About

Marco A. Zarbin, MD, PhD, FACS has served as the Chair of the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School for over 25 years. His extensive educational background includes an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and both MD and PhD degrees from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Zarbin is considered an expert in his field, specializing in vitreoretinal surgery and research. He is recognized as a leading global expert, having refereed over 100 peer-reviewed publications and published nearly 120 books and chapters. His contributions include significant research and expertise in medical and surgical diseases of the retina, vitreous, and macula. Dr. Zarbin is actively involved in clinical practice, taking call 24/7 for ophthalmic trauma services at University Hospital in Newark, NJ, and the VA Hospital in East Orange, NJ. He has secured extensive funding for his institute through grants and endowments, and has received numerous honors, including the Honor Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists and recognition in the Retina Times. He is also set to receive the LuEsther Mertz Retinal Research Lectureship Award. Dr. Zarbin continues to educate and lead by example to his faculty, students, and staff.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Internal medicine
• Surgery
• Environmental health
• Pediatrics
• Demography
• Oncology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Cancer research

Selected publications

• Characterizing the Treatment Courses of Ranibizumab and Panretinal Photocoagulation for Retinopathy of Prematurity

  Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus · 2026-03-11

  article

  PURPOSE: This study characterizes the treatment course and outcomes of infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) treated with ranibizumab, panretinal photo-coagulation (PRP), or combined therapy. METHODS: This retrospective chart review analyzed electronic health record data of infants treated for ROP between 2016 and 2024 at a single academic center. RESULTS: Thirty-seven infants (72 eyes) were analyzed (59.05% male, average 24.7 ± 1.4 weeks). At first treatment, most eyes were zone II, stage 3+ (59.7%). All eyes had plus disease except six treated for persistent avascular retina. PRP was administered as initial therapy for 30 (41.7%) eyes and ranibizumab for 42 (58.3%). Thirty-five eyes (48.6%) underwent only one treatment of either PRP (26 eyes; 36.1%) or ranibizumab (9 eyes; 12.5%). A second treatment consisting of ranibizumab was administered in 4 (13.3%) of 30 eyes treated with PRP and 21 (50%) of 42 eyes injected with ranibizumab. Eight eyes (11.1%) had three treatments: two ranibizumab injections followed by PRP. Four eyes (5.6%) had four treatments: three ranibizumab injections followed by PRP. ROP reactivation occurred in 14 (19.4%) eyes that all received ranibizumab injection initially (mean 50.6 ± 16.7 days after most recent injection). Final outcomes included PRP for persistent avascular retina in 22 (30.6%) eyes, unknown final outcomes due to lost follow-up for 16 (22.2%), documented resolution in 33 (45.8%), and scleral buckling for a peripheral retinal detachment (stage 4a) for one (1.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Ranibizumab was initiated at a younger age with higher retreatment and reactivation events compared to PRP, underscoring variability in real-world ROP treatment patterns and outcomes.

  PublisherDOI

• Observations Regarding the 24-Month Results of the LIGHTSITE III Trial

  Retina · 2026-03-02

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Intravitreal Methotrexate for Complex Retinal Detachment

  Ophthalmic surgery, lasers & imaging retina · 2026-04-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Retinal and choroidal changes following corneal collagen cross-linking in keratoconus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of OCT and OCTA studies

  International Journal of Retina and Vitreous · 2025-08-26 · 3 citations

  reviewOpen access

  Corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) is widely used to halt the progression of keratoconus by biomechanically strengthening the corneal stroma; however, its potential effects on retina and choroid remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized current evidence on structural and microvascular changes in the posterior segment following CXL in patients with keratoconus, assessed by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA). A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science was performed up to May 24, 2025. Random-effects meta-analysis using Hedges' g was applied to pool quantitative data. In addition, studies that met the eligibility criteria but lacked sufficient data for quantitative synthesis were qualitatively assessed and included in the descriptive analysis. Ten studies involving 233 eyes from 215 keratoconus patients were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated no significant change in central macular thickness at 1 month (Hedges's g = -0.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.44 to 0.13; p = 0.30) or 6 months (Hedges's g = -0.12; 95% CI: -0.47 to 0.22; p = 0.48). Subfoveal choroidal thickness also remained unchanged at 1 month (Hedges's g = -0.14; 95% CI: -0.45 to 0.17; p = 0.37). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these results. In the qualitative synthesis, parameters demonstrated overall stability, aside from a few exceptions. In conclusion, current evidence suggests that CXL does not result in clinically meaningful changes in posterior segment structure or microvasculature in keratoconus patients. These findings support the posterior segment safety of CXL.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Bibliometric analysis of published works in ocular trauma: a growing focus on open globe injury

  International Ophthalmology · 2025-01-29 · 2 citations

  review
  PublisherDOI

• Clinical Report of Epidemiological Trends in Child Abuse–Related Ocular Injuries (Ages 0 to 3 Years)

  Journal of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus · 2025-09-01

  articleOpen access

  To the Editors:More than 4 million cases of child maltreatment involving nearly 8 million children are reported to Child Protective Services in the United States annually. 1Nearly 2,000 children died of abuse and neglect in 2019, of which approximately 70% of fatalities occurred in children younger than 3 years. 1Many ocular injuries in infants are associated with consumer product-related trauma. 2 There are few large-scale studies on the topic of abuse-related ocular injuries in children. 3 The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiologic trends in child abuse-related ocular injuries resulting in hospital admission among children ages 0 to 3 years.A cross-sectional, observational analysis of 1,678 pediatric patients with ocular injuries secondary to child abuse between 2007 and 2014 was conducted based on data from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTBD).The NTDB, created by the American College of Surgeons, is the largest centralized registry of trauma leading to hospitalization, death, or transfer in the United States.Cases are reported voluntarily from more than 900 contributing centers from all 50 states, with approximately equal representation from levels I to IV trauma cen-Prevalence of injuries was comparable among girls and boys.The study duration is of a time frame when the term "shaken baby syndrome," was more commonly used for non-accidental trauma, and the condition has since been identified as abusive head trauma per recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 5 Acknowledging these trends in ocular injury secondary to child abuse serves as a foundational point to inform further discussions regarding recognition of and appropriate action in response to child abuse identified in health care settings.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Recent Progress in Photoreceptor Cell-Based Therapy for Degenerative Retinal Disease

  Stem Cells Translational Medicine · 2024-02-28 · 20 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa are degenerative retinal diseases that cause severe vision loss. Early clinical trials involving transplantation of photoreceptors as treatment for these conditions are underway. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the field of photoreceptor transplantation, including some pertinent results regarding photoreceptor manufacture, photoreceptor transplantation, mechanisms of donor-host cell integration such as material transfer and photoreceptor transplant immunology. We conclude by proposing several approaches that may provide a rational basis for selecting a vision restoration strategy (eg, donor-host synapse formation vs donor-host nanotube formation) and improved transplant efficiency.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Regional Variation of Infectious Agents Causing Endogenous Endophthalmitis in the United States

  Ophthalmology Retina · 2024-03-14 · 5 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Efficacy of Faricimab versus Aflibercept in Diabetic Macular Edema in the 20/50 or Worse Vision Subgroup in Phase III YOSEMITE and RHINE Trials

  Ophthalmology · 2024-06-08 · 7 citations

  articleOpen access1st author

  PURPOSE: Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network Protocol T suggests that the response to treatment among patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) may vary depending on baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). We evaluated the efficacy of faricimab 6 mg versus aflibercept 2 mg over 2 years in patients with DME and baseline BCVA of 20/50 or worse enrolled in faricimab phase III trials. DESIGN: YOSEMITE and RHINE were identically designed, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, active comparator-controlled, noninferiority trials. PARTICIPANTS: Adults ≥18 years of age with center-involving macular edema secondary to type 1 or 2 diabetes. METHODS: Patients were randomized to faricimab every 8 weeks (Q8W), faricimab personalized treat-and-extend (T&E) regimen, or aflibercept Q8W. Post hoc subgroup analyses were conducted using the intention-to-treat population with baseline BCVA of 20/50 or worse. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in ETDRS BCVA and central subfield thickness (CST) from baseline to years 1 and 2 were compared between treatment arms using mixed-model repeated measures analyses. RESULTS: In YOSEMITE and RHINE, respectively, 220 and 217 patients in the faricimab Q8W arm, 220 and 219 patients in the faricimab T&E arm, and 219 and 214 patients in the aflibercept Q8W arm showed baseline BCVA of 20/50 or worse. In both trials, mean change in ETDRS BCVA was comparable between treatments across trials at years 1 and 2. In YOSEMITE, adjusted mean change from baseline in CST (μm) at year 1 was greater with faricimab Q8W (-232.8; P < 0.0001) and faricimab T&E (-217.4; P = 0.0004) ) versus aflibercept Q8W (-190.4). In RHINE, this was faricimab Q8W (-214.2; P = 0.0006) and faricimab T&E (-206.6; P = 0.0116) versus aflibercept Q8W (-186.6). In both trials, change from baseline in CST at year 2 was greater with faricimab Q8W versus aflibercept. The median time to first CST of <325 μm and first absence of intraretinal fluid was shorter in the faricimab arms versus the aflibercept arm, with fewer injections on average. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with DME and baseline ETDRS BCVA of 20/50 or worse, faricimab treatment resulted in comparable visual acuity, greater reduction in retinal thickness, and fewer injections compared with aflibercept. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Ophthalmologic Complications in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Immunization: A National Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System Analysis

  Ophthalmology · 2024-01-18 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  In this Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System disproportionality analysis, COVID-19 immunization was rarely and generally not significantly associated with ophthalmologic complications. However, some symptoms were positive on Janssen vaccination, suggesting a need for continued investigation. In this Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System disproportionality analysis, COVID-19 immunization was rarely and generally not significantly associated with ophthalmologic complications. However, some symptoms were positive on Janssen vaccination, suggesting a need for continued investigation.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• NIH Grant R01EY009750

  NIH · $3.1M · 2003

• Neural Stability after Retinal Detachment

  NIH · $2.0M · 2012–2018

Frequent coauthors

• Neelakshi Bhagat

  Toronto Metropolitan University

  519 shared

• Aditya Uppuluri

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  144 shared

• Paul D. Langer

  Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

  137 shared

• Maria Vittoria Cicinelli

  Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico San Raffaele

  98 shared

• Ilene K. Sugino

  Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

  95 shared

• Alain Bauza

  94 shared

• Francesco Bandello

  Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

  77 shared

• Rosangela Lattanzio

  Vita-Salute San Raffaele University

  53 shared

Education

• B.A.

  Dartmouth College

  1978

• M.D.

  Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

  1984

• Ph.D.

  Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

  1984

Awards & honors

• Honor Award from the American Society of Retina Specialists…
• LuEsther Mertz Retinal Research Lectureship Award (set to be…