Richard Cutler Allen, MD, PhD, FACS

Richard C. Allen, MD, PhD, FACS is an Oculoplastic Surgeon, specializing in eyelid, lacrimal and orbital diseases. He is a past president of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Editor-in-Chief for the journal Orbit, and president-elect for IJCAHPO (International Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology). Dr. Allen has authored over 135 peer-reviewed publications, was section editor for Oculoplastics and Orbit for Current Opinion in Ophthalmology, is a member of the editorial board for Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Ophthalmology and Therapy, and is a reviewer for over 30 journals. He has lectured extensively, nationally and internationally. His on-line oculoplastic surgery video atlas, available at www.oculosurg.com, is recognized worldwide.

Personal Statement

As a parent, I understand the difficultly in trusting a physician to care for your child. It is my goal to make you and your child feel comfortable in the treatment plan we choose, but also make sure we are providing the best possible care.

Clinical Interests

Congenital ptosis, lacrimal disease, dermoid cysts, facial nerve palsy, microphthalmia, epiblepharon

Education

Organizations

Board Certifications

American Board of Ophthalmology, Fellow

American College of Surgeons, Fellow

Honors and awards

2024

Robert H. Kennedy Presidential Award, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

2024

Doximity Fellow, Op-Med 

2024

The Ophthalmologist Power List 2024, The Ophthalmologist

2019

Secretariat Award (recognizing special contributions to the Academy and Ophthalmology), American Academy of Ophthalmology

2017

Secretariat Award (recognizing special contributions to the Academy and Ophthalmology), American Academy of Ophthalmology

2022

Carolyn F. Elles Professorship of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine

2020

Senior Achievement Award (recognizing cumulative contributions to the Academy in teaching, presenting, research), American Academy of Ophthalmology

2018

Annual Continuing Education Program10-year Faculty Award, JCAHPO (Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology)

2013

Fellow, American College of Surgeons

2013

Achievement Award (recognizing members for their contribution to the Academy in scientific and educational programs), American Academy of Ophthalmology

2013

Faculty Medical Student Teaching Award, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

2013

Annual Continuing Education Program 5-year Faculty Award, JCAHPO

1994

Thesis Excellence Award (international recognition for outstanding science-based thesis), Sigma Xi 

1992

Medical Student Research Award, Society of Pediatric Research

1990-1993

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Pre-doctoral Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine

1988

Outstanding Performance in Basic Sciences Award (First Place) for Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine

1987-1989

National Institute of Health Pre-doctoral Fellowship, Baylor College of Medicine

1987

Departmental Award in Chemistry as the top graduating senior in Chemistry, Duke University

1987

Phi Lambda Upsilon, Duke University

1986

Vista Chemical Company Award as the top junior in Chemistry at, Duke University

1986

Phi Beta Kappa, Duke University 

1984

Phi Eta Sigma, Duke University

1983-1987

Multiple times on Dean’s List and Class Honors, Duke University

* Texas Children’s Hospital physicians’ licenses and credentials are reviewed prior to practicing at any of our facilities. Sections titled From the Doctor, Professional Organizations and Publications were provided by the physician’s office and were not verified by Texas Children’s Hospital.

Research interests

Genetic diseases of the eyelids, lacrimal system and orbit

Mombaerts I; Allen RC. The transconjunctival orbitotomy: A versatile approach to the orbit and beyond. Survey of Ophthalmology. Mar-Apr; 2023, 68(2):265-279

Diab MMM, Abdel-Aziz K, Allen RC. Combined levator and frontalis muscle advancement flaps for recurrent severe congenital ptosis. Eye (Lond). Apr; 2023, 37(6):1100-1106

Williams KJ; Allen RC. Paediatric orbital and periorbital infections. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology. Sep; 2019, 30(5):349-355

Lenci LT; Shams P; Shriver EM; Allen RC. Dermoid cysts: Clinical predictors of complex lesions and surgical complications. Journal of American Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, 2017, Feb; 21(1):44-47

Tsukada S; Saffran DC; Rawlings DJ; Parolini O; Allen RC; Klisak I; Sparkes RS; Kubagawa H; Mohandas T; Quan S; Belmont JW; Cooper MD; Conley ME; Witte ON. Deficient expression of a B-cell cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase in human X-linked agammaglobulinemia. Cell, 1993, 72:279-290

Allen RC; Armitage RJ; Conley ME; Rosenblatt H; Jenkins NA; Copeland NG; Bedell MA; Edelhoff S; Disteche CM; Simoneaux DK; Fanslow WC; Belmont J; Spriggs MK. CD40 ligand gene defects responsible for X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome. Science, 1993, 259:990-993

Allen RC; Zoghbi HY; Moseley AB; Rosenblatt H; Belmont JW. Methylation of Hpa II and Hha I sites near the polymorphic CAG repeat in the human androgen-receptor gene correlates with X chromosome inactivation. American Journal of Human Genetics, 1992, 51:1229-1239