Dr. Leyla Yavuz Saricay is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and an Instructor in Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, practicing at both Boston Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital. She specializes in adult and pediatric cornea, external disease, and refractive surgery, with a clinical and research focus on corneal nerves, ocular surface disease, and regenerative therapies.
Dr. Yavuz Saricay received her MD from Trakya University Turkey and completed her residency training in ophthalmology in Turkey before pursuing advanced fellowship training in the United States. She completed a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ophthalmic Genetics (2 years) at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, followed by a fellowship in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery at Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School ( 2years). She also holds a Master of Science degree and is a Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology (FEBO).
Her research is centered on translational approaches to corneal disease, including limbal stem cell deficiency, neurotrophic keratopathy, and ocular pain, with particular interest in the interplay between corneal innervation and ocular surface health. She is actively engaged in developing advanced imaging biomarkers using in vivo confocal microscopy and anterior segment OCT, as well as exploring AI-driven diagnostic models for infectious keratitis and ocular surface disease. Dr. Yavuz Saricay has received multiple awards for her work, including the Claes Dohlman Research Grant from the Keratoplasty Alliance International and the Traboulsi Award for her contributions to Bardet–Biedl Syndrome research.
In addition to her research, Dr. Yavuz Saricay is deeply committed to patient-centered care and medical education. At Boston Medical Center, she provides surgical and clinical care for adults and children with corneal and refractive disorders, while at Boston Children’s Hospital she focuses on complex pediatric corneal disease. She is also actively involved in mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows, particularly in the areas of advanced corneal imaging, genetics, and ocular surface research.
Through her dual academic appointments and collaborative research, Dr. Yavuz Saricay bridges adult and pediatric ophthalmology, aiming to develop innovative, sustainable therapies that improve outcomes for patients across the lifespan.