Dr. David L. Sappenfield

I’m a retina specialist who takes care of patients who have problems with the back of the eye. When a patient comes to see me, I like getting to know them and their history, so that I can tailor their treatment. My patients come from a variety of different backgrounds, so I find that I often learn as much from them as they do from me. Everybody has a different story and I very much like to learn about the patients to whom I provide care. Duke is a great place at which to work and from which to seek treatment because it’s a very collaborative institution. Everyone works together to do what’s best for the patient. Outside of work, I like to spend as much time as possible with my family. I also enjoy cooking, playing sports and watching sports. Dr. Jaffe is highly rated in 22 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), Late-Onset Retinal Degeneration, Geographic Atrophy, Vitrectomy, and Trabeculectomy.

I was born and raised right here in Durham, NC. After attending college at Duke, I ventured north to Boston, where I completed most of my medical training, and was fortunate to meet and marry the love of my life, my husband Neil (also on faculty as a cardiologist here at Duke). I returned to Durham for my Glaucoma fellowship, briefly joined the faculty “across the street” at UNC-Chapel Hill, and then returned “home” to Duke Eye Center in 1995, where I have been on the faculty ever since. Dual fellowship-trained in both Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus as well as in Glaucoma, I have a clinical and research focus on pediatric glaucoma and cataracts, as well as retinopathy of prematurity, but enjoy providing care for myriad pediatric problems of the eyes, including treatment of “grown children” with ocular alignment issues. My modus operandi is very simple – I simply try hard to treat each and every patient the way I would like someone to treat me. It works every time, and I am privileged to be a clinician and educator at Duke Eye Center and in Duke University Health System. Dr. Freedman is highly rated in 23 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Retinopathy of Prematurity, Strabismus, Brown Syndrome, Trabeculectomy, and Cataract Removal.

Vision is so intricately related to one's quality of life. Many patients who come to the Duke Eye Center are concerned that they could be going blind, but they rarely ask that question directly. It is important that my patients clearly understand their eye disease process, the risks, benefits and all treatment options so that we can make joint decisions. I try to reassure, when possible, and share the positives, such as 'their eye condition may only affect one eye' or that 'it is possible to improve their vision or prevent further visual loss'. We also discuss how other health problems or lifestyle decisions can affect their visual health. When someone has a vision threatening condition, it is my goal to ensure that they know that, as their physician, I will advise them and guide them through their treatment and the often complicated medical system. I enjoy what I do every day as part of the Duke Health family!. Dr. Fekrat is highly rated in 16 conditions, according to our data. Her top areas of expertise are Retinal Vein Occlusion, Mesenteric Venous Thrombosis, Endophthalmitis, Vitrectomy, and Cataract Removal.