About
Vaishnavi Balendiran, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist with added fellowship training in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery. She helps patients who are experiencing eye issues, including traumatic and inherited eye disorders. Dr. Balendiran offers care for macular degeneration and macular holes, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, dislocated intraocular lenses and retinal and ocular inflammation from both infectious and non-infectious causes.
Medicine and the science of vision have been interesting topics to Dr. Balendiran since childhood, and she chose to become a retina specialist because she wanted to use her interests to help people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. She works to be safe, approachable and to address patients’ questions and concerns by providing them with the information they need to make the best medical decisions for their eye health and individual situations.
Outside of work, Dr. Balendiran’s hobbies include spending time with friends, playing piano, cooking, baking and taking care of her indoor plants.
Education & Training
Medical School
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Internship
Internal Medicine
- Trumbull Regional Medical Center
Residency
Ophthalmology
- University of Missouri School of Medicine
Fellowship
Vitreo - Retinal Disease
- University of Missouri School of Medicine
Boards
Insurances
MU Health Care participates with most major managed care organizations. To find out whether MU Health Care is a participating provider in your insurance plan or network, or for information on co-payments and deductibles, please contact your insurance carrier directly.
Academic Information
Research Profile
Vaishnavi Balendiran, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained ophthalmologist with an interest in vitreoretinal disease and ocular surgery. Her clinical interests include ocular inflammation, vitreous floaters, epiretinal membranes, ocular trauma, inherited retinal diseases and retinopathy of prematurity.
As a researcher, Dr. Balendiran is interested in evaluating the factors that improve chances of retinal repair after detachment, infectious retinal diseases and types of treatment for diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration. Her current research work includes helping conduct a clinical trial on the use of subretinal gene therapy in the treatment of wet macular degeneration and investigating the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on ocular tissues.
Research Interests
- Macular degeneration
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular hole repair
- Retinal detachment
- Dislocated intraocular lenses
- Infectious and non-infectious retinal inflammation
Areas of Expertise
- Improving the success of retinal detachment repair
- Treatments for diabetic macular edema and age-related macular degeneration
- Infectious retinal disease
Awards & Honors
- American Society of Retina Specialists, 2022
- Women in Ophthalmology, 2021
- American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2017
Publications
- Monu, M., Ahmad, F., Olson, R. M., Balendiran, V., & Singh, P. K. (2024).
SARS-CoV-2 infects cells lining the blood-retinal barrier and induces a hyperinflammatory immune response in the retina via systemic exposure.
PLoS Pathogens, 20(4), e1012156. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1012156 - Balendiran, V., Landreneau, J., & An, J. (2023).
MicroPulse Transscleral Laser Therapy dosimetry utilizing the revised P3 delivery device: A randomized controlled trial.
Ophthalmology. Glaucoma, 6(3), 283–290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogla.2022.09.004 - Gugiu, G. B., Goto, R. M., Bhattacharya, S., Delgado, M. K., Dalton, J., Balendiran, V., & Miller, M. M. (2023).
Mass spectrometry defines lysophospholipids as ligands for chicken MHCY class I molecules.
The Journal of Immunology, 210(1), 96–102. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2200066 - Balendiran, V., Werner, L., Ellis, N., Shumway, C., Jiang, B., Kamae, K., & Mamalis, N. (2020).
Uveal and capsular biocompatibility of a new hydrophobic acrylic microincision intraocular lens.
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 46(3), 459–464. https://doi.org/10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000117 - Ellis, N., Werner, L., Balendiran, V., Shumway, C., Jiang, B., & Mamalis, N. (2020).
Posterior capsule opacification prevention by an intraocular lens incorporating a micropatterned membrane on the posterior surface.
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 46(1), 102–107. https://journals.lww.com/jcrs/fulltext/2020/01000/posterior_capsule_opacification_prevention_by_an.16.aspx - Balendiran, V., MacLean, K., Mamalis, N., Tetz, M., & Werner, L. (2019).
Localized calcification of hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses after posterior segment procedures.
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 45(12), 1801–1807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrs.2019.07.015 - Werner, L., Wallace, J. K., Balendiran, V., Shumway, C., Ellis, N., & Mamalis, N. (2019).
Surface deposits mimicking calcification on a hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens.
Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 45(7), 1036–1039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrs.2019.03.005 - Sawaya, M. R., Verma, M., Balendiran, V., Rath, N. P., Cascio, D., & Balendiran, G. K. (2016).
Characterization of WY 14,643 and its Complex with Aldose Reductase.
Scientific Reports, 6(1), 34394. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep34394