Kristina Tarczy-Hornoch, MD, DPhil

Undergraduate Education: BA, Physiological Sciences, University of Oxford, UK, 1991
Medical School: MD, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, 1998
Post Graduate Education: D. Phil., Neurophysiology, University of Oxford, UK, 1997, MS, Clinical and Biomedical Investigation, University of Southern California, 2007
Internship: Internal Medicine, University of Washington, 1999
Residency: Ophthalmology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, 2002
Fellowship: Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 2003
Board Certification: American Board of Ophthalmology, 2003
Memberships: American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), Washington Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (WAEPS), Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Sub Specialty Societies: American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS)

Dr. Tarczy-Hornoch was born and raised in Berkeley, California. She completed her undergraduate studies and her doctoral degree (D.Phil., neurophysiology) at the University of Oxford in England, studying synaptic connectivity in the visual cortex. She obtained her M.D. from the University of California San Francisco. After a medicine internship at UW, she completed her ophthalmology residency at the Doheny Eye Institute of the University of Southern California and her fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus at the Wilmer Eye Institute of Johns Hopkins University. In addition, she holds a master's degree in clinical and biomedical investigation from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Tarczy-Hornoch served on the faculty of the University of Southern California and the Doheny Eye Institute from 2003 until 2012, practicing at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She joined the UW in 2012 and served as Chief of Ophthalmology at Seattle Children’s Hospital until 2020. Dr. Tarczy-Hornoch is a Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology. Her clinical and research interests focus on disorders that affect visual development in children. She is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.

Dr. Tarczy-Hornoch lives in Seattle, Washington, with her husband and son. Her pastimes include spending time with family, music, reading, print-making, and cross-country skiing.

Location: Seattle Children’s Hospital Ophthalmology Clinic 4800 Sand Point Way, Ocean 6 Seattle, WA 98105 Clinic Phone: 206-987-2177 Clinic Fax: 206-987-2722

Mailing Address: Department of Ophthalmology Seattle Children’s Hospital 4800 Sand Point Way M/S OA.9.220 Seattle, WA 98105

“Caring for children means caring for the whole family. Parents will do everything possible to help their children, but can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the decisions they face, especially when there isn’t just one right answer. One of the most rewarding experiences for a physician is being able to teach families and empower them to make informed decisions about a child’s care.“

2010-2012: Inclusion in 'Top Doctors,' in Pasadena Magazine, Pasadena, CA
2014:   Nominated for Seattle Children’s Hospital Family Choice Award
2016:   American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Honors Award for service
2017, 2020: Inclusion in 'Top Doctors' in Seattle Met Magazine 
2021-present: Editor in Chief, Journal of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus

Dr. Tarczy-Hornoch’s clinical interests include disorders of childhood vision development, such as refractive errors, amblyopia, and strabismus; congenital and acquired diseases and anomalies of the eye and surrounding structures in children; and ophthalmic manifestations of systemic disease in children, including craniosynostosis and neurologic and neurosurgical conditions.

Dr. Tarczy-Hornoch’s research focuses on the epidemiology of vision disorders in children, the neural basis of suppression and amblyopia, and accommodative and vergence interactions in children during normal and abnormal visual development.