Martin Uram

---

For the New Jersey ophthalmologist, see Martin Uram.

Martin Uram
File:MARTNI URAM HEADSHOT 2019 crpB.jpgMARTNI URAM HEADSHOT 2019 crpB.jpg MARTNI URAM HEADSHOT 2019 crpB.jpg circa 2019
Born	Martin Uram (1952-07-08)July 8, 1952 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
💼 Occupation	Ophthalmologist
👩 Spouse(s)	Susan Greenberg (m. 1975)
👶 Children	2

Martin Uram (born July 8, 1952) is an American physician, ophthalmologist, and businessman. He is the inventor of the ophthalmic laser video endoscope, the novel surgical technique of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) and 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.

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.

Early life and education

Uram was born in Pittsburgh, PA. 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.

Career

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. He also invented a console combining video technology, illumination, and a solid state laser. Combining these technologies enabled a number of novel therapies in the management of glaucoma and retinal disorders.

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) paper in 1995. 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. 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 used by veterinarians and ECP has become a standard in the care of animals with glaucoma.

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.

Personal life

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.

Awards

• 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. Ref: NJ Monthly
• American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award
• Achievement Award – American Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmology

Certifications

• Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology - 1982
• Diplomate, National Board of Medical Examiners - 1978

Memberships

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 (ASRS), the New York Laser Society and the New Jersey Ophthalmic Society.

Select works and publications

• Tan, James C. H.; Francis, Brian A.; Noecker, Robert; Uram, Martin; Dustin, Laurie; Chopra, Vikas (March 2016). "Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation and Pars Plana Ablation (ECP-plus) to Treat Refractory Glaucoma". Journal of Glaucoma. 25 (3): e117–122. doi:10.1097/IJG.0000000000000278. ISSN 1536-481X. PMID 26020690.
• Francis, Brian A.; Kwon, Julie; Fellman, Ronald; Noecker, Robert; Samuelson, Thomas; Uram, Martin; Jampel, Henry (2014-03-01). "Endoscopic ophthalmic surgery of the anterior segment". Survey of Ophthalmology. 59 (2): 217–231. doi:10.1016/j.survophthal.2013.03.010. ISSN 0039-6257. PMID 23931901.
• Robert J. Goulet, I. I. I.; Fakhraee, Ghasem; Almodin, Juliana; Myers, Jonathan; Uram, Martin; Spaeth, George L. (2011-04-22). "Use of Endoscopic Cyclophotocoagulation in Patients with Uncontrolled Refractory Glaucoma". Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 52 (14): 2618. ISSN 1552-5783.
• Uram, M. (March 1996). "Endoscopic fluorescein angiography of the ciliary body in glaucoma management". Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers. 27 (3): 174–178. ISSN 1082-3069. PMID 8833121.
• Uram, M. (October 1996). "Endoscopic fluorescein angiography". Ophthalmic Surgery and Lasers. 27 (10): 849–855. ISSN 1082-3069. PMID 8895206.
• Uram, Martin (1995-03-01). "An Illuminating Laser Probe for Vitreoretinal Surgery". Archives of Ophthalmology. 113 (3): 263–264. doi:10.1001/archopht.1995.01100030017006. ISSN 0003-9950. PMID 7887835.
• Uram, M. (April 1995). "Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation in glaucoma management". Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. 6 (2): 19–29. doi:10.1097/00055735-199504000-00005. ISSN 1040-8738. PMID 10150853.
• Uram, Martin (1995-07-01). "Combined Phacoemulsification, Endoscopic Ciliary Process Photocoagulation, and Intraocular Lens Implantation in Glaucoma Management". Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging Retina. 26 (4): 346–352. doi:10.3928/1542-8877-19950701-17. PMID 8532289.
• Uram, M. (April 1994). "Diode laser endocyclodestruction". Ophthalmic Surgery. 25 (4): 268–269. ISSN 0022-023X. PMID 8015783.
• Uram, M. (August 1994). "Laser endoscope in the management of proliferative vitreoretinopathy". Ophthalmology. 101 (8): 1404–1408. doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(94)31157-2. ISSN 0161-6420. PMID 8058285.
• Uram, M. (February 1993). "Transscleral Nd:YAG laser cyclodestruction". Ophthalmic Surgery. 24 (2): 133. ISSN 0022-023X. PMID 8446352.
• Uram, M. (December 1992). "Ophthalmic laser microendoscope ciliary process ablation in the management of neovascular glaucoma". Ophthalmology. 99 (12): 1823–1828. doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31718-x. ISSN 0161-6420. PMID 1480398.
• Uram, M. (December 1992). "Ophthalmic laser microendoscope endophotocoagulation". Ophthalmology. 99 (12): 1829–1832. doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(92)31717-8. ISSN 0161-6420. PMID 1480399.
• Ros, M. A.; Magargal, L. E.; Uram, M. (March 1989). "Branch retinal-artery obstruction: a review of 201 eyes". Annals of Ophthalmology. 21 (3): 103–107. ISSN 0003-4886. PMID 2735694.
• Magargal, L. E.; Goldberg, R. E.; Uram, M.; Gonder, J. R.; Brown, G. C. (October 1983). "Recurrent microhyphema in the pseudophakic eye". Ophthalmology. 90 (10): 1231–1234. doi:10.1016/s0161-6420(83)34396-7. ISSN 0161-6420. PMID 6686317.
• Uram, Martin; Zubillaga, Carlos (December 1982). "The Cutaneous Manifestations of Sturge-Weber Syndrome". Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology. 2 (4): 245–248. ISSN 1070-8022. PMID 6226707.
• Lebwohl, Mark G.; Distefano, Douglas; Prioleau, Philip G.; Uram, Martin; Lawrence A.; Raul (1982-07-22). "Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum and Mitral-Valve Prolapse". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (4): 228–231. doi:10.1056/NEJM198207223070406. ISSN 0028-4793. PMID 7088072.
• Pyeritz, R. E.; Weiss, J. L.; Renie, W. A.; Fine, S. L. (1982-12-02). "Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum and Mitral-Valve Prolapse". New England Journal of Medicine. 307 (23): 1451–1452. doi:10.1056/NEJM198212023072315. ISSN 0028-4793. PMID 7133103.
• Uram, Martin (2003-05-01). "Technology assessment of cyclophotocoagulation". Ophthalmology. 110 (5): 874, author reply 875-6. doi:10.1016/S0161-6420(02)01858-4. ISSN 0161-6420. PMID 12750075.
• Fisher, Yale L.; Turtz, Arnold I.; Gold, Melanie; Cohen, Ben Z.; Uram, Martin (1982-10-01). "Use of Sodium Hyaluronate in Reformation and Reconstruction of the Persistent Flat Anterior Chamber in the Presence of Severe Hypotony". Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging Retina. 13 (10): 819–821. doi:10.3928/1542-8877-19821001-07. PMID 7177558.

Patents

• 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
• [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p

---