Dr. Sophie X. Deng is a Professor in the Cornea Division at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute, specializing in corneal and external ocular diseases, and cataracts. Dr. Deng received her doctor of medicine and doctor of philosophy degrees at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York, where she completed the rigorous Medical Scientist Training Program. She did her residency in ophthalmology at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, Chicago. Dr. Deng subsequently completed her fellowship in Cornea, External Ocular Disease and Refractive Surgery at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. She is also the director of the Cornea Biology Laboratory at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. The ultimate goal of her research is to translate findings from studies into a better and safer treatment for corneal blindness. Her research focuses on corneal epithelial stem cell regulation, deficiency, and regeneration by studying the microenvironment/niche of the stem cells to elucidate those factors that govern the fate of these cells. She aims to improve the current treatment for patients with limbal stem cell deficiency by using stem cell therapy to restore vision. In addition, she conducts clinical studies to develop new imaging and molecular tests to accurately diagnose and stage limbal stem cell deficiency.
