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Dr. Raba Thapa MD, PhD

Dr. Raba Thapa MD, PhD

Dr. Raba Thapa MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), and a consultant vitreo-retinal surgeon at Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology (TIO), Kathmandu, Nepal. Currently, she is working as a head of vitreo-retina department and chief of research department at TIO. She completed her MBBS from Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine in 2000 AD, MD Ophthalmology from Tribhuvan University, Institute of Medicine, B P Koirala Lions Center for Ophthalmic Studies, Kathmandu, Nepal in 2005 AD and Medical and Surgical Vitreo-retinal Fellowship from John A Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt lake City, USA, in 2009 AD. She did her Ph.D from Vrije University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 2018 AD and post- doctoral research fellowship in retinal diseases from John A Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt lake City, USA in 2022 AD. She has been involved in teaching learning activities in various cadres of ophthalmic education including vitreo-retina fellowship programs. She has presented her research works at many national and international conferences. She has published over 60 articles in many peer reviewed journals, working as a reviewer of over 15 scientific journals and editor of Journal of Nepal Health Research Council.  Her field of interest is research on diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration, other retinal diseases including public health important eye and health problems. She has received Nepal Vidhya Bhusan KA by president of Nepal; on the occasion of 40th National Education Day and International Literacy Day, 22nd Bhadra 2076, and Nabil Science and Technology Award 2019 by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, Government of Nepal.

She was awarded with the Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Collaborative Research Fellowship Award, 2022 by ARVO Foundation, USA, Best Oral Paper Award in 8th National Summit of Health and Population Scientist in Nepal, April 10 to 12th 2022, organized by Government of Nepal, Nepal Health Research Council, and Early Carrier Research Award by Thrasher Research Fund, Utah, USA, 2020.

Some of her important publications are:

  1. Thapa R, Sharma S, Pradhan E, Duwal S, Poudel M, Shrestha KG, Paudyal GP. Prevalence and associated factors of diabetic retinopathy among people with diabetes screened using fundus photography at a community diabetic retinopathy screening program in Nepal. BMC ophthalmology. 2023 Oct 23;23(1):429.
  2. Thapa, R., Ruit, S., Addo, E. K., & Bernstein, P. S. Assessment of skin Carotenoid measurement as a means to detect Vitamin A Deficiency in Children and Pregnant Women in Nepal. Journal of Nutrition 2023, 11 Feb 2023, :S0022-3166(23)09594-9
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.02.005 PMID: 36780945
  3. Thapa R, Das TP. Risk stratification on target organ involvement associated with hypertensive retinopathy. J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022; July-Sept 20 (56):577-585. 36974841
  4. Thapa R, Khanal S, Tan H, Thapa S, vanRens GHMB. Prevalence, Associated Factors and Awareness of Hypertensive Retinopathy among an Elderly Population with Hypertension in Nepal: The Bhaktapur Retina Study. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2022;14(27):49-58
  5. Thapa R, Bajimaya S, Pradhan E, Sharma S, Kshetri BB, paudel M, Paudyal G Agreement and Diagnostic Test Accuracy on Grading Diabetic Retinopathy Using Fundus Photographs by Allied Medical Personnel at a Community Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program in Nepal. Ophthalmic Epidemiology 2021:1-7. DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2021.1877730  PMID: 33502930
  6. Thapa R, Bajimaya S, Pradhan E, Sharma S, Kshetri BB, Paudyal G. Agreement on Grading Retinal Findings of Patients with Diabetes Using Fundus Photographs by Allied Medical Personnel when Compared to an Ophthalmologist at a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program in Nepal. Clinical Ophthalmology 2020:14 2731–2737.PMID: 33061255, PMCID: PMC7518769
  7. Thapa R, Khanal S, Tan HS, Thapa SS, van Rens GHMB. Prevalence, pattern and risk factors of retinal diseases among an elderly population in Nepal: The Bhaktapur Retina Study. Clinical Ophthalmology 2020;14:2109-2118. PMCID:PMC: 7399464. PMID:32801619
  8. Thapa R, Bajimaya S,  Paudyal G, Khanal S, Tan S, Thapa SS, van Rens GHMB. Prevalence and causes of low vision and blindness in an elderly population in Nepal: The Bhaktapur Retina Study.  BMC Ophthalmology 2018, 13;18 (1):42. PMID: 29439666.
  9. Thapa R, Bajimaya S,  Paudyal G, Khanal S, Tan S, Thapa SS, Van rens GHMB. Prevalence, pattern and risk factors of retinal vein occlusion in an elderly population in Nepal: The Bhaktapur Retina Study.  BMC Ophthalmology 2017;17:162. PMID: 28865424
  10. Thapa R, Bajimaya S,  Paudyal G, Khanal S, Tan S, Thapa SS, van Rens GHMB. Prevalence of and risk factors for age related macular degeneration in Nepal: The Bhaktapur Retina Study.  Clinical Ophthalmology 2017, 11:963-972. PMID: 28579747