Charles Wesley Flowers, MD, FACS

Charles W. Flowers Jr., MD, received his undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Stanford University in 1985 and his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in 1989. During his time as a medical student he was honored as a national medical fellowship scholar. Following his ophthalmology residency training at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine in Los Angeles, California, he completed a cornea and refractive surgery fellowship in the USC Department of Ophthalmology where he was the recipient of the Award of Excellence in Resident Training. Dr. Flowers has been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation’s top eye surgeons by the Consumer’s Research Council for his expertise in cornea and refractive surgery.

Dr. Flowers’ research focuses on identifying best practices for deploying teleophthalmology to screen for diabetic retinopathy in urban medically underserved communities. In addition, he conducts investigations on the use of Anterior Segment OCT as a tool for refractive surgery screening and Posterior Segment OCT of the optic nerve as a tool for assessing post concussion syndrome. In addition, Dr. Flowers is involved in identifying best practices for sports visual enhancement.

• Consumers’ Research Council, 2010
• People’s Choice Most Compassionate Doctor Award, 2010
• VSP People First Award: Certificate of Recognition, 2006
• San Diego Magazine: San Diego’s Top Doctors, 2004-2005
• Winston Crouch Award for Innovation in Government, 2002
• Consumer’s Research Council of America: America’s Top Ophthalmologists, 2002
• Charles R. Drew University of Medicine: RCMI Research Award of Excellence, 2000
• Tech Expo 2000: Best Practices Showcase Award Certificate of Excellence, 2000
• HUD: Best Practices Award National Winner, 2000
• Safety Net Health System Innovation Honorable Mention in Recognition of Telemedicine Specialty Care, 2000
• HUD: Best Practices Award Los Angeles, 2000
• Productivity & Quality Award- Sara Stivelman Memorial Award, 1999
• International Teleconferencing Association: Teleconferencing Excellence Award, 1999
• JCIR/CIR: Honoree, 1999
• LA County Supervisor Burke’s Office: “Proclamation”, 1999
• Masters in Medicine Honoree, 1999
• Smithsonian Institution Permanent Research Collection: Computer-World Smithsonian Laureate, 1998
• Health Data Management Magazine: Innovator Award, 1998
• Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of USC: Award of Excellence in Residency Training, 1995
• Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology: National Eye Institute Travel Fellowship, 1994
• National Medical Association: Outstanding Scientific Poster Presentation Award, 1992
• Joint Council of Interns and Residents, The County of Los Angeles: Service-Leadership Award, 1991-1992
• Department of Surgery, King-Drew Medical Center, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science: Intern of the Year Award, 1989-1990
• Cornell University Medical College Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Merit Award: National Medical Fellowships Scholar, 1989

• Drug delivery to the anterior segment of the eye: A review of current and future treatment strategies Int J Pharm. 2021 Sep 25; 607:120924. . View in PubMed
• Clusterin from human clinical tear samples: Positive correlation between tear concentration and Schirmer strip test results Ocul Surf. 2018 10; 16(4):478-486. . View in PubMed

• Hamm-Alvarez, Sarah
• Meng, Ellis
• MacKay, John