National Retina Institute

What National Retina Institute does

National Retina Institute is a private subspecialty medical practice providing diagnosis and treatment of complex retinal, vitreous, and macular diseases. Founded approximately in 1992 by Dr. Bert M. Glaser, an internationally respected retina surgeon who previously served as Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, the practice operates three office locations across Maryland (Owings Mills, Columbia, Olney) and currently operates as 'A Katzen Eye Group Practice.' The practice treats conditions including macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular pucker, macular holes, uveitis, endophthalmitis, CMV retinitis, and flashes/floaters, supported by advanced diagnostic equipment such as NAVILAS Navigated Retina Laser, OCT, fluorescein and ICG angiography, fundus photography, ERG, and B-Scan ultrasonography. Treatment modalities include anti-VEGF injections, laser photocoagulation, photodynamic therapy, vitrectomy surgery, and steroid therapy.

The practice generates revenue primarily through billable medical services including examinations, diagnostic tests, in-office treatments, and surgical procedures, participating in most insurance plans including Medicare. Surgical cases are performed at the affiliated Dulaney Eye Institute surgery center and at hospitals throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Additional revenue streams include clinical trial participation and self-pay patient services. The go-to-market model is primarily physician-referral-based across Maryland and the District of Columbia, supplemented by direct patient self-referral and telemedicine appointments.

The practice employs 11-50 staff members including fellowship-trained, board-certified ophthalmologists. A clinical trials program provides access to experimental treatments. The practice leverages patient portal systems (MedFusion, NextMD), online payment platforms (CareCredit, InstaMed), and electronic prescribing. Over 32 years of operations have established NRI as a recognized retinal research and treatment center with recognition from The Macula Society, Retina Research Foundation, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.

Name

National Retina Institute

Legal name

National Retina Institute

Website

https://nationalretina.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Retina Institute is a private Maryland-based subspecialty ophthalmology practice providing diagnosis and treatment of complex retinal, vitreous, and macular diseases across three locations in the Greater Baltimore Area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Ophthalmologic Care (Vitreoretinal Services)

NAICS

Offices of Optometrists (62132), Diagnostic Imaging Centers (621512)

SIC

Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Retina & Vitreous Specialists (HLAKAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN), Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK)

Keywords

• Retinal disease treatment
• Ophthalmology services
• Vitreoretinal surgery
• Retina diagnostics
• Eye care practice

Headquarters

HQ city

Owings Mills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medical Services Revenue: The practice generates revenue through billable medical services including eye examinations, diagnostic tests, treatments, and surgical procedures. They participate in most insurance plans including Medicare and bill patients for co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles at time of service. Additional revenue comes from services not covered by insurance and self-pay patients.
2. Clinical Trial Participation: Revenue may be generated through participation in clinical trials, which provide access to new treatments and medications while potentially offering reimbursement for participant time and travel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

National Retina Institute is a specialty ophthalmology practice providing diagnosis and treatment of complex retinal, vitreous, and macular disorders. Core services include medical, laser, and surgical care for macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, macular pucker, macular holes, uveitis, endophthalmitis, flashes and floaters, and CMV retinitis, supported by state-of-the-art imaging and laser systems. The practice also offers a clinical trials program and telemedicine consultations, operating from three Maryland locations as a division of Katzen Eye Group.

Product overview

National Retina Institute is a specialized retinal care practice offering a comprehensive range of diagnostic and treatment services for retinal diseases. The practice provides treatment for nine main conditions: Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, Flashes and Floaters, Retinal Detachment, Macular Pucker, Uveitis, Endophthalmitis, Macular Holes, and CMV Retinitis. These services are supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies including NAVILAS Navigated Retina Laser, Fluorescein Angiography, ICG Angiography, OCT, Fundus Photography, Electroretinogram, and B-Scan Ultrasonography. Additional services include a Clinical Trials Program for access to experimental treatments, Telemedicine Appointments for remote consultations, and Electronic Prescription management. The practice operates from multiple Maryland locations including Owings Mills, Columbia, and Olney, with an on-site surgery center at Dulaney Eye Institute.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Macular Degeneration Treatment Comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of dry (non-exudative) and wet (exudative) macular degeneration, including anti-VEGF injections, photodynamic therapy, and laser photocoagulation for patients with age-related macular degeneration.
• Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment Treatment of diabetic retinopathy including laser photocoagulation, anti-VEGF injections, steroid injections, and vitrectomy surgery for advanced cases with bleeding or retinal detachment affecting diabetic patients.
• Flashes and Floaters Evaluation Diagnostic evaluation and monitoring of flashes and floaters, identifying whether symptoms are benign or indicate serious retina conditions requiring urgent examination.
• Retinal Detachment Treatment Emergency treatment for retinal detachment including cryopexy, pneumatic retinopexy, and surgical repair options to reattach the retina to supporting tissue.
• Macular Pucker (Epiretinal Membrane) Treatment Diagnosis and surgical treatment of macular pucker where tissue develops on the macula surface, causing wrinkling and visual distortion.
• Uveitis Treatment Treatment for inflammation inside the eye originating in the uvea, including steroid therapy, topical drops, injections, implants, and immunosuppressant therapy.
• Endophthalmitis Treatment Emergency treatment for severe intraocular inflammation caused by infection, including both endogenous and exogenous forms of the condition.
• Macular Holes Treatment Surgical repair of macular holes using vitrectomy with membrane peel and gas bubble placement to flatten and heal the hole.
• CMV Retinitis Treatment Treatment for cytomegalovirus retinitis including antiviral medications (oral, injectable, or intraocular implants) and laser therapy for patients with HIV or immunocompromised conditions.
• Clinical Trials Program Access to clinical trials for advanced macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, offering patients new treatments and technologies not yet widely available.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dulaney Eye InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dulaney Eye Institute is an on-location surgery center adjacent to NRI's Towson location, providing emergent retina surgical services. Staffed with an ophthalmology-specific surgical care team, the center allows NRI physicians to perform surgical procedures in a specialized setting.
• Katzen Eye GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Retina Institute is A Katzen Eye Group Practice, operating as a specialized division within the larger eye care group practice. This affiliation provides integration with broader ophthalmology services.
• Area Hospitals in Baltimore Metropolitan AreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRI physicians provide surgical services at several hospitals in the Baltimore Metropolitan area in addition to the Dulaney Eye Institute.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute: Nationally ranked academic eye institute with one of the largest retina services in the U.S., strong clinical-trial portfolio, and fellowship-trained specialists. Comparable as a leading retina center, with both fellowship training pipeline and research activity directly relevant to NRI.
• Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute: Integrated health-system ophthalmology center with a dedicated retina service offering medical retina, vitreoretinal surgery, and clinical research. Broad incumbent providing a benchmark for retina capability, scale, and research integration within a multi-specialty delivery system.
• Wilmer Eye Institute (Johns Hopkins): Top-ranked academic ophthalmology department and the founder's prior institution, operating a retina division in Baltimore with deep clinical-trial activity. Competes for tertiary retina referrals and complex surgical cases in NRI's home market.
• Wills Eye Hospital: Leading specialty ophthalmology hospital with a high-volume retina service offering medical and surgical retinal care plus clinical research. Broad incumbent overlapping NRI on specialty retina services, though with an inpatient/specialty-hospital model rather than a community office base.
• Retina Consultants of America: PE-backed platform aggregating leading retina specialty practices across the U.S., providing scale, clinical-trial infrastructure, and operational support. A broader incumbent and emerging competitive aggregator for retina practices like NRI.

Others

• Katzen Eye Group: Parent organization of National Retina Institute, operating a broader multi-specialty ophthalmology practice. Functions as both operating parent and adjacent practice, sharing infrastructure, careers portal, and patient billing systems with NRI.

Direct peers

• Charles Retina Institute: Independent retina specialty center recognized for pioneering vitreoretinal surgery techniques, with a research/teaching mission and clinical-trial activity. Directly comparable as a sub-specialty retina practice anchored by a single named expert and advanced surgical technology.
• Retina Group of Washington: Multi-location retina specialty practice in the Mid-Atlantic region offering diagnosis and treatment of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and other vitreoretinal conditions. Directly comparable in sub-specialty focus, geographic adjacency, and physician-referral GTM motion to National Retina Institute.
• Mid-Atlantic Retina Specialists: Specialized vitreoretinal practice serving Maryland and surrounding states with the same core service lines (AMD, DR, retinal detachment, macular surgery). Operates a similar physician-referral-led model with fellowship-trained specialists and advanced imaging/surgical equipment.
• Vitreoretinal Associates: Network of fellowship-trained vitreoretinal specialists offering diagnosis and treatment for macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and uveitis. Operates the same sub-specialty clinical model and physician-referral channel as NRI across multiple states.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalretina
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-national-retina-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Retina Institute