CONTACT ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
It’s rewarding to see children that I have treated as infants or toddlers grow up functioning well at school, participating in sports, driving and building successful careers with their best possible vision.
Appointments and Honors
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship Director 2022 – Present
Co-Chair Global Ophthalmology Initiatives
Subspecialty
Pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus
Medical and Surgical Interests
- Amblyopia
- Congenital tear duct obstruction
- Pediatric and adult strabismus
- Pediatric cataract and intraocular lenses
- Pediatric eyelid surgery
- Pediatric glaucoma
Research Interests
- Pediatric glaucoma genetics
- Pediatric glaucoma vision outcomes and factors associated with visual development
- PEDIG clinical trial binocular amblyopia treatment vs. standard of care
- Pediatric glaucoma anterior segment OCT imaging
Research Highlights
Dr. Bradfield published a comprehensive, multicenter study with the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group that determined normative central corneal thickness (CCT) in healthy children. Dr. Bradfield found that CCT increases with age from 1 to 11 years before stabilizing. In addition, the greatest increase in CCT was present in the youngest age groups. Her work revealed that African American children have thinner central corneas on average than white and Hispanic children who demonstrate similar CCT. These age and racial differences have implications on how applanation tonometry, a test that measures pressure in the eye, is calculated. Differences in CCT could significantly affect the clinical assessment of glaucoma risk. The publication has been cited over 30 times since 2011 and presented six times at national and international conferences.
Central corneal thickness in children.
Dr. Bradfield also mentored a senior ophthalmology resident, Thaisa Barbosa, MD, University of São Paulo, Brazil during a 5-week research project and clinical observership program at UW-Madison. Dr. Barbosa’s research participation resulted in the publication with Drs. Bradfield, Barbara Blodi, Michael Struck, Terri Young and associate scientist, Stuart Tompson. The ground-breaking study demonstrated that Schlemm’s canal, the major channel within the angle of the eye allowing for aqueous drainage, can be visualized three-dimensionally by OCT in infants with and without glaucoma. This diagnostic imaging analysis can now be incorporated into a clinical care algorithm to include concomitant genetic testing to better anticipate and prepare for pre-operative, surgical and post-operative intervention and care for childhood glaucoma patients.
Comparative intraoperative anterior segment OCT findings in pediatric patients with and without glaucoma
Education
Fellowship: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Riley Children’s Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Internship: St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, IL
Medical School: Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL