Zeba A. Syed

About Zeba A. Syed

After graduating summa cum laude from Harvard College and then earning her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, Zeba A. Syed completed her residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, followed by a fellowship in cornea at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. She is now the Director of Cornea Fellowship and an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the illustrious Wills Eye Hospital, Pennsylvania, US.

Zeba is a prolific author and educator engaged in cornea and anterior segment research; her contributions to this area of study range from clinical innovation in grafting, endothelial disease, and corneal diagnostics to surgical and refractive outcomes. She has written chapters on “Clinical Diagnosis of Keratoconus” in Keratoconus: Diagnosis and Treatment (2022) and on “Corneal Dystrophies” in Current Practices in Ophthalmology (2025), as well as more than 75 peer-reviewed articles. These writings cover topics as diverse as “Orbital inflammation in pregnant women” (American Journal of Ophthalmology, 2016), “Female editorial authorship trends in high‑impact ophthalmology journals” (JAMA Ophthalmology, 2021), and “Open globe injury repairs in the AAO IRIS registry” (Ophthalmology, 2023). Her previous research projects have addressed corneal transplantation and graft outcomes, the use of antifibrotic antibodies to reduce corneal scarring after injury, and she has also developed penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK) survival nomograms at Wills.

Zeba is the recipient of the John D. Bullock Ophthalmology Award from Harvard Medical School and an American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Achievement Award. She has also been named a Heed Foundation Fellow, recognized as a 2024 Healio Honors honoree, and featured in MillennialEYE’s “One to Watch” and Ophthalmology Management’s “40 Under 40.”

Speaking of her mentors, Zeba says she has been fortunate to work with many incredible individuals over the years. One that stands out, however, is Carol Karp. Karp’s “ability to seamlessly integrate clinical care with impactful research, while always upholding the highest level of integrity and dedication to patients, has been deeply influential,” says Zeba. “Her approach to clinical research has played a key role in shaping my own research career.”

One of Zeba’s main ambitions now is to “grow a research portfolio that enhances clinical care, supports evidence-based practice, and fosters ongoing innovation and collaboration in the field of cornea.” In her time away from ophthalmology, she enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, discovering new restaurants around Philadelphia, and traveling – especially on adventurous road trips. When she finds the time to relax, her favorite indulgence is watching Bollywood movies.