Belinda L. Shirkey, MD was an honors graduate of the University of Arkansas, served her residency at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York; completed her Vitreoretinal Fellowship at Duke University Eye Center, and has been honored by the National Eye Institute as a Howard Hughes Research Scholar. From 1999-2012, she was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology/ New York Eye & Ear Infirmary Retina Service; from 2012 until joining Retina Associates of Kentucky, she was the Fellowship Director/Vitreoretinal Surgery and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Arizona Medical School in Phoenix. Certified since 1999 by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Shirkey practices as a Vitreoretinal surgeon and is a member of the American Society of Retinal Specialists, Club VIT and is listed in the Edition of America’s Top Ophthalmologists. Dr. Shirkey joined Retina Associates in 2015 and brought a wealth of knowledge and teaching experience to our main office in Lexington. She serves as the practice’s Medical Director. Surgically, Dr. Shirkey treats patients with retinal detachments and macular diseases. She is also Principal Investigator for many of our clinical trials.
What led you to choose Retina Associates?
After practicing in New York City for 13 years based at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, I was drawn to the concept of a fully integrated private practice with an academic bent. Tom and I have been friends since our training days at Duke. With William, Rick, John and Todd, I knew instantly that I had found a highly functional team of nationally respected, exceptionally skilled colleagues. We share common core values of excellence in patient care and research with a dedication to mentoring the next generation of retinal specialists. This coupled with an opportunity to live and raise children in a charming and sophisticated, cultured Southern town was irresistible.
What are your interests?
Advancing patient care in a data driven, efficient manner with emphasis on the art of medicine.
Macro delivery of care with telemedicine.
In office surgery delivery systems.
Surgical instruction.
What research are you working on?
New devices for drug delivery and new drugs remain the drive of research. This is particularly exciting for our AMD patients who are now are dependent on frequent dosing to preserve vision.
I am also working on developing methods of consistent teaching for vitreoretinal surgeons.
Links and Information
Family Practice Interview
Midday KY Dr. Shirkey Diabetic Eye Disease Discussion
Dr. Shirkey Shares Diabetic Eye Disease Facts
Dr Shirkey of RAK on Solar Retinopathy
StantonMD- Retina Associates of Kentucky- Research
Training
Undergraduate BA:
Hendrix College
Medical School MD:
University of Arkansas
Residency:
Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York City
Fellowship:
Duke University Eye Center
Honors:
Howard Hughes Research Scholar, National Eye Institute
Select Publications
Landa G, Shirkey BL et al. Acquired senile retinoschisis of the peripheral retina imaged by spectral domain optical coherence tomography: a case report. Euro J Ophthalmol.2010 Nov-Dec; 20(6): 1079-81.
International Syphilis Study Group Collaborator, acute syphilitic posterior placoid chorioretinitis: report of a case series and comprehensive review of the literature. Retina. 2012 Oct; 32(9): 1915-41.
Fine HF, Zhitomirsky, Freund,Barile, Shirkey, Samson, Yanuzzi. “Bevacizumab (Avastin) and ranibuzumab (Lucentis) for choroidal neovascularization in multifocal choroiditis. Retina. 2009 Jan; 29(1): 8-12.
Brenner, Meyer, Shirkey, Toth. “Macular translocation with radial scleral outfolding: experimental studies and initial human results. Grafe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol (2001) 239:815-823.
Medical Retina Chapter The Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital Pocket Guide, Thieme, 1999.
Shirkey BL, Gery I, et al. “Immunomodulartory effects of linomide in animals immunized with immunopathogenic retinal antigens: dissociation between different immune functions. Clinical Experimental Immunology. 1997 Jun; 108 (3):539-44.
W.C. Arnold, B.L. Shirkey, P Frindik, E. Ellis. “Effect of Growth Hormone on Kidney Growth and Glomerular Structure. Pediatric Nephrology. 5:529-532.1991.
R.T. Fisser, W.C. Arnold, R.K. Charlton, R.W. Steele, S.H. Childress, and B.L. Shirkey. “T-lymphocyte Subsets in Nephrotic Syndrome. Kidney International. 40:913-916.1991.
Retina Physician Management of Submacular Hemorrhage Associated With AMD 3/1 2007
“My husband Wayne Hays was seen by Dr. Shirley. He recommends her 150%. A great doctor, very thorough, professional and friendly. She did not waste any time fixing my problem. Awesome staff also.” – Brenda
“The doctors and staff are very professional and courteous, they explain every detail the patient will be going through. My doctor, Dr. Shirkey, is awesome. I never felt the needle going in my eye. In my opinion, she’s a top notch doctor. I’d recommend her and Retina Associates to all my family and friends.” – William
“I love Dr. Shirkey and Dr. Kitchens they are truly my all time favorites. They most definitely show compassion and they care for their patients. It’s not ideal for anyone to have vision issues especially if it’s severe, so to have a doctor that you trust is of the up most importance when you’re relying on them to put a needle in your eye, and in the maintenance and constant care needed.” – Wendy
“I absolutely love Dr. Belinda Shirkey! She’s such a caring Doctor. You have no doubts that she cares about you and your eye Health. She always answers any questions I have and explains what happens during my visits, any I test that she does so that I know exactly how I’m doing. I usually go to the Somerset office. But I have also been to their Lexington office a few times. I’ve been seeing Dr. Shirkey since 2016. Five stars really are enough to express how much I think of and love Dr. Shirkey so she gets 10 stars from me!”
– W. Blair
“Very professional, and everyone was nice , the office is very clean. Belinda Shirkey was my MD she explained very well, the whole office staff was nice, I went to the Somerset location, I would recommend them to a friend or family members.”
– Valerie
“Dr. Shirkey and her surgical team are the best. Thanks for fixing my eye.”
-Lexington Patient
“Dear Dr. Shirkey, this little note is to thank you for the excellent care you give me during myeye injections. Also, I thank your kind helpers. I was especially treated so kindly during my mostrecent visit. All of you took such careful measures to ensure my health safety during this tryingtime of the epidemic. I really appreciated the extreme attention and care by the young man whoassisted you with the shots. After about 7 or 8 years of this I still dread it every month. Thanksagain for making it more tolerable. Love to all of you, respectfully”
“Dr. Shirkey was very friendly, helpful and above very patient with me. She worked me intoschedule because I needed to be seen. She had the test done the same day so she would knowhow to treat.”
“Very Professional & thorough eye exam. Patiently answered all my questions….Very caring demeanor.”
“She was extremely professional and gave me a great checkup! I highly recommend her.”
“Dr. Shirkey does everything possible to make sure that you understand everything that is goingon, and makes sure that any and every question you might have is answered. And mostimportantly, she also knows what she’s doing.”
