David A. Plager, MD

Dr. Plager is currently a Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Section of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis.  He is a graduate of Stanford University, completed medical school and residency at Indiana University and a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington DC.

Dr. Plager has delivered over 225 lectures nationally and internationally on a wide range of topics in pediatric ophthalmology: from cataracts to glaucoma to vascular malformations and on a wide range of strabismus topics- he has a particular interest in the treatment of oblique muscle dysfunction.  He has published or coauthored over 80 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, 15 book chapters and was editor and co-author of the textbook Strabismus Surgery: Basic and Advanced Strategies.   He has received research grants for work in ROP, pediatric cataracts and pediatric glaucoma.

He served as President of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) in 2011 and has been awarded the Honor, Senior Honor and Lifetime Achievement awards from AAPOS.  He has also been awarded the Achievement, Senior Achievement, Lifetime Achievement and Secretariat awards from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.  Other leadership activities in ophthalmic societies include being a charter member of the Pediatric Clinical Committee of the ASCRS, a member of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Eye Foundation, and President of the American Eye Study Club.  In his spare time, he serves as ophthalmologist for the Indianapolis Colts who awarded him Super Bowl rings in 2006 and 2009.