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: 4.9 out of 5 (292 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. Friendly, courteous, & professional.

  2. Follow up is great

  3. Dr Thomas is absolutely wonderful! She's the best!!

  4. Doctor Thomas has always been kind and incredibly good in explaining things in plain English.

  5. I was very impressed with the whole clinic from front desk to Dr. Thomas

  6. Dr. Thomas is amazing and very detailed with complete concern and always gives options and explanations. I have the utmost respect and confidence in her work. I would recommend her to anyone in situation. Thank you is an understatement of my gratitude.

  7. The best I could only hope for

  8. Absolutely wonderful

  9. Dr. Thomas is my favorite physician

  10. Dr. Thomas is amazing and very thorough

  11. Dr. Thomas is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. She is also very caring.

  12. I am very grateful for the care I get from Dr Thomas and the staff at Casey. Thank you all

  13. Dr. Thomas is friendly, thorough and takes the time to make sure questions are answered

  14. Dr. Thomas is wonderful. Kind, thorough, an expert in her field and fast. I have to have a shot injection in my eye one a month, and I feel confident she will do a great job.

  15. All clinicians have been wonderful!

  16. Dr Thomas is always prepared for my visit. Her support staff is very efficient and pleasant. I have complete trust in her for the health of my vision.

  17. Very good

  18. I couldn't be more happy with the whole staff, and Doctor is exceptional!

  19. The whole experience with the eye surgeon was outstanding. I felt I was well informed of my option, and the communication from the surgeon was clear and easy to understand.

  20. Dr Thomas is so dedicated, knowledgeable, and caring. Her technique administering eye injections is amazing.

  21. Dr. Thomas is the bomb, none better. I learn from her in 15 minutes what my regular Ret. Surgeon does not share with me or is unable to.

  22. Dr Thomas is the most upbeat, positive clinician and person. She brightens the exam room once she enters it.

  23. All service could not have been better. Staff was so in tune it just stood out. AMAZING Keep this team together

  24. Always makes sure I have time to talk with her.

  25. 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.

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

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

  28. Wonderful

  29. Everything was fine, they treated me very well

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