Overview
Dr. Nathan Cheung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Duke University and serves as the Program Director of the Pediatric Optometry Residency and Externship Programs. He specializes in pediatric eye care, with clinical interests in strabismus, amblyopia, infant aphakia, and pediatric myopia control. He is actively involved in multi-center clinical trials through the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) and serves as Duke’s site principal investigator for numerous NIH- and industry-sponsored studies.
He completed his Doctor of Optometry degree at the University of California, Berkeley, followed by a residency in Pediatric Optometry at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He joined the Duke Eye Center as a Medical Instructor in 2016, was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2021 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2025.
A dedicated educator, Dr. Cheung directs the Pediatric Optometry Residency and plays a key role in medical and resident education, with a focus on amblyopia management, myopia control, and pediatric contact lens use. He has mentored dozens of students and residents and regularly presents at national conferences, including the American Academy of Optometry.
Dr. Cheung’s scholarly work includes over a dozen peer-reviewed publications, several book chapters, and invited articles. He is a frequent contributor to clinical research in amblyopia treatment, virtual reality-based visual field testing, and pediatric ocular imaging. He serves on multiple PEDIG committees and was recognized with the Excellence in Medical Education Award in 2025.
Originally from Toronto, Canada, Dr. Cheung remains committed to improving access to pediatric eye care, advancing research in childhood eye disease, and training the next generation of optometric and ophthalmic providers.
Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Scholarly Works
Access to pediatric eye care among Medicaid-insured children in North Carolina.
Journal article J AAPOS · June 2026 BACKGROUND: Individuals with Medicaid/Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in North Carolina face significant barriers to accessing eye care, including limited provider participation and long wait times. The purpose of this study was to investigate t ... Full text Link to item CiteTestability and test-retest reliability of SpotChecks Contrast Sensitivity Test in children with unilateral amblyopia.
Journal article Optom Vis Sci · May 2026 PURPOSE: To report testability and test-retest reliability of the SpotChecks contrast sensitivity (CS) test in amblyopic and nonamblyopic eyes of children with unilateral amblyopia. METHODS: Children aged 3-12 years with unilateral amblyopia due to strabis ... Full text Link to item CiteA randomized clinical trial of full‐time alternate patching therapy for intermittent exotropia in children
Journal article Optometry and Vision Science · February 2026 ABSTRACTPurposeTo determine whether 3 months of prescribed full‐time alternate patching is more effective than observation for ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
ATS23: A Randomized Trial of Dichoptic Treatment for Amblyopia in Children 4 to 7 Years of Age (ATS23)
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Jaeb Center For Health Research · 2024 - 2028A Randomized Trial of Dichoptic Treatment for Amblyopia in Children 8 to 12 Years of Age
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Jaeb Center For Health Research · 2024 - 2028A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial of Spectacles with Highly Aspherical Lenslets or 0.05% Atropine to Slow Progression of Myopia in Children
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Jaeb Center For Health Research · 2025 - 2026View All Grants