research activities
My research interests include public health and policy measures to eliminate avoidable childhood blindness both locally and abroad. Specifically, my aim is to help design and implement effective and sustainable government policies, legislation, community programs and advocacy initiatives to improve screening, early detection and treatment of childhood vision disorders. I have worked on childhood blindness prevention programs locally in Madison, WI, Philadelphia, PA, Miami, FL and Los Angeles, CA and worldwide in Argentina, El Salvador, Niger, India, The Philippines and Mexico. My work has led me to foster collaborations and unite diverse stakeholders such as Universities, Ministries of Health, Non Governmental Organization’s, UNICEF and the World Health Organization, with the common mission of eliminating avoidable causes of childhood blindness. My ultimate career goal is to fiercely advocate for children worldwide making sure that every child, no matter what zip code or country they may be born in, has the opportunity to develop his or her full visual potential and beyond.
peer-reviewed publications
1. Hariharan L, et al, “ Reducing Childhood Blindness from Retinopathy of Prematurity through Policy, Advocacy and International Collaboration”, Journal of Health Policy and Planning, May, 2018
2. Hariharan, L, et al, “ Policy, Regulation and Advocacy in Global Eye Banking: A Best Practice Guide with Tools & Strategies”, SightLife Global Programs, June, 2018
3. Subburaman GB, Hariharan L, Ravilla TD, Ravilla RD, and Kempen JH, “Demand for Tertiary Eye Care Services in Developing Countries”, American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2015. Oct; 160(4): 619-27.
4. Daubert J, Hariharan L, Pasol J, McKewon C, and Cavuoto K, “Ocular Neuromyotonia Noted after Recent Botulunimum Toxin Injection for Sixth Nerve Palsy Following Resection of a Posterior Fossa Skull Base Meningioma”, Neuro-Ophthalmology Online Case Report, November, 2014.
5. Mehta S, Hariharan L, Ho AC, Kempen JH. “Peripapillary choroidal neovascularization in pars planitis” Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection 2013, 3:13.
6. Frick KD, Hariharan L, Repka MX, Chandler D, Melia BM, Beck RW, for the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group “Cost Effectiveness of Alternative Approaches to Managing Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in Infants: The Importance of the Spontaneous Resolution Rate”, Archives of Ophthalmology: Health Economics Section: 2011 May; 129(5): 603-9.
7. Struck MC, Hariharan L, Kushner BJ, Bradfield Y, Hetzel S. “Surgical management of clinically significant hypertropia associated with exotropia”, Journal of the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (J AAPOS). 2010 Jun; 14(3): 216-20.
8. Kushner BK and Hariharan L, “Observations About Objective and Subjective Ocular Torsion”, Ophthalmology. 2009 Oct; 116 (10): 2001-10.
9. McElroy, J, Remington PL, Gangnon R, Hariharan, L, Anderson L, “Identifying Geographic Disparities in the Early Detection of Breast Cancer Using a Geographic Information System”, Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research Practice and Policy, Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2006 Jan; 3(1).
10. Reyes, S. Hariharan L, “ Estudio Comparative de la situation de desnutricion en ninos menores de cinco anos en dos Instituciones en el provincia de Santiago Repubica Dominincana, Augusto-Dcciembre, 2003”, (Comparative Study on malnourished children under five years of age from two institutions in Santiago, Dominican Republic, August- December, 2003) Santiago Public Health Department Annual Report, 2004. Pg 6-9.
book chapters published
“ Foundations for Global Health Practice” edited by Lori DiPrete Brown PhD Global Perspectives chapter entitled:” The Global Burden of Avoidable Childhood Blindness: A Problem that Extends Beyond Just Sight “ Authored By: Luxme Hariharan MD MPH
“ Disabling & Blinding Visual Disorders” submitted by Luxme Hariharan MD MPH; Chapter lead author for the 16th edition of the Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health and Preventive Medicine textbook March, 2021, HARIHARAN, L Chief Editor of Book Chapter on Visual Disorders in the text book: 16th edition of Maxcy-Rosenau-Last Public Health & Preventive Medicine, published by McGraw Hill
American Academy of Ophthalmology articles on global childhood blindness prevention and diversity, equity and inclusion
invited presentation
1. Hariharan, L, “ Advocacy, Legislation, Leadership and Policy in Global Ophthalmology”, The Wisconsin Idea Lecture Series: Wednesday night at the LAB, Madison, WI, February 27th, 2019
2. Hariharan, L, “ Creating Standards, Guidelines and Policies in Eye Banking”, Mexican Eye Banking Congress, Mexico City, Mexico, January 25-28th, 2019
3. Hariharan L, “The Global Burden of Pediatric Cataract: Not Merely a Mini Adult”; Invited Speaker to the International Council of Ophthalmology, World Ophthalmology Congress, June 14-18, Barcelona, Spain, 2018
4. Hariharan L, “Preventing Corneal Blindness in Mexico through Policy, Advocacy and International Collaboration”, Invited Speaker to the 2nd Annual World Eye Banking Symposium, June 14- 15, Barcelona, Spain, 2018
5. Hariharan L, “Reducing Childhood Blindness from Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in Argentina through Policy, Advocacy and International Collaboration”; Oral presentation at the University of Wisconsin Global Health Symposium, Madison, WI, April 10, 2018
6. Hariharan L. and Cherwek DH; “ Co- Chairs of the Global Ophthalmology Symposium on Corneal Blindness Prevention Worldwide”; The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO); New Orleans, LA, October, 2017
7. Hariharan L, “Reducing Childhood Blindness from Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in Argentina through Policy, Advocacy, and International Collaboration”; Poster Presentation at the 4th World Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Congress, Cancun, Mexico, August 31st – September 2nd, 2017
8. Hariharan L, “Improving Corneal Eye Banking Infrastructure and Transplantation in Mexico through Policy, Leadership and International Collaboration” Oral Presentation, Pan American Academy of Ophthalmology (PAAO), Lima, Peru, August 9-12th, 2017 and Oral Presentation at the Mexican Cornea Congress, Cancun, Mexico, September, 2017
9. Hariharan L, “Fundus Photography and Fluorescein Angiography after Off-label Intravitreal Bevacizumab Treatment for ROP and measures in eliminating Childhood
Blindness in Latin America”, Grand Rounds Presentation, El Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmologia I.A.P, Queretaro, Mexico, May 29, 2017
10. Hariharan L, “Advocacy, Legislation and Policy for eliminating childhood blindness in Latin America”, 2015 Global Forum: Pediatric Ophthalmology Challenges and Innovations in Resource Poor Countries, Las Vegas, Nevada, October, 2015
11. Hariharan L, Contractor D, and Reiser BJ, “Using Anterior Segment Imaging as a Guide for the Management of Pediatric Corneal Opacities”, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA), USC Eye Institute, AAPOS Poster Presentation, New Orleans, LA, March 2015
12. Hariharan L and Ramsey J, “Advocacy and Social Media”, AAPOS Legislative Committee Symposium, New Orleans, LA, March, 2015
13. Hariharan L et al, “An Alternative Surgical Treatment to Torsional Diplopia Secondary to Bilateral Superior Oblique Palsy”, Oral Presentation, Wright Foundation International Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (IPOS) VI” Just Strabismus”, Chicago, IL, October, 2014
14. Hariharan L, Rachitskaya et al, “ Serial Fundus Photography and Fluorescein Angiography after Off-label Intravitreal Bevacizumab Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) ”, Oral Presentation at AAPOS National Meeting, Palm Springs, CA, April, 2014, Poster Presentation, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), Chicago IL, October, 2014, and Oral presentation National Medical Association – Ophthalmology Section, Honolulu, HI, August, 2014
15. Hariharan L, et al, “An Epidemic of Blindness due to Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) in Argentina: A Mixed Methods Study of Policy, Legislation, implementation and international collaboration”, Poster Presentation, Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Conference: Advancing Global Health in the Post MDG Era”, Washington DC, May, 2014
16. Hariharan L. Quinn, G. Gilbert C et al, “Epidemic of ROP Blindness in Argentina: A Case study of policy, legislation and international collaboration” Poster presentation at American Academy of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (AAPOS) Annual Conference, Boston, April 2013
17. Hariharan L. “International Experiences during your Residency”, American Academy of Ophthalmology Young Ophthalmology International Health Section: Chicago, IL, November 10-11 2012
18. Hariharan L, “Puentes de Salud and Common Eye conditions affecting the Latino community”, Philadelphia Mexican Consulate/Embassy, Philadelphia, PA, April, 2012
19. Hariharan L, Frick, K. et al, “Cost Effectiveness of Alternative Approaches to Managing Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in Infants: The Importance of the Spontaneous
Resolution Rate”, Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium, Williamsburg, VA, August, 2012
20. Hariharan L, Kempen JH et al, “Developing Tertiary Eye Care Centers Toward the Goal of Alleviating Global Blindness: The Aravind Eye Care System as a Case Study”, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness 9th General Assembly Hyderabad, India, September, 2012
21. Hariharan L, Bradfield Y, Kushner B and Struck M, “Surgical Management of Clinically Significant Hypertropia Associated with Exotropia” Presented at the American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) meeting in San Francisco, CA, April, 2009
22. Hariharan L, West, SK, Abdou A, “Reported Child Face Washing Frequency of Mothers Randomized to a Water and Hygiene Intervention in Trachoma Endemic Villages in Maradi, Niger.” Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health Framework Award Recipient, Baltimore, MD, September 25, 2008
23. Hariharan L “Combat Blindness Foundation New Initiative in Mysore, India”
Global Health Symposium, Center of Global Health, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in Madison, WI November, 2005
24. Vestal G, Hariharan L, Bettcher D. “Creating New Global Standards in Tobacco Product Regulation” Smoke Free Wisconsin Conference, Madison, WI, December 2005.
