Liliana Werner, MD, PhD

Liliana Werner, MD, PhD is a Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, Co-Director of the Intermountain Ocular Research Center at the John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, and holder of an H.A. and Edna Benning Presidential Endowed Chair.

She has a MD degree from Brazil, and a PhD degree (biomaterials) from France. Dr. Werner’s research is centered on the interaction between ocular tissues and different intraocular lens designs, materials and surface modifications. These include intraocular lenses implanted after cataract surgery, and also phakic lenses for refractive surgery, and ophthalmic implantable devices in general. She has authored more than 360 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on the subject, co-edited three books, and received numerous awards in international meetings for scientific presentations, videos, and posters. She has also been a guest speaker in different international meetings in at least 25 countries.

Dr. Werner is also a consultant for various companies manufacturing IOLs and other ocular biodevices and a consultant for the FDA. She has been named as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World of Ophthalmology (The Ophthalmologist magazine), most recently in 2024. Since June 1, 2020, Dr. Werner has been the U.S. Associate Editor of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

Research Statement

Liliana Werner, MD, PhD, is a Tenured Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Co-Director of the Intermountain Ocular Research Center at the John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah. She has an MD/Ophthalmology degree from Brazil and a PhD degree (Biomaterials) from France (Université Paris V, René Descartes). She is the 2003 Research to Prevent Blindness Olga Keith Wiess Scholar awardee, member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (JCRS), member of the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club, member of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the University of Utah, as well as chair of the Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). She is also a former Judge and Chief Judge of the ASCRS Film Festival and former member of the Cataract Subcommittee and the Ophthalmic News & Education Network (O.N.E.) of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Dr. Werner’s research is centered on the interaction between ocular tissues and different intraocular lens (IOL) designs, materials, and surface modifications. These include IOLs implanted after cataract surgery, phakic lenses for refractive surgery, and ophthalmic implantable devices in general. She has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on the subject, co-edited three books, and received numerous awards in international meetings for scientific presentations, videos, and posters. She has also been a guest speaker in different international meetings in at least 20 countries. Also, Dr. Werner is a consultant for different companies manufacturing IOLs and other ocular biodevices, as well as a consultant for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Selected Publications