The Value of Sight

Good eyesight helps protect you and allows you to enjoy the beauty in the world. At The Beetham Eye Institute at Joslin Diabetes Center, we’re committed to protecting your eyes for a lifetime.

Just because you have diabetes, doesn’t mean your eyes will fail. There are many sophisticated treatments available today that can help protect your sight for years to come. Our specially trained physicians and staff are experts in diagnosing and treating the many forms of diabetic eye disease.

The Beetham Eye Institute offers thoughtful and personalized eye care by specially trained and educated physicians and staff who are recognized experts in diagnosing and treating the many forms of diabetic eye disease.

Our caring staff includes ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians, medical assistants, image specialists, and researchers.

They are experts in offering: 

  • Comprehensive diabetes eye care
  • Cataract and anterior segment surgery
  • Vitreo-retinal disease and surgery
  • Ocular telemedicine
  • Vision rehabilitation
  • Contact lens fitting and dispensing

Your Journey at Joslin

Our compassionate team diagnoses and treats eye disease — and offers the latest technology to protect vision for a lifetime.

New patients receive a complete eye exam, as well as access to the latest diagnostic technology, including:

  • Digital imaging
  • Standardized ultrasonography
  • Optical coherence tomography
  • Multifocal electroretinography
  • Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy
  • Retinal blood flow measurements

Most patients receive an evaluation by an ophthalmologist and an optometrist at each visit. If the evaluation shows any eye problems, your doctor will personally discuss the results with you, educate you on your condition, answer questions, and make a plan for treatments and follow-up care.

Should you need treatment, our caring team includes experts in:

  • Cataract and anterior segment surgery
  • Vitreoretinal disease and surgery
  • Ocular telemedicine
  • Vision rehabilitation
  • Contact lens fitting and dispensing

Clinical Trials

As a patient of the Beetham Eye Institute, you may also be considered for participation in one of our many ongoing clinical trials. Clinical trials offer access to the newest treatment approaches for diabetic eye disease.

What to Expect

Whether you’re new to Joslin or just new to the Beetham Eye Institute, you can prepare for your appointment ahead of time. We’ll cover what to expect at your visit and what you can do ahead of time to start protecting your eyesight right away.

Eye test poster with glasses

Routine Eye Exam

All of our patients receive a routine eye exam as part of their visit. This way, we can check for potential vision problems and monitor your eyesight over time.

Dr. Silva in front of computer monitor showing eye scans.

Joslin Vision Network

We offer all new Joslin patients an evaluation with our unique retinal imaging system, called the Joslin Vision Network (JVN).

Retina isolated

Diabetes Retinopathy Care

Joslin physicians treat diabetic retinopathy by using a laser on the retina. Learn how retinopathy care can prevent further damage to the eyes.

Lloyd M. Aiello, MD, Founding Director of Joslin’s Beetham Eye Institute “Our goal is to preserve vision for a lifetime. The care we provide ideally starts with the diagnosis of diabetes and continues with consistent lifelong follow-up.”

Meet Our Experts

Our caring staff includes ophthalmologists, optometrists, technicians, medical assistants, image specialists, and researchers.

Lloyd Paul Aiello
Lloyd P. Aiello, MD, PhD
Senior Investigator and Ophthalmologist
Director, Beetham Eye Institute
Section Head, Vascular Cell Biology
Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Paul Arrigg
Paul Arrigg, MD
Ophthalmologist
Chief, Vitreo-Retinal Surgery
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Richard Calderon
Richard Calderon, OD
Optometrist
Chief, Clinical Operations, Beetham Eye Institute
Chief, Center for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging, Beetham Eye Institute
Associate Chief, Clinical Practice, Beetham Eye Institute
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Jerry Cavallerano
Jerry Cavallerano, OD, PhD
Clinical Investigator and Optometrist
Assistant Director, Beetham Eye Institute
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Kristen Hock
Kristen Hock, OD
Optometrist
Timothy Murtha
Timothy Murtha, MD
Physician, Department of Ophthalmology
Clinical Research Associate
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Deborah Schlossman
Deborah Schlossman, MD
Ophthalmologist
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Sabera Shah
Sabera Shah, MD
Opthalmologist
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
George Sharuk
George Sharuk, MD
Ophthalmologist
Clinical Instructor in Ophthalmology
Philip Silver
Philip Silver, OD
Chief, Vision Rehabilitation Service
Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Paolo Antonio Silva
Paolo Antonio Silva, MD
Ophthalmologist
Assistant Chief of Telemedicine, Beetham Eye Institute
Assistant Investigator
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Jennifer Sun
Jennifer Sun, MD, MPH
Investigator and Staff Physician
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
View More Beetham Eye Institute Specialists

To make an appointment with the Beetham Eye Institute, call 617-309-2552 or make an appointment online.