the examination of the eye. There is so much we can see and learn about the body just by looking into the eye.” By the time Dr. K finished his fellowship, he had been in training for 11 years, but his concerns about what opportunities would be available for his twin boys prompted his decision to move to America. The move meant that he would have to complete his specialty training all over again in the U.S.During his second residency and subsequent fellowship training in Louisiana, Dr. K obtained his U.S. citizenship. “After having to train an additional 10 years to become board certified in America, I was here to stay,” Dr. K says with a grin. “Besides, this is where my sons can pursue their dreams, whatever they may be.”Married 20 years, the Kooragayalas recently watched their sons enter Emory University. One is interested in medicine; the other, law.
Born the youngest of six children in Anathapur, India, Dr. Lakshmana Kooragayala – “Dr. K” – faced a major life decision at a relatively early age. In the education system of his homeland, 10th-grade students must choose to follow either the mathematics or science career path in order to continue their education. Preferring science, Dr. K entered medical school when he was only 17 years old. Dr. K attended the Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal, India, graduating in 1985. It was during his 1-year internship that he first became enamored with the human eye.
“There is so much we can see and learn about the body just by looking into the eye,” he says.
Dr. K was also interested in surgery, and during his internship, he began to consider specializing in ophthalmology.
“I discovered ophthalmology would allow me to combine two interests,” he explains. He went on to continue his medical education as a resident at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, a 300-bed hospital where only eye surgeries are performed. The institute trains only the best of the best among medical students, allowing just 6 new students a year to walk its halls. Dr. K was one of those 6.
During the 3 years Dr. K spent training at the institute, his interest in the eye became even more focused. He turned his attention to retinal surgery, and desiring to acquire the highest level of skill, he moved on to yet another level of training. He completed a 1-year fellowship at the Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, one of the largest eye hospitals in the world.
By the time Dr. K finished his fellowship, he had been in training for 11 years. One might have expected him to immerse himself in his profession and begin reaping its rewards. However, by then, things had changed in India and he came to worry about what opportunities would be available for his two children, twin boys.
It was then that he decided to move his family to America, even though it meant he would have to complete his specialty training all over again in the U.S. For Dr. K, moving to America literally meant starting over.
Settling initially in New York, he completed his second internship, this time in internal medicine, at the New York Medical College, Lincoln Hospital. Quickly, his talents were realized and he found himself in the unique position of being on the medical faculty while completing the internship.
The joint physician-in-training/faculty role was repeated when Dr. K entered his second residency and subsequent fellowship training at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. At times, he found himself lecturing to the very people who worked alongside him as fellow residents.
It was during his time in Louisiana that Dr. K obtained his U.S. citizenship.
“After having to train an additional 10 years to become board-certified in America, I was here to stay,” Dr. K says with a grin. “Besides, this is where my sons can pursue their dreams, whatever they may be.”
Married for 30 years, the Kooragayalas have 2 sons. One son is pursuing a career as a physician and the other is pursuing a career as a lawyer. Dr. K does manage to relax when at home. In addition to growing vegetables native to India, he enjoys puttering around the house.
“I like being a handyman,” he says, “although I have to be careful with my hands.” Operating at the micron level inside the eye, Dr. K must protect his highly trained hands as he has invested over 20 years in them.
“That’s why I want to take up watercolor painting and drawing,” he says with a laugh.
Lakshmana Kooragayala, M.D.
Medical Retina
Vitreo-Retinal Surgery
Uveitis
Medical License in the State of Georgia
Medical License in the State of Kansas
Board Certified – Ophthalmology 2004
John W. Henderson Award for the best Resident Presentation at 11th Annual Meeting of Ophthalmology Residents and Alumni, LSUHSC – Shreveport, LA
Steve Hansen Award for the Outstanding Poster Presentation at Southwestern Association for Clinical Microbiology in New Orleans, LA
Gold Medal in Internal Medicine, awarded by The Physicians Association of India
Fellowship – Retina- Vitreous Surgery
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 1993 – 1996
Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India, 1990 – 1991
Residency – Ophthalmology
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, 1999 – 2002
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, 1987 – 1990
Internship
Internal Medicine, Lincoln Hospital affiliate, New York Medical College, 1992-93.
Rotating Internship, M.G.M. Hospital, Warangal, India, 1985 – 1986
Doctor of Medicine
Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal, India, 1980 – 1985
WellStar Hospital
Northside Hospital – Main Campus
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Society of Retinal Specialists
All India Ophthalmological Society, India
Current Research
Age-related macular degeneration
1. Evaluating Abicipar for Safety and Treatment Effect in Patients With Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
2. A Safety and Efficacy Study of Abicipar Pegol in Patients With Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
3. Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Conbercept Intravitreal Injection in Subjects with Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Retinopathy
1. Evaluating Treatment for Center Involved DME in Eyes with Very Good Visual Acuity
2. Genes in Diabetic Retinopathy Project
3. Intravitrous Anti- VEGF Treatment for Prevention of Vision Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy in Eyes at High Risk
4. Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Aflibercept to Prevent Progression to Vision-Threatening Events in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy
Uveitis
1. Suprachoroidal Injection of Triamcinolone Acetonide With IVT Aflibercept in Subjects With Macular Edema Following RVO
Past research
Age-related macular degeneration
1. Study of Intravitreal REGN2176-3 in Patients With Neovascular (“Wet”) Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
2. Efficacy and Safety of RTH258 Versus Aflibercept
Diabetic Retinopathy
1. A Safety and Efficacy Study of Oral Danazol (a Previously Approved Drug)in the Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
2. Controlled Study in Subjects with Diabetic Macular Edema (DME)
Uveitis
1. Safety,Tolerability and Efficacy of Intravitreal LFG316 in Patients With Active Non-infectious Intermediate-, posterior-or Panuveitis
2. Open-label Safety Study of Suprachoroidal Triamcinolone Acetonide Injectable Suspension in Patients with Non-Infectious Uveitis
3. Suprachoroidal Injection of CLS-TA in Subjects With Macular Edema Associated With Non-infectious Uveitis
4. Safety and Efficacy of Iontophoretic Dexamethasone Phosphate Ophthalmic Solution in Non-Infectious Anterior Uveitis Vitreomacular Adhesion
5. Ocriplasmin Clinical Case Compendium
6. Retrospective study for previous patients treated with JETREA
7. Observation of JETREA patients for the treatment of VMA
Vision
1. To Evaluate the Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Cariprazine as an Adjunctive Treatment to Antidepressant Therapy (ADT) in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
2. ReSTOR +8D multifocal IOL compared to ACRYSOF IQ Monofocal IOL in subjects with AMD and Cataract
Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon, Marietta Eye Clinic, Marietta, GA, 2005 – present
Assistant Professor, Vitreo-retinal surgery, Dept. of Ophthalmology, L.S.U. Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, 2002 – 2005
Instructor, Vitreo-retinal surgery, Dept. of Ophthalmology, L.S.U. Medical Center, Shreveport, LA, 1996 – 1999
Faculty, Retina Dept., Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India, 1991 – 1992
Jogging, reading, and handyman activities
