Dr. Joseph Rizzo sees complex neuro-ophthalmic disorders by referral within New England and worldwide. His clinical expertise informs his research, and he devotes a major portion of his professional focus to developing new therapeutic options for patients with vision disorders.

After obtaining his MD from Louisiana State University, Dr. Rizzo completed his neurology residency at Tufts University/New England Medical Center and an ophthalmology residency at Boston University. Subsequently, he joined Harvard Ophthalmology as a Clinical Fellow in Neuro-Ophthalmology and has served as a full-time faculty member since 1986.

Dr. Rizzo focuses his research on understanding the mechanisms of vision loss, improving diagnostic methods, and developing new treatments for blinding diseases. In particular, his clinical research includes the study of optic neuritis/multiple sclerosis, ischemic optic neuropathy, pseudotumor cerebri, and giant cell arteritis. He also founded the Boston Retinal Implant Project in the late 1980s to develop a retinal prosthesis and offer a new therapeutic option for patients who have acquired blindness.

Each year, Dr. Rizzo supervises and teaches three clinical fellows and eight residents in the basic evaluation and management of neuro-ophthalmic disorders. As Director of the Neuro-Ophthalmology Service, he also designs and provides oversight for the fellowship program in Neuro-Ophthalmology. For more than 25 years, he directed the Neuro-Ophthalmology section of the Lancaster Course in Ophthalmology, which is the oldest and largest educational course that is designed for residents-in-training. He also serves as Director of Harvard Ophthalmology Alumni. 

Clinical Interests

Optic nerve disease, pseudotumor cerebri, giant cell arteritis, unexplained visual problems