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Gabriela Espinoza, M.D.

Professor, oculoplastics and reconstructive surgery
Department of Ophthalmology

Education

Fellowship
Ophthalmalic plastic, reconstructive and orbital surgery - Ophthalmic Plastics and Cosmetic Surgery, Inc.

Residency
Ophthalmology, Washington University School of Medicine

Internship
Preliminary internal medicine, Washington University School of Medicine

Medical School
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center

Practice Areas

Gabriela Espinoza specializes in care for patients with eyelid abnormalities, eyelid and orbit cancer, and thyroid eye disease. She performs facial ophthalmic plastic surgery, eyelid surgery and orbital fracture repair. She also provides nasolacrimal duct care, including endoscopic surgery for clearing blocked tear ducts - an approach that's less invasive than traditional surgery.

Research Interests

  • Orbital inflammatory diseases

Publications and Media Placements

Peer Reviewed Articles

  • Espinoza G, Rosenblatt B, Harbour JW.  Optical coherence tomography in the evaluation of retinal changes associated with suspicious choroidal melanocytic tumors.  Am J Ophthalmol. 2004; 137:90-5.
  • Espinoza GM, Lueder GT.  Conjunctival pyogenic granulomas after strabismus surgery.  Ophthalmology. 2005; 112:1283-6.
  • Espinoza GM, Holds JB.  Evolution of eyelid surgery.  Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2005; 13:505-10.
  • Espinoza GM, Holds JB.  Evaluation and treatment of the tear trough deformity in lower blepharoplasty.  Semin Plast Surg. 2007; 21:57-64. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-967750.
  • Espinoza GM, Lueder G.  Outcomes in children with nasolacrimal duct obstruction: Significance of persistent symptoms while stents are in place.  J AAPOS. 2007; 11:187-8.
  • Espinoza GM, Israel H, Holds JB. Survey of oculoplastic surgeons regarding clinical use of tear production tests. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009; 25:197-200. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0b013e3181a1d4a5.
  • Espinoza GM.  Orbital inflammatory pseudotumors: etiology, differential diagnosis, and management. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2010; 12:443-7. doi: 10.1007/s11926-010-0128-8.
  • Thompson JN, Patel M, Brink DS, Espinoza GM. A unique association of granuloma of the lower eyelid to prior trauma. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012; 28:e87-8. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0b013e31822e9549.
  • Roper-Hall G, Cruz OA, Espinoza GM, Chung SM.  Cyclic (alternate day) vertical deviation-possible forme fruste of ocular neuromyotonia.  J AAPOS. 2013; 17:248-52. dio: 10.1016/jaapos.2012.12.156.
  • Espinoza GM, Desai A, Akduman L.  Ocular vasculitis.  Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013; 15:355. doi: 10.1007/s11926-013-0355-x.
  • Espinoza GM, Prost A.  Cogan’s syndrome and other ocular vasculitides.  Curr Rheumatol Rep.  2015; 17:24. doi: 10.1007/s11926-015-0499-y.
  • Espinoza GM, Prost AM.  Upper eyelid reconstruction.  Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2016; 24:173-82. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2015.12.007.
  • Vu AF, Espinoza GM, Perry JD, Chundury RV. Online Ratings of ASOPRS Surgeons: What Do Your Patients Really Think of You? Ophthalmic Plast and Reconstr Surg. 2017; 33:466-70. dio: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000000829. 
  • Akhter AS, El Tecle N, Alexopoulos G, Espinoza G, Coppens J. Intraosseous Orbital Cavernous Hemangioma with Frontal Extension and Dural Involvement. Cureus. 2019; 11:e4823. doi: 10.7759/cureus.4823.
  • Espinoza GM, Liu JL. Orbital Vasculitides – Differential Diagnosis. Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2019; 21:54. dio: 10.1007/s11926-019-0853-6.
  • Bentivegna R, Espinoza GM. Orbital and cranial extension of an intraosseous cavernous hemangioma. Ophthalmic Plast Reconstr Surg. November 21, 2019. doi: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000001440.
  • Espinoza GM, Wheeler J, Temprano KK, Keller AP. Cogan’s Syndrome: Clinical Presentations and Update on Treatment.  Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020 Jun 16;20(9):46. doi: 10.1007/s11882-020-00945-1.
  • Das N, Gonnah R, Espinoza GM. Sepsis-Induced Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis and Superior Orbital Vein Thrombosis. J Neuroophthalmol. 2023 May 15. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001881. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37184965.
  • Tooley A, Law J, Lelli GJ, Sun G, Godfrey KJ, Tran AQ, Kim E, Solomon JM, Chen JJ, Khan AR, Wayman L, Olson JH, Lee MS, Harrison AR, Espinoza GM, Davitt BV, Tao J, Hodge DO, Barkmeier AJ. Predictors of Ophthalmology Resident Performance from Medical Student Application Materials. J Surg Educ. 2024 Jan; 81(1):151-160. Doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2023.10.003. Epub 2023 Nov 30. PMID: 38036387
  • Paley GL, Zhao H, Addis VM, Beal CJ, Davis GK, Espinoza GM, et al. Real-world assessment (RWA): validity evidence for cataract surgery with a tool your faculty will actually use. J Acad Ophthalmol. 2024 16(1): article 10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.62199/2475-4757.1015
  • Moussa Pasha O, Bentivegna R, Espinoza G. Report of a Rare Case and Literature Review of Combined Marcus Gunn Jaw Winking Synkinesis and Monocular Elevation Deficiency. Cureus. 2025 Jul 16;17(7):e88119. doi: 10.7759/cureus.88119. PMID: 40678739; PMCID: PMC12267604.
Invited Review Articles

  • Espinoza GM.  Endoscopic balloon-assisted lacrimal surgery.  Operative Techniques in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2008; 19:182-5.
  • Maher IA, Hurley MY, Bernstein M, Hsueh E, Walker R, Walen S, Espinoza G, Fosko SW.  Interdisciplinary surgical management of skin cancer: the Saint Louis University experience.
  • Bentivenga R, Espinoza GM. IgG4-related Ophthalmic Disease. Advances in Ophthalmology and Optometry. 2020; 5:255-63.
  • Espinoza GM, Lachmund Ulrich. Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction. Advances in Ophthalmology and Optometry. 2023; 8:357-71.
Peer Reviewed Non-Indexed Publications

  • Nadiminti U, Espinoza GM.  Protection from inhibition: The dual role of orthophosphate on alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activity when EDTA is present.  Journal of Undergraduate Sciences. 1994; 1:77-82.
  • Modi D, Espinoza GM.  Liver disease associated subperiosteal hematoma in a postoperative cataract surgery patient. Journal of Clinical Experimental Ophthalmology. 2012; 3:227.
  • Non-peer reviewed publications: 
  • Chundury RV, Chundury A, Espinoza GM.  Nonspecific orbital inflammation (orbital inflammatory pseudotumor).  EyeWiki. On-line December, 2012.
Book Chapters

  • Espinoza GM.  Levator aponeurotic dehiscence: a pictorial review.  In: Hartstein ME, Massry G, Holds JH, eds.  Pearls and Pitfalls of Cosmetic Oculoplastics Surgery.  2nd ed. New York, NY: Springer; 2015:645-7.
  • Espinoza GM, Curreri A. Ringside Exam Skills for the Non-Ophthalmologist. In: Varlotta G, Gelber J, Monsell R, Muzzi D, Neidecker J, eds. Ringside Physician’s Medical Manual for Boxing & Mixed Martial Arts. Association of Ringside Physicians; Union City, NJ: Writers Republic L.L.C; 2022:299-304.
  • Vu AF, Curreri A, Espinoza GM, Schwab IR. Eye Trauma and Orbital Fractures in MMA & Boxing. In: Varlotta G, Gelber J, Monsell R, Muzzi D, Neidecker J, eds. Ringside Physician’s Medical Manual for Boxing & Mixed Martial Arts. Association of Ringside Physicians; ; Union City, NJ: Writers Republic L.L.C; 2022:329-43.
  • Krunic AL, Espinoza GM. Reconstruction of the Eyelids and Eyebrows. In: Harmon CB, Tolkachojov SN, eds. Mohs Micrographic Surgery from Layers to Reconstruction. 1st ed. Thieme Medical Pub; 2023:164-205.
Posters

  • Espinoza GM, Lueder G.  Conjunctival pyogenic granulomas following strabismus surgery.  American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus annual meeting, Waikoloa, Hawaii, March 23-27, 2003.
  • Espinoza GM, Lueder G.  Do persistent symptoms while stents are in place predict poor outcome in children with nasolacrimal obstruction?  American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., March 27-31, 2004.
  • Espinoza GM, Lueder G.  Results of surgical treatment of symptomatic epiblepharon in children.  American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus annual meeting, Orlando, Florida, March 9-13, 2005.
  • Espinoza GM, Holds JB, Custer PL.  Granular cell tumors of the orbit.  American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 36th Annual Fall Scientific Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, October 14-15, 2005.
  • Espinoza GM, Holds JB.  Survey of Oculoplastic Surgeons Regarding Clinical Use of Tear Production Tests.  American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 38th Annual Fall Scientific Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 9-10, 2007.
  • Roper-Hall G, Cruz OA, Espinoza GM, Chung SM. Cyclic (Alternate Day) Vertical Deviation: Evaluation and Management in Three Cases. American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, April 14-18, 2010.
  • Thompson J, Schultz W, Israel H, Sindwani R, Holds J, Espinoza GM. The Use of Computed Tomography to Establish Age-matched Normal Values for the Fat Compartments of the Face. American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 42nd Annual Fall Scientific Symposium, Orlando, Florida, October 21-22, 2011.
  • Chundury RV, Ellimoottil C, D’Angelo A, Espinoza GM, Holds JB. The Online Ratings of ASOPRS Surgeons.  American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, November 14, 2013.
  • Chundury R, Espinoza GM.  Primary Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Eyelid: A Case Report and Review of Literature.  American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 45th Annual Fall Scientific Symposium, Chicago, Illinois, October 16, 2014.
  • Harms M, Kim E, Espinoza GM. Perioperative blood thinners: Are patients aware they are routinely on blood thinners? American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery 48th Annual Fall Scientific Symposium, New Orleans, Louisiana, November 9, 2017.
  • Stunkel M, Harms M, Espinoza GM.  Pregnancy, Parenthood, and Resident Experiences in General Ophthalmology (PPREGO).  Women in Ophthalmology 2018, Ponte Vedra, Florida, August 16-19, 2018.
  • Sputo K, Singh H, Espinoza GM. Changes in Incidence of Eye-Related Injuries from 2019-2020. American Medical Association Research Challenge poster symposium, Virtual meeting, October 20-22, 2022. 
  • Espinoza GM, Gammack J. GME Action Learning: Safety Amidst Crisis. Establishing a GME Institutional Policy for Substantial Disruption in Patient Care or Education. Association of American Medical Colleges 2023 Group on Resident Affairs and Organization of Resident Representatives Professional Development Conference, San Francisco, California, April 16-18, 2023.
  • Espinoza GM, Broom M, Strand M, Ponstingl R, et al. GME Strategic Planning Task Force Process. Association of American Medical Colleges 2023 Group on Resident Affairs and Organization of Resident Representatives Professional Development Conference, San Francisco, California, April 16-18, 2023.
  • Gammack J, Espinoza G, Buckhold, et al. Development of a GME Strategic Planning Task Force Process to Assess Program Quality, Resizing, and Alignment with Health System Strategy. National Association of Designated Institutional Officials 2024 Fall Annual Meeting, Saint Louis, Missouri, December 8-10, 2024.
  • Pasha OM, Bentivegna R, Espinoza G. Combined Marcus Gunn Jaw Winking Synkinesis and Monocular Elevation Deficiency: A Case Report and Literature Review. North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society 2025 Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona, March 15-20, 2025.

Professional Organizations and Associations

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • Fellow, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons