Strabismus (Eye Misalignment)
Genetic & Systemic Disorders
Optic Nerve Disorders
John D. Roarty, MD
Expert in Complex Pediatric Eye Conditions
About Dr. Roarty
John Roarty, MD, MPH is a board-certified pediatric ophthalmologist with more than three decades of experience caring for children with a wide range of eye conditions.
Dr. Roarty has spent much of his career at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, where he served as Chief of Ophthalmology from 2005 to 2020. His extensive background spans pediatric ophthalmology, strabismus, genetic and systemic eye disease, optic nerve disorders, uveitis, and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
Today, Dr. Roarty sees patients at the Children’s Eye Care Clinton Township office, where his decades of experience are particularly valuable in evaluating children with complex or unusual eye conditions.
Areas of Clinical Expertise
- Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) – evaluation and management of reduced vision during childhood
- Strabismus (Eye Misalignment) – evaluation and non-surgical management of eye alignment conditions
- Genetic & Systemic Disorders – evaluation of eye findings associated with genetic syndromes and medical conditions
- Optic Nerve Disorders – evaluation and ongoing care of children with abnormalities affecting the optic nerve
- Pediatric Uveitis – evaluation and management of inflammatory eye conditions in children
- Blocked Tear Ducts – evaluation of congenital tear drainage problems
- Refractive Errors – evaluation of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism in children
- Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) – screening of premature infants at regional NICUs
Academic Leadership & Teaching
Dr. Roarty has had a longstanding role in pediatric ophthalmology education in Michigan. He served as Chief of Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan from 2005 to 2020, after previously serving as Associate Chief. He also directed ophthalmology resident education at Children’s Hospital of Michigan for many years and previously served as Fellowship Director.
He holds academic appointments at Wayne State University School of Medicine and Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and has spent decades teaching medical students, residents, fellows, and practicing physicians.
Dr. Roarty has twice received the Distinguished Teaching Award from Wayne State University in recognition of his contributions to physician education.
Research & Publications
Dr. Roarty has contributed extensively to pediatric ophthalmology research, with published work spanning ROP, pediatric glaucoma, strabismus, genetic eye disease, uveitis, ocular trauma, and other complex pediatric eye conditions.
He participated in landmark multicenter research involving retinopathy of prematurity, including the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity study, and was a member of the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group (PEDIG) for two decades.
His academic work also includes numerous textbook chapters on pediatric eye disease, including genetic eye disease, optic nerve disorders, ocular trauma, and ophthalmic medications in children.
Professional Leadership & Recognition
Dr. Roarty has held numerous leadership roles in pediatric ophthalmology throughout his career. He has served on national committees for the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) and held advocacy leadership positions with the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He has also served as an examiner for the American Board of Ophthalmology.
His honors include the Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Distinguished Alumni Award from Henry Ford Health, and Physician Difference Maker Award from Children’s Hospital of Michigan/Detroit Medical Center. He has also received longstanding recognition as a Top Doctor.
Education & Advanced Training
Dr. Roarty completed his Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto after completing his ophthalmology residency at Henry Ford Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident.
His training is unusually broad. Before ophthalmology, Dr. Roarty completed a pediatrics residency at the University of California, Davis, where he also served as Chief Resident. He subsequently completed a fellowship in ophthalmic pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Roarty earned both his medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Michigan, graduating with distinction.
