Accepting new patients

Merina Thomas, M.D.

Accepting new patients

  • Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine

Specialty

  • Ophthalmology

Clinical focus

  • Retina and Vitreous Disease
  • Retina Surgery
  • Macular Degeneration

Locations and contact

I see patients at
A brick building with trees in front of it in the winter.
Casey Eye Institute Vancouver
360 260-7132
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Building with several stories and all glass facing the patient drop off area and a walking bridge connecting to the neighboring building.
Elks Children's Eye Clinic
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About me

Dr. Merina Thomas went to medical school at Vanderbilt University, then went on to complete her residency at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center.

Her current research interests are tele-ophthalmology, clinical informatics, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in ophthalmology. Her clinical interests include age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. She is the co-vitreoretinal fellowship director, the CEI clinical informaticist and EPIC Physician Champion, and the co-chair of the CADIO (Casey Advancement in Diversity and Inclusion in Ophthalmology) committee.

Dr. Thomas enjoys discovering new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with her husband and two children.

Education and training

  • Degrees

    • B.A., 2007, Northwestern University
    • M.D., 2012, Vanderbilt School of Medicine

  • Internship

    • General Surgery, Atlanta Medical Center--Atlanta, GA, 2012-2013

  • Residency

    • Ophthalmology, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois at Chicago--Chicago, IL, 2013-2016

  • Fellowship

    • Vitreoretinal Surgery, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan--Ann Arbor, MI, 2016-2018
    • Research Fellow, Retina, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University--Baltimore, MD, 2010-2011

  • Certifications

    • American Board of Ophthalmology, 2017
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Insurance

Before scheduling an appointment

  1. Check your network. If you have health insurance,  call your company to find out if the OHSU Health location or provider you plan to visit is part of your network.
  2. Ask what you will pay. Your insurance company can tell you what your costs are likely to be.

If you schedule an appointment and your health insurance does not include OHSU Health, you may have to pay more than if you go to a provider in your insurance network. 

Visit our billing and insurance page for more information.

Ratings and reviews

Overall: 4.8 out of 5 (309 Ratings, 118 Reviews)

The patient ratings score is an average of all responses to the question "How likely would you be to recommend this provider to your family and friends (on a scale of 0 to 10)" on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey patient surveys.

  1. Dr Thomas is very straightforward and easy to listen to when she is describing my situation. She involves me in all decisions regarding my care issues. She makes changes in her care when the evidence supports it I trust her judgment.

  2. She is wonderful and puts up with my neurodivergency.

  3. Everyone working on the 11th floor has been wonderful.

  4. She is fantastic always positive and encouraging..

  5. Very good at explaining everything and included all information for my daughter too

  6. Very good

  7. Very respectful and professional

  8. Wonderful doctor! So impressed

  9. Diagnosis was thorough and encouraging

  10. Excellent attention to my problems, though wait was rather long

  11. Great experience. My doctor explained everything and valued my feedback

  12. Dr Thomas is wondering.

  13. Marina Thomas is very knowledgeable, takes the time to explain things and to point out the issues on the imagery. Her method of administering the shots is excellent and painless and she is willing to take the extra time to repeatedly flick the syringe to be sure the air bubbles that cause the black spots are out. Much appreciated!

  14. Very good, very professional

  15. I started appointment very nervous & worried. She explained everything very well, understanding helped calm my nerves. She is good working with me.

  16. Dr. Thomas was very friendly and knowledgeable

  17. She is a great communicator both in explaining complicated issues and in listening to concerns and questions.

  18. She is amazing! I would follow her wherever she goes, she has empathy, she is caring she, she is so knowledgeable. I enjoy being her patient

  19. Truly excellent, thorough, caring, reassuring

  20. Excellent experience.

  21. Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly, efficient!

  22. Dr. Thomas consistently cares for her patient's comfort and well being well beyond the exam and procedure. I appreciate her kind manner. Dr. Thomas is exceptional.

  23. She was very friendly and gave me clear and helpful information

  24. Dr. Thomas can always answer my questions. I get an eye injection and she puts me at ease. I like her personality.

  25. Very good experience

  26. Wonderful! Listens to you and takes time to explain everything! One of best I have ever worked with!!

  27. The doctor is very professional in treating and prescribing medications, very kind and attentive to my requests

  28. Dr Thomas was very thorough. She made sure my right eye was numb so I wouldn't feel the injection in my eye. She also was skilled at reassuring my concerns

  29. Dr Thomas was wonderful - thorough, kind and genuinely interested in provided the best care for her patients

  30. Very knowledgeable, very caring, very personable.