CLINICAL & RESEARCH FOCUS

Ophthalmology chief resident (University of Missouri, 2025–2026) and incoming Refractive Surgery Fellow at Parkhurst NuVision (San Antonio, TX, 2026–2027), based in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Virdi is a modern vision correction surgeon specializing in LASIK, PRK, SMILE, EVO ICL, refractive lens exchange, and cataract surgery, committed to protecting sight and empowering lives. He is co-founder of Bimini AI, through which he serves as engineering lead of ICLFit — the leading AI-based ICL sizing agent. Clinical training and active research span the following areas:

Refractive Surgery

LASIK, PRK, and SMILE — corneal laser vision correction for myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.

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EVO ICL / Phakic IOL

EVO ICL and EVO+ ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) sizing and outcomes, including high-myopia and shallow anterior-chamber-depth cases.

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Cataract Surgery & Premium IOLs

Phacoemulsification cataract surgery with monofocal, toric, multifocal, and EDOF intraocular lenses; IOL formula optimization.

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Glaucoma & MIGS

XEN Gel Stent, Kahook Dual Blade goniotomy, and other minimally invasive glaucoma surgery outcomes.

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AI / ML in Ophthalmology

Deep-learning ICL vault prediction (VAULT-OCT), OCT analysis, and natural-language processing for ophthalmic workup.

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EDUCATION

Refractive Surgery Fellowship

Parkhurst NuVision 2026-2027

Ophthalmology Residency, Chief Resident

University of Missouri, Columbia – MO 2022-2026

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

University of Missouri, Columbia – MO 2018-2022

M.A. Biology

Washington University in St. Louis 2016-2018

B.S. Biology/Minor Health Care Ethics

Saint Louis University 2012-2016

LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Chief Resident

University of Missouri Department of Ophthalmology 2025-2026

ICL Vault Accuracy Using deep Learning Technology (VAULT)

Co-Founder 2023-Present

Technology Lead

Visual Freedom Foundation (VFF) 2024-Present

Senior Editor, AI/ML in Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology Business Minute 2024-Present

Co-Founder of Refractive Foundations

RefractiveFoundations.com, WCRSVS 2024-Present

RSA InSight - Refractive Surgery Alliance Society

Co-Founder 2023-Present

RSA Resident Webinar Committee

Refractive Surgery Alliance Society 2023-2024

Bimini AI Co-Founder

AI, Technology, and Innovation in Ophthalmology 2022-Present

eyeSpace/IOL Reference

Co-Founder 2022-Present

EyeLabs AI

Founder 2019-Present

COVID-19 India Patient Education Initiative

Co-Founder 2020-2022

Advocates for Advancement of Diversity in Surgery

Vice President 2020-2022

Ophthalmology Interest Group

President 2021-2022

Respectacle - Eyeglasses for Underserved Communities

Chair 2020-2022

MedZou Saving Sight Program

Chair 2020-2022

Pachynski Lab Research Coordinator

Research Coordinator 2016-2018

St. Roch School Mentoring and Tutoring Program

Founder 2016-2018

HONORS, AWARDS, & GRANTS

Top Five Abstract Award

Young MD Connect Live 2025 2025

Top Presenter

American Glaucoma Society 2025 2025

Best of Poster Session 2024

ASCRS 2024

Greatest Catch Award

University of Missouri Department of Ophthalmology 2023

Legacy Teacher Award

University of Missouri School of Medicine 2022

John Aure Buesseler Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology

University of Missouri School of Medicine 2022

Research Development Grant

University of Missouri 2021

Health Sciences Research Day Poster Award

University of Missouri School of Medicine 2019

MedZou Distinguished Volunteer Award

University of Missouri School of Medicine 2019

Clinton Foundation Recognition

COVID-19 India Patient Education Initiative 2021

InspireSTL – Compassionate Tutor Award

2018

Excellence in Mathematics and Computer Science Award

Saint Louis University 2016

Outstanding Volunteer Service Award

Palo Alto Veterans Hospital 2012

Eagle Scout

2012

RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP

Manuscripts

Hirabayashi M, Cantu E, Abramson A, Virdi G, Nasser T, Parkhurst G. Dynamic Changes in Implantable Collamer Lens Vault and Anterior Chamber Angle Under Varying Lighting Conditions. Clinical Ophthalmology. April 2026. DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S603534

Virdi G, Zhang E, Thomas M, Elkeeb A. Atypical Panuveitis in Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis. Retinal Cases & Brief Reports. 2026

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Nasser T, Abramson A, Parkhurst G. Accuracy of Reported Sizes of the EVO/EVO+ Visian Implantable Collamer® Lenses. Cureus. August 2025. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.90468

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Nasser T, Libfraind L, Zapata E, Abramson A, Parkhurst G. ICL Exchanges or Explants Due to Sizing in a United States High Volume Center. Clinical Ophthalmology. July 2025. DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S528280

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Abramson A, Nasser T, Vanrachack A, Parkhurst G. Clinical Outcomes of Implantable Collamer Lenses for the Treatment of Myopia in Eyes with Anterior Chamber Depth (<3.0 mm) at a Single Center in the United States. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. 2025

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Nasser T, Abramson A, Parkhurst, G. VAULT-OCT: Vault Accuracy Using Deep Learning Technology for Predicting ICL Postoperative Vault with Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. 2025 (Pending Publication)

Nasser T, Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Abramson A, Parkhurst, G. VAULT: Vault Accuracy Using deep Learning Technology – A Novel Image-Based AI Model for Predicting Implantable Collamer Lens Postoperative Vault. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. April 2024. DOI: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001386

Virdi G, Nguyen V, Hirabayashi M, An J. Comparison of Outcomes After XEN Ab-Interno Versus XEN Ab-Externo Approaches. World Glaucoma Congress. 2021

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, King J, Lee D, Nguyen V, An J. Effect of Excisional Goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) on Surgically Induced Astigmatism. Clinical Ophthalmology. 2020. 14:4297-4303. DOI: 10.2147/opth.s279073

Virdi G, Namin A, Gilley D, Dooley L. Utility of Computed Tomography in the Workup of Adult Peritonsillar Abscess in the Emergency Department.

Keith R, Shin W, Krug E, Virdi G, Pachynski R. Reactivation of PTEN and suppression of PD-L1 expression in human tumors via an immune cell chemoattractant-mediated signaling cascade augments T cell cytotoxicity. 2020

Keith R, Shin W, Krug E, Virdi G, Pachynski R. Chemerin reactivates PTEN and suppresses PD-L1 in tumor cells via modulation of a novel CMKLR1-mediated signaling cascade. 2020

Pachynski R, Rennier K, Shin W, Virdi G. Chemerin increases T-cell mediated cytotoxicity of human tumors via modulation of a novel CMKLR1/PTEN/PD-L1 axis. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory/Biorxiv. 2019

Pachynski R, Wang P, Salazar N, Zheng Y, Nease L, Rosalez J, Leong W, Virdi G, Rennier K, Shin W, Nguyen V, Butcher E, Zabel B. Chemerin suppresses breast cancer growth by recruiting immune effector cells into the tumor microenvironment. Frontiers In Immunology. 10. 2019

Grucza RA, Sher KJ, Kerr WC, Krauss MJ, Lui CK, McDowell YE, Hartz S, Virdi G, Bierut LJ. Trends in Adult Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking in the Early 21st-Century United States: A Meta-Analysis of 6 National Survey Series. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2018

Singh H, Lober R, Lopez H, Virdi G, Rosen M, Evans J. Endonasal Access to the Upper Cervical Spine: Part 2 Cadaveric Analysis. J Neurol Surg. 2013

Podium Presentations

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Nasser T, Abramson A, Parkhurst, G. VAULT-OCT: Vault Accuracy Using Deep Learning Technology for Predicting ICL Postoperative Vault with Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Presented at Ophthalmology Outliers Meeting. 2025

Virdi G, Hirabayashi M, Nasser T, Parkhurst, G. VAULT-OCT: Deep Learning to Predict ICL Vault from OCT. Presented at YMDC Live. 2025

Virdi G, Hirabayashi M, Nasser T, Parkhurst, G. The Future of AI ICL Sizing is OCT Not UBM. Presented at STAAR Surgeon Summit. 2024

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Nasser T, Abramson A, Parkhurst, G. VAULT-OCT: Vault Accuracy Using Deep Learning Technology for Predicting ICL Postoperative Vault with Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography. Presented at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). 2024

Shanklin J, Virdi G, Jella A, Johnson S, Webel A. XEN Gel Stent Outcomes in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients: Comparison of Open Versus Closed Conjunctiva at 18 Months. Presented at American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). 2024

Shanklin J, Virdi G, Jella A, Johnson S, Webel A. XEN Gel Stent Outcomes in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients: Comparison of Open vs Closed Conjunctiva at 18 Months. Presented at American Glaucoma Society (AGS). 2023

Virdi G. Using OpenAI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Workup and Evaluation of Ophthalmic Diseases. Presented at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) - Digital Day: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. 2023

Virdi G, Nguyen V, Hirabayashi M, An J. Comparison of Outcomes After XEN Ab-Interno Versus XEN Ab-Externo Approaches. Presented at World Glaucoma Congress. 2021

Poster Presentations

Shanklin J, Virdi G, Jella A, Johnson S, Webel A. XEN Gel Stent Outcomes in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients: Comparison of Open Versus Closed Conjunctiva at 18 Months. Poster presented at American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). 2025

Shanklin J, Virdi G, Jella A, Johnson S, Webel A. Comparison of Outcomes Open Versus Closed Conjunctiva at 24 Months XEN Gel Stent in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients. Poster presented at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). 2025

Shanklin J, Virdi G, Jella A, Johnson S, Webel A. XEN Gel Stent Outcomes in Open Angle Glaucoma Patients: Comparison of Open Versus Closed Conjunctiva at 36 Months. Poster presented at World Glaucoma Congress (WGC). 2025

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Johnson S, Davis G. Relationship between Corneal Aberrations and Prediction Error of the Barrett Il IOL Formula. Poster presented at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS). March 2024

Virdi G, Warning A. Machine Learning–Driven Facial Morphometric Analysis. Poster presented at American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2023

Virdi G, Nguyen V, Hirabayashi M, An J. XEN Gel Stent Implantation in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients: Comparison of Surgical Approaches. Poster presented at World Glaucoma Association. 2021

Virdi G, Hirabayashi M, An J. Outcomes of Open Conjunctival vs. Needling Bleb Revision after XEN Gel Stent Failure at 6 Months. Poster presented at World Glaucoma Association. 2021

Virdi G, Hirabayashi M, King J, An J. Application of Deep Learning For Early Glaucoma Detection. Poster presented at World Glaucoma Association - Artificial Intelligence/Big Data Conference. 2021

Virdi G, Virdi T, Elkeeb A. Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis Using Deep Learning: A Synthetic Data Approach. Poster presented at ARVO Imaging in the Eye Conference. 2021

Virdi G, Zimmer J, An J. Comparison of Outcomes After Xen ab-Interno vs. Xen ab-Externo Approach. Poster presented at Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). April 2020

Virdi G, King J, An J. Effect of Excisional Goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) on Surgically Induced Astigmatism. Poster presented at University of Missouri Health Sciences Research Day. November 2019

Virdi G, Namin A, Gilley D, Dooley L. Utility of Computed Tomography in the Workup of Adult PTA in the Emergency Department. Poster presented at University of Missouri Health Sciences Research Day. November 2019

Non-Peer Reviewed Publications

Johnson S, Virdi G, Zelle L. Uncommon Angle Closure: A history of retinopathy of prematurity can present challenges. Glaucoma Today. March/April 2025

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Johnson S. Technological Innovation in Ophthalmology. The Ophthalmology Business Minute. January 2023

Virdi G, Nasser T, Parkhurst G, Hirabayashi M. Enhancing ICL Sizing Accuracy through Image-Based Machine Learning Algorithms. The Ophthalmology Business Minute. October 2023

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Davis G, Heseman N. Seeing is Believing. The Ophthalmologist. January 2023

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Davis G, Heseman N. Toric Tolerance: 1° for 3%? The Ophthalmology Business Minute. December 2022

Hirabayashi M, Virdi G, Johnson S. The Path of Broken Ground: A timeline of technological developments in ophthalmology. The Ophthalmologist. December 2022

Books

McLaughlin D, Gharabagi A, Virdi G, Miller A, Hirabayashi M. The Eye Guide: Matching in Ophthalmology. KDP; 2023. ISBN: 979-8392161324

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

RSA Resident Webinar Certification

Refractive Surgery Alliance Society 2024

INTERESTS, HOBBIES, & SKILLS

Activities

  • Cycling
  • Golf
  • Chess
  • Bhangra

Programming Languages

  • Python
  • SwiftUI
  • HTML
  • CSS

Developer Tools

  • VS Code
  • Cursor
  • Claude Code
  • Firebase

AI Tools & Frameworks

  • OpenAI API
  • TensorFlow
  • PyTorch
  • Scikit-learn
  • Keras
  • NumPy
  • Pandas

Libraries & Frameworks

  • React
  • JavaScript
  • Node.js
  • OpenCV
  • Matplotlib
  • Seaborn

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is EVO ICL and how is it different from LASIK?

EVO ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) is a phakic intraocular lens placed between the iris and the natural crystalline lens to correct myopia and astigmatism, without removing any corneal tissue. LASIK, by contrast, reshapes the cornea with an excimer laser. EVO ICL is often preferred for higher prescriptions, thinner corneas, or dry-eye-prone patients, and is removable. LASIK is more common for moderate prescriptions and offers a very fast visual recovery.

What is ICL vault and why does it matter?

Vault is the gap between the back surface of the ICL and the front of the natural crystalline lens, measured in micrometers. Too little vault risks anterior subcapsular cataract; too much vault can cause angle crowding, pupillary block, or accelerated endothelial cell loss. Ideal vault is generally considered to be in the 250–750 µm range. Accurate ICL sizing is the central technical challenge in modern ICL surgery.

What is VAULT-OCT?

VAULT-OCT is a deep-learning model that predicts postoperative ICL vault from preoperative anterior-segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) scans. It was developed by Dr. Gurpal Virdi and collaborators at Parkhurst NuVision and published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. The goal is to reduce vault-related ICL exchanges by improving preoperative sizing.

What is a premium IOL?

A premium intraocular lens (IOL) is a cataract implant that offers capabilities beyond the standard monofocal lens. Toric IOLs correct astigmatism. Multifocal and trifocal IOLs provide multiple focal points to reduce spectacle dependence. Extended-depth-of-focus (EDOF) IOLs deliver a continuous range of vision. The right choice depends on the patient's ocular anatomy, lifestyle, and tolerance for visual side effects such as halos or glare.

LASIK vs PRK vs SMILE — what is the difference?

LASIK creates a hinged corneal flap with a femtosecond laser, then reshapes the underlying stromal bed with an excimer laser. PRK removes the corneal epithelium entirely and reshapes the surface, with a slower recovery but no flap. SMILE uses a femtosecond laser to extract a small intrastromal lenticule through a tiny incision, again with no flap. The best procedure depends on corneal thickness, prescription, lifestyle, and dry-eye status.

What is AI ICL sizing?

AI ICL sizing uses machine-learning models trained on preoperative imaging (AS-OCT, UBM, biometry) and surgical outcomes to recommend the optimal ICL size for an individual eye. Compared to traditional vendor formulas, AI-based methods such as VAULT-OCT aim to reduce the rate of vault-related ICL exchanges and improve refractive predictability.

Who is Dr. Gurpal Virdi?

Dr. Gurpal Virdi is an ophthalmology chief resident at the University of Missouri (2025–2026), founder of EyeLabs AI, and incoming Refractive Surgery Fellow at Parkhurst NuVision in San Antonio, Texas (2026–2027). His clinical and research focus includes refractive surgery (LASIK, EVO ICL), cataract surgery with premium IOLs, glaucoma, and AI/ML applications in ophthalmology.

Where is Dr. Virdi based?

Dr. Virdi is based in Palo Alto, California. He completed undergraduate training at Saint Louis University, a master's at Washington University in St. Louis, and medical school and ophthalmology residency at the University of Missouri. He begins refractive surgery fellowship at Parkhurst NuVision (San Antonio, TX) in 2026.