About

Alexander A. Huang is a professor affiliated with the General Surgery department at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, USA. His work is involved in clinical research that intersects with complex data analysis methodologies, particularly in the context of phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS). Huang contributes to the development and application of systematic, high-throughput, and reproducible computational approaches to analyze large-scale healthcare datasets, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and national inpatient samples. His research focuses on leveraging ICD-10 coding systems and advanced statistical tools to uncover associations between phenotypes and health outcomes, with a particular interest in conditions like pancreatic cysts and lung cancer. Huang's expertise supports the integration of clinical data with computational methods to enhance the understanding of disease mechanisms and to facilitate precision medicine initiatives.

Research topics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Science
• Medicine
• Ophthalmology
• Pathology
• Chromatography
• Chemistry
• Biomedical engineering
• Anatomy
• Mathematics
• Nuclear medicine
• Optometry
• Statistics

Selected publications

• Structural anterior segment OCT biomarkers do not predict secondary intervention after Preserflo MicroShunt implantation

  Frontiers in Medicine · 2026-04-23

  articleOpen access

  Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) parameters bleb wall thickness (BWT) and total bleb height (TBH) in the early postoperative phase after Preserflo MicroShunt (PM) implantation for their correlation with (a) secondary interventions and (b) AS-OCT angiography (AS-OCTA)-derived bleb vessel density (BVD). Materials and methods: In a prospective longitudinal study of 23 open-angle glaucoma patients, AS-OCT measurements of BWT and TBH and AS-OCTA measurements of BVD were obtained at 1, 2, and 4 weeks (1 W, 2 W, and 4 W), as well as at 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. Secondary interventions (needling or open revision) were recorded. The correlations of BWT and TBH with (a) secondary interventions and (b) BVD were assessed. Results: -values: 1 W: 0.217/0.878, 2 W: 0.670/0.528, and 4 W: 0.171/0.430). Similarly, no correlations between BWT or TBH and BVD were found. Conclusion: Structural AS-OCT-based bleb thickness parameters (BWT and TBH) in the early postoperative phase were not significantly associated with future secondary interventions after PM implantation and did not correlate with AS-OCTA-derived BVD. BVD, which was shown to be a viable biomarker for future secondary interventions in a previous analysis of the same cohort, could be a better predictor of secondary interventions after PM implantation than BWT/TBH. Larger studies are necessary to confirm these hypothesis-generating findings.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Total outflow facility before and after goniotomy in ex vivo perfusion models for aqueous humor dynamics: effect of periocular tissue

  Frontiers in Medicine · 2026-01-12

  articleOpen access

  Background Ex vivo perfusion models to simulate aqueous humor dynamics are commonly used to test interventions for glaucoma treatment. Many models, however, overestimate the effect of surgical interventions. Periorbital tissue is routinely removed during the experimental preparation. Evidence suggests that up to 50% of total outflow resistance is attributable to the distal outflow pathways. It is currently unclear if varying degrees of tissue removal alone elicit changes in total outflow facility (C tot ). We compared C tot in whole globes with and without preserved periorbital tissue with intact trabecular meshwork (TM) and with surgical TM bypass in an ex vivo perfusion model. Methods A total of 33 post-mortem porcine eyes with intact surrounding tissue were either trimmed (TISS−, n = 17) or left unchanged (TISS+, n = 16). Constant-flow perfusion at 4.5 μL/min and IOP measurement in the anterior chamber were performed. In a subgroup of 13 globes, a 5 mm goniotomy was performed before perfusion (7 TISS+, 6 TISS−). C tot was analyzed once a stable equilibrium was reached. Results C tot was 0.27 ± 0.06 with intact TM and 0.36 ± 0.11 μL/mmHg/min with goniotomy in TISS+ globes, as well as 0.36 ± 0.12 and 0.47 ± 0.02 μL/mmHg/min in TISS− globes. Both comparisons (TM intact/ goniotomy) between TISS+ and TISS− globes were statistically significant (TM intact: p = 0.044, goniotomy: p = 0.031). Conclusion This study demonstrates the influence of distal outflow pathways on C tot with intact TM and after goniotomy. Thus, tissue preparation is a potential confounder in ex vivo AHO perfusion setups and may contribute to the different effect sizes of TM bypass surgery between ex vivo and in vivo studies.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Greater Outflow Facility Increase After Targeted Trabecular Bypass In Angiographically Determined Low-Flow Regions

  2026-03-31

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Sustained Intraocular Pressure Control After iStent Infinite® Implantation for Steroid-Induced Glaucoma: A Case Report

  Journal of Clinical Medicine · 2026-02-22

  articleOpen access

  Background/Objectives: Steroid-induced glaucoma (SIG) or ocular hypertension is a well-known complication after corticosteroid exposure to the eye, particularly intravitreal dexamethasone implantation. The main mechanism of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is trabecular meshwork dysfunction, leading to increased aqueous outflow resistance. Although most SIG cases respond to medical treatment, some patients develop persistent IOP elevation, requiring surgical intervention. Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) has recently emerged as a safer surgical option, but there are a limited number of reports using MIGS for SIG. Methods: A 73-year-old man, who had branch retinal vein occlusion with refractory macular edema despite multiple anti-VEGF injections, received an intravitreal Ozurdex® (Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA) implant. He developed marked IOP elevation from 17 to 34 mmHg despite maximal topical therapy. Visual field progression and progressive retinal nerve fiber layer thinning were also observed. Given the need for continued ocular steroid use and only having one arm due to trauma making drops difficult, three trabecular micro-bypass stent devices (iStent infinite®, Glaukos Corp., Aliso Viejo, CA, USA) were implanted for IOP control. Postoperatively, IOP decreased to 13 mmHg and remained stable at 15 mmHg for 12 months. Additionally, macular edema was well-controlled with ongoing Ozurdex treatment and no observed IOP spikes. Conclusions: This is the first reported case of SIG-associated Ozurdex successfully managed with triple trabecular micro-bypass stents. The iStent infinite implantation provided safe and sustained IOP control for SIG, highlighting its potential role in patients requiring continuous intravitreal steroids.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Sustained Intraocular Pressure Control after iStent Infinite® Implantation for Steroid-Induced Glaucoma: A Case Report

  Preprints.org · 2026-01-21 · 1 citations

  preprintOpen access

  Background/Objectives Steroid-induced glaucoma (SIG) or ocular hypertension is a well-known complication after corticosteroid exposure to the eye, particularly intravitreal dexamethasone im-plantation. The main mechanism of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is trabecular meshwork dysfunction, leading to increased aqueous outflow resistance. Although most SIG cases respond to medical treatment, some patients develop persistent IOP elevation requiring surgical intervention. Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) has recently emerged as a safer surgical option, but there are a limited number of reports using MIGS for SIG. Methods: A 73-year-old man, who had branch retinal vein occlusion with refractory macular edema despite multiple anti-VEGF injections, received an intravitreal Ozurdex® (Allergan, Irvine, CA, USA) implant. He developed marked IOP elevation from 17 to 34 mmHg despite maximal topical therapy. Visual field progression and progressive retinal nerve fiber layer thinning were also observed. Given the need for continued ocular steroid use and only having one arm due to trauma making drops difficult, three trabecular micro-bypass stent devices (iStent infinite®, Glaukos Corp., Aliso Viejo, CA, USA) were implanted for IOP control. Postoperatively, IOP decreased to 13 mmHg and remained stable at 15 mmHg for 12 months. Additionally, macular edema was well-controlled with ongoing Ozurdex treatment and no observed IOP spikes. Conclusions: This is the first reported case of SIG-associated Ozurdex successfully managed with triple trabecular micro-bypass stents. The iStent infinite implantation provided safe and sustained IOP control for SIG, highlighting its potential role in patients requiring continuous intravitreal steroids.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Factors Influencing Intraocular Pressure Elevation During Hemodialysis

  Translational Vision Science & Technology · 2026-05-08 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate intraocular pressure (IOP) and mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) fluctuations during hemodialysis (HD) and identify clinical and HD-related factors associated with IOP elevation. Methods: This prospective, observational, single-center study included 103 eyes of 56 patients undergoing maintenance HD. IOP was measured at 5 time points: pre-dialysis (T0), 1 hour (T1), 2 hours (T2), 4 hours (T4), and 30 minutes post-dialysis (TP). MOPP was calculated at T0 to T4. Baseline laboratory data, including serum osmolality (PreOsm), were collected. Generalized estimating equation models evaluated the effects of time, lens status, and osmolality on IOP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to identify a PreOsm threshold for predicting IOP elevation >5 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Results: IOP increased during HD, peaking at 4 hours (17.5 ± 0.5 mm Hg) and returning to baseline at TP (14.6 ± 0.4 mm Hg, P < 0.001). MOPP declined over time. Phakic eyes showed significantly greater IOP at 1 and 2 hours compared with pseudophakic eyes (P = 0.022 and 0.048, respectively). Patients with PreOsm >312 milliosmolar (mOsm)/kg had greater IOP increases and were more likely to exhibit IOPrise >5 mm Hg in univariate and multivariate analyses (odds ratio [OR] = 3.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-12.79, P = 0.022 and OR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.01-11.3, P = 0.048, respectively). Phakic lens status was associated with IOP elevation in univariate analysis (OR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.01-5.56, P = 0.049), but in multivariate analysis, there was only a trend (P = 0.072). Conclusions: Transient intra-dialytic IOP elevation may be influenced by osmolality more so than lens status. Translational Relevance: These findings support the concept of ocular disequilibrium during HD and highlight the need for targeted ophthalmic monitoring in high-risk patients.

  PublisherDOI

• 12-Month Multicenter Outcomes Of Third-Generation Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stents In Eyes WithOpen-Angle Glaucoma

  2026-03-31

  articleOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Increased Risk of Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Treatment in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

  Ophthalmology Glaucoma · 2026-05-01

  articleSenior authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Aqueous humour outflow improvement after excimer laser trabeculostomy

  British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2026-02-18

  articleOpen access

  The purpose of the study was to investigate changes in aqueous humour outflow (AHO) after the Elios glaucoma procedure (excimer laser trabeculostomy, ELT) using sequential AHO angiography. AHO angiography using two different tracers was performed in six eyes of five patients undergoing cataract surgery combined with ELT. AHO was compared in regions of interest in the nasal quadrant.AHO improved significantly after ELT (p=0.03) overall, and each patient showed individual, qualitative AHO improvement. Interestingly, AHO improvement extended beyond the site of ELT application. Further studies are needed to investigate the correlation of AHO improvement and clinical efficacy.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cholinergic Improvement of Low-Flow Segmental Aqueous Humor Outflow in Humans

  Ophthalmology Science · 2026-01-09

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Purpose: To evaluate the influence of pharmacologic cholinergic stimulation on segmental aqueous humor outflow (AHO) in living human eyes of brain-dead organ donors. Design: A prospective, nonrandomized, and interventional study. Subjects: Brain-dead organ donors. Methods: Aqueous angiography (AA) was performed using intracameral indocyanine green (ICG; 0.4%) in brain-dead organ donors to establish baseline segmental high-flow and low-flow (LF) AHO regions. The eyes were then treated using intracameral balanced salt solution (BSS; n = 5) or Miochol-E (n = 7; 10 mg/ml), which is US Food and Drug Administration-approved acetylcholine. Repeat AA was then performed using intracameral fluorescein (2%). Aqueous angiography images were acquired using a FLEX Spectralis (Heidelberg Engineering). Aqueous humor outflow signal intensity was quantified per quadrant or per eye in a masked fashion and compared across conditions. Main Outcome Measures: Aqueous angiography fluorescent patterns, baseline AA signal intensity in various quadrants, and change in AA signal intensity after drug treatment or control. Results: = 0.024) compared to the BSS control condition. Conclusions: Cholinergic stimulation enhances AHO in segmental regions as opposed to circumferentially around the limbus. In particular, focal improvement in baseline LF regions was observed, implying a segmental response to drug treatment. Understanding the biological and physiological basis underlying this responsiveness may lead to new pharmacological and surgical glaucoma treatments. Financial Disclosures: Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Discovery and Characterization of Anterior Sclera Pathology in Glaucoma

  NIH · $1.1M · 2014–2019

• Dynamic Variable Aqueous Humor Outflow and Glaucoma Therapies in the Human Eye

  NIH · $3.5M · 2020–2030

Frequent coauthors

• Robert N. Weinreb

  University of California, San Diego

  59 shared

• Vikás Chopra

  39 shared

• Sindhu Saraswathy

  LMC Diabetes & Endocrinology (Canada)

  37 shared

• Brian A. Francis

  Doheny Eye Institute

  36 shared

• Solomon H. Snyder

  Johns Hopkins University

  34 shared

• Xiaobin Xie

  Nanchang University

  33 shared

• James C. Tan

  32 shared

• Clemens Strohmaier

  Johannes Kepler University of Linz

  25 shared

Labs

• Huang LabPI

Education

• Ph.D., Ophthalmology

  University of California, San Diego

  2000

• M.D., Medicine

  University of California, San Diego

  1995

• B.A., Biology

  University of California, San Diego

  1991