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
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

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
Read faculty profile

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 (293 Ratings, 96 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. I have been in the care of Dr Thomas for many years. She is highly professional and knowledgeable, asked brings warmth and compassion as well.

  2. I loved her delight when she called my retina awesome, not one of a word usually used about my eyes' still savoring it

  3. I have always had friendly, professional, and timely care at Casey.

  4. Wonderful

  5. Everything was fine, they treated me very well

  6. The service was excellent , the truth is that I recommend a 100 X 100

  7. Dr. Thomas is very good. Takes time to explain procedures and treatments.

  8. Puts my mind at ease

  9. Friendly, knowledgeable and explained my condition and the possible treatments

  10. Dr. Thomas is extremely knowledgeable and has excellent patient rapport. She is friendly, easy to talk to, and explains well.

  11. Was friendly and very informative.

  12. It's all very good

  13. Very professional

  14. Dr. Thomas is absolutely wonderfully.

  15. Excellent and very professional..!

  16. She is kind, considerate, explaining how I am doing. Love her.

  17. Everyone very kind we tell people all time that if have eye issues go here because how good you guys are

  18. Very satisfied Thank you

  19. Dr Thomas always answers my questions and concerns. She has a great bedside manner too.

  20. Great

  21. Dr Thomas is very smart, very personable, and explains everything to my level of understanding.

  22. 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.

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

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

  25. She is fantastic always positive and encouraging..

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

  27. Very good

  28. Very respectful and professional

  29. Wonderful doctor! So impressed

  30. Diagnosis was thorough and encouraging