Prithvi Mruthyunjaya
Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology

Dr. Mruthyunjaya specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of patients with ocular cancers and advanced retinal diseases.  He is fellowship trained in both Vitreoretinal surgery and Ocular Oncology.  He is skilled at performing complex retinal surgical procedures including repair of retinal detachments, epiretinal membrane peeling, macular hole surgery, and surgery for diabetic retinopathy.  He has extensive expertise in small-gauge vitrectomy and is adept at using the latest technologies to optimize surgical outcomes.  He cares for patients with diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, ocular inflammation, and macular holes.

As the Ocular Oncologist for the Duke Eye Center, Dr. Mruthyunjaya serves patients from across the 5 state region and across the country.  He provides compassionate and individualized care for patients with suspected or confirmed ocular cancers involving the conjunctiva, iris, vitreous, retina, and choroid--in adults and children.  Many of his patients are treated for ocular melanoma, lymphoma, retinoblastoma, and metastatic lesions found in the eye.  He performs complex diagnostic procedures including biopsies of small ocular tumors and surgeries to treat malignant cancers including vitrectomy, retinal injections of chemotherapy, plaque radiation therapy, and lesion excision surgeries.  He is a member of the Duke Cancer Institute which gives him unprecedented access to experts in oncology at Duke for collaborative care for his patients. 

His research interests are in translational therapies in ocular oncology in particular use of targeted drug therapy in ocular melanomas and retinoblastomas. He is interested in the use of predictive modelling to define survival characteristics in ocular cancers. He has focused on identifying novel patterns in health care delivery and in new techniques for vitreoretinal surgery and ocular imaging to diagnose complex retinal conditions. 

He is a member of numerous societies including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Retina Society (elected member), American Society of Retina Specialists, International Society of Ocular Oncology, and the North Carolina Retina Club among others.  He has been award the Achievement Award by the American Academy of Ophthalmology along with other honors including the Heed and AOS Knapp fellowships, the Edward K Isby Jr. Award for excellence in residency training, the Hornaday Fellow Award, and the Ronald G. Michels Foundation Fellowship. 

He is actively involved in numerous Ophthalmology Organizations and has been an invited speaker and moderator at state, national and international meetings in both Ocular Oncology and Vitreoretinal diseases.  He is an examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology and has been invited to design future curriculum for Board eligibility.  He has been named one of the Best Doctors in America since 2012.

Dr. Mruthyunjaya is dedicated to teaching the next generation of outstanding ophthalmologists and retinal specialists at Duke.   He works closely with Ocular Pathologists to enhance training across specialities.  He is also director of Medical Education to help improve the quality of care by eye care specialists across the region. 

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Contact Information

  • Box 3802 Med Ctr, Durham, NC 27710
  • Dept of Ophthalmology, Durham, NC 27710

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