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Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD

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Specializes in: Eye Disease Ophthalmology (Corneal and External Diseases) and Surgery

University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine

Professional interests include: external eye diseases, eye surgery, LASIK, and more.

1009 S. Wood Street
Chicago, IL 60612

(312) 996-3937

Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD is a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL specializing in eye disease ophthalmology (corneal and external diseases) and surgery. He graduated from University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD is affiliated with University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System.

Office Locations

University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System

1009 S. Wood Street
Chicago, IL 60612

(312) 996-3937

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1855 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612

(312) 996-8937

(312) 996-7770

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Some issues Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD can help you with:

Eye Problems

Millions of people every year have problems with their eyes. Some of the most common eye problems are refractive disorders, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and cataracts.

Refractive disorders happen when the shape of the eye doesn't let allow someone focus very precisely. They might be myopic (nearsighted), hyperopic (farsighted), or have an astigmatism, which is a focus problem caused by the cornea. Refractive disorders can be corrected by glasses or contacts.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. It happens when fluid pressure builds up within the eye and damages the optic nerve. It is treated with medications and surgery.

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. The retina is tissue at the back of the eye that is filled with numerous, tiny blood vessels. When diabetes damages these delicate blood vessels, they burst or leak, leading to blind spots and blurred vision. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser therapy and surgery, but often vision cannot be restored.

Macular degeneration is common in older adults. The macula is the central part of the retina and is responsible for crisp center vision. Over time, the cells in the macula begin to die, making central vision blurry. An early symptom of macular degeneration is that straight lines appear wavy.

Cataracts happen when the clear lens in the front of the eye becomes cloudy, making things look blurry or faded. They are extremely common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will have had a cataract. In early stages, prescription glasses and magnifying lenses can help. As the cataracts get worse, surgery to replace the lens may be the best option.

More than just one of the five senses, the eyes are heavily relied upon to communicate, work, and get around every day. It's important to have regular eye exams for vision stays in good shape for years to come.

LASIK

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that improves vision by permanently correcting refractive vision errors. Refractive vision errors are sight problems (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism) that typically require patients to wear contact lenses or glasses. Nearsightedness (myopia) causes blurred vision at a distance, while farsightedness (hyperopia) makes objects that are up close appear blurry. Astigmatism results in blurred vision at both near and far distances. Each eye is either nearsighted or farsighted, and can additionally have astigmatism. These refractive vision errors develop from imperfections in the curvature of the eye, which LASIK fixes through the use of a laser. The laser changes the shape of the eye by cutting away tissue from the cornea (clear outer layer of the eye).

LASIK is generally considered an elective procedure (not medically necessary) since patients can wear glasses or contact lenses instead of undergoing LASIK. Nevertheless, many people still elect to undergo LASIK to have better vision without having to wear corrective lenses. Certain professionals, such as pilots, military members, firefighters, and athletes, might particularly benefit from LASIK.

Ophthalmologists (eye doctors) evaluate patients before surgery, measuring the cornea and checking for any eye irregularities that would disqualify patients from LASIK. A special eye scanner is used to create a map of the cornea. This map guides the surgeon in developing an individualized LASIK treatment plan. Once approved for LASIK, contact-wearers are advised to switch to glasses for the three weeks leading up to their surgery.

LASIK is a brief procedure, lasting for about half an hour, depending on the state of a patient's eyes and the corneal reshaping required. Patients lie down on a reclining chair and have numbing eye drops applied to one or both eyes to eliminate pain and discomfort during the procedure. While the eyes are held open by a device, the eye surgeon raises a fixation light where patients direct their eyes. The surgeon uses a femtosecond laser to cut a precise circular incision in the cornea's surface. The surgeon then manually folds back the corneal flap to access the stroma (inner cornea).

An excimer laser is then used to remove certain amounts of corneal tissue. For patients with farsightedness, the laser cuts tissue on the outer regions of the cornea, making the central cornea more prominent. For patients with nearsightedness, the opposite is done; central corneal tissue is removed while the outer tissue is left alone, flattening the eye. In patients with astigmatism, the laser is used to even out the surface of the corneal tissue, making the eye more spherical. When the lasering process is complete, the ophthalmologist folds the corneal flap to its regular position. The flap quickly begins to heal and naturally reattach itself to the eye.

LASIK patients need someone to drive them home from the procedure and cannot drive for the following 24 hours. Recovery from LASIK lasts about five days. Patients typically notice improved vision within a day or two of surgery. Prescription eye drops are given to patients to alleviate discomfort and promote eye healing. During this recovery time, patients must be incredibly careful not to touch or rub their eyes. Ophthalmologists often instruct patients to wear protective glasses during the day and night to prevent potential damage from eye rubbing.

LASIK can improve the experience of certain activities such as swimming or reading, and in some cases, LASIK can be a life-changing procedure for those with severe refractive vision errors. LASIK may also save patients money by eliminating the recurring need for updated corrective lenses.

In The News (see more mentions in the news)

“Dr. Elmer Tu, a professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Illinois, warned of probable complications.”—"Picky about appearances - The Arizona State Press", The State Press, November 2011

“Dr. Elmer Tu, professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said reports of the infection have continued despite AMO pulling its product off the market, suggesting...”—"FDA eyes stricter rules for contact lens solutions", Desert News, June 2008

“The government's investigation began in 2004, when a University of Illinois-Chicago ophthalmologist - Dr. Elmer Tu - noticed more than a dozen cases of the infection.”—"CDC issues warning about lens solution", Desert News, May 2007

Noteworthy Medicare Patient Procedures Performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2023

Click on any procedure below to see further details on volume and pricing among Medicare patients.

Top 5%

By Volume:

endothelial keratoplasty

In 2023, Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD performed more endothelial keratoplasty procedures for Medicare patients than 95% of providers in related specialties within Illinois.

Top 25%

By Volume:

anterior segment surgery

In 2012, Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD performed more anterior segment surgery procedures for Medicare patients than 75% of providers in related specialties within Illinois.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2012 were eye procedures and ultrasound (sonogram).

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	560
eye procedures	219
ultrasound (sonogram)	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2013 were eye procedures, transplant procedures, capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy	16
doctor visit	702
eye procedures	214
laser treatment	16
transplant procedures	25

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	168
Female	270

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	212
Black	138
Hispanic	59
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	177
From 75 to 84	143
85 and over	44
Less than 65	74

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2013

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	32
Depression	11
Chronic Kidney Disease	18
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	9
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	39
Dementia	7
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2014 were eye procedures and transplant procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	684
eye procedures	202
transplant procedures	21

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	179
Female	257

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	202
Black	137
Hispanic	63
Asian	22
Other	12
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	182
From 75 to 84	135
85 and over	42
Less than 65	77

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2014

Hypertension	66
High Cholesterol	50
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	31
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	26
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	40
Dementia	6
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2015 were eye procedures, transplant procedures, capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy	12
doctor visit	670
eye procedures	241
laser treatment	12
transplant procedures	19

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	392
Female	464

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	412
Black	240
Hispanic	122
Asian	56
Other	26
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	382
From 75 to 84	236
85 and over	84
Less than 65	154

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2015

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	26
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	10
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	7
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	10
Diabetes	35
Dementia	5
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2016 were eye procedures, transplant procedures, capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy	20
doctor visit	752
eye procedures	169
laser treatment	20
transplant procedures	23

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	190
Female	247

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	219
Black	114
Hispanic	61
Asian	28
Other	15
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	188
From 75 to 84	139
85 and over	29
Less than 65	81

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2016

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	3
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	16
Osteoperosis	8
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	14
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	12
Diabetes	35
Dementia	4
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2017 were eye procedures, transplant procedures, capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy	11
doctor visit	775
eye procedures	160
laser treatment	11
transplant procedures	16

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	198
Female	265

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	214
Black	140
Hispanic	59
Asian	31
Other	19
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	189
From 75 to 84	144
85 and over	40
Less than 65	90

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2017

Hypertension	63
High Cholesterol	40
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	15
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	36
Dementia	5
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2018 were eye procedures, transplant procedures, capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy	11
doctor visit	774
eye procedures	179
laser treatment	11
transplant procedures	19

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	189
Female	279

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	236
Black	118
Hispanic	56
Asian	34
Other	24
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	190
From 75 to 84	156
85 and over	41
Less than 65	81

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2018

Hypertension	65
High Cholesterol	53
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	30
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	15
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	9
Diabetes	37
Dementia	7
Cancer	12

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2019 were eye procedures and transplant procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	774
eye procedures	152
transplant procedures	20

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	191
Female	308

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	250
Black	126
Hispanic	70
Asian	31
Other	22
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	214
From 75 to 84	145
85 and over	54
Less than 65	86

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2019

Hypertension	60
High Cholesterol	51
Stroke	5
Ischemic Heart Disease	25
Depression	17
Chronic Kidney Disease	29
Asthma	9
Osteoperosis	10
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	17
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	36
Dementia	9
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2020 were eye procedures, transplant procedures, capsulotomy and laser treatment.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

capsulotomy	15
doctor visit	558
eye procedures	160
laser treatment	15
transplant procedures	15

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	155
Female	229

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	213
Black	93
Hispanic	50
Asian	0
Other	0
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	182
From 75 to 84	119
85 and over	29
Less than 65	54

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2020

Hypertension	62
High Cholesterol	48
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	29
Depression	18
Chronic Kidney Disease	31
Asthma	6
Osteoperosis	9
Atrial Fibrilation	6
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	7
Diabetes	40
Dementia	7
Cancer	10

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2021 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram) and transplant procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	798
eye procedures	274
transplant procedures	13
ultrasound (sonogram)	46

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	185
Female	274

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	247
Black	95
Hispanic	61
Asian	35
Other	21
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	191
From 75 to 84	165
85 and over	51
Less than 65	52

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2021

Hypertension	64
High Cholesterol	58
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	28
Depression	16
Chronic Kidney Disease	28
Asthma	8
Osteoperosis	15
Atrial Fibrilation	8
Heart Failure	16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	35
Dementia	6
Cancer	11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2022 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram) and transplant procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	850
eye procedures	310
transplant procedures	12
ultrasound (sonogram)	74

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	192
Female	290

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	245
Black	106
Hispanic	68
Asian	37
Other	26
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	200
From 75 to 84	171
85 and over	47
Less than 65	64

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2022

Hypertension	67
High Cholesterol	68
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	22
Depression	14
Chronic Kidney Disease	19
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	16
Atrial Fibrilation	11
Heart Failure	12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	35
Dementia	3
Cancer	15

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL during 2023 were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram) and transplant procedures.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit	936
eye procedures	266
transplant procedures	21
ultrasound (sonogram)	29

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	187
Female	302

**Ethnicity**
Non-Hispanic White	282
Black	97
Hispanic	48
Asian	35
Other	27
Native American	0

**Age**
From 65 to 74	185
From 75 to 84	206
85 and over	46
Less than 65	52

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD in 2023

Hypertension	69
High Cholesterol	71
Stroke	6
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	14
Chronic Kidney Disease	20
Asthma	11
Osteoperosis	17
Atrial Fibrilation	12
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	11
Diabetes	34
Dementia	3
Cancer	16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2023

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated as a cornea specialist in Chicago, IL were eye procedures, ultrasound (sonogram), transplant procedures and capsulotomy.

capsulotomy	14
doctor visit	736
eye procedures	212
laser treatment	14
transplant procedures	18
ultrasound (sonogram)	40

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2023

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD.

**Gender**
Male	185
Female	265

**Ethnicity**
Black / African American	117
Asian / Pacific Islander	25
Non-Hispanic White	227
Hispanic	59
Native American / Alaskan Native	0
Other	16

**Age**
75 to 84	146
85 and over	42
Less than 65	72
65 to 74	190

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD From 2012 - 2023

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD treated were hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Hypertension	59
High Cholesterol	49
Stroke	4
Ischemic Heart Disease	24
Depression	13
Chronic Kidney Disease	23
Asthma	8
Osteoporosis	10
Heart Failure	13
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease	8
Diabetes	33
Atrial Fibrillation	7
Cancer	10
Dementia	5

Education & Training

Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD graduated from University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. He completed residency at University of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and has a state license in Illinois.

Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine

Residency: University of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals

Board Certification: American Board of Ophthalmology

Licensed In: Illinois

Affiliations & Hospitals

Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD is associated with these hospitals and organizations:

University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System

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General Payments

These charts describe general payments received by Dr. Elmer Y. Tu, MD. Doctors may receive payments for a number of reasons, including meal compensation, travel compensation, and consulting.

**Payments by Company**
Seattle Genetics, Inc.	$12,934 SGN19A $6,841	$6,093
Dompe US, Inc.	$5,889 Oxervate $5,289	$600
Seagen Inc.	$5,444 TIVDAK $5,444
Oyster Point Pharma, Inc.	$2,300 TYRVAYA $2,300
AstraZeneca UK Limited	$2,148 $2,148
Other	$7,200 VisuMax $1,500	CataractEquipment $117	ZIRGAN $56	Photrexa $46	MIEBO $40	Other $5,441

**Types of Payments**
Consulting Fee	$14,802
Honoraria	$10,700
Compensation for services other than consulting, including serving as faculty or as a speaker at a venue other than a continuing education program	$5,000
Travel and Lodging	$2,743
Compensation for serving as faculty or as a speaker for a non-accredited and noncertified continuing education program	$1,500
Other	$1,168

Biography

Dr. Elmer Tu is a specialist in eye disease ophthalmology (corneal and external diseases) and surgery. Dr. Tu's areas of expertise consist of LASIK, infections, and external eye diseases. After completing medical school at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, he performed his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Wisconsin. In addition to English, he speaks Taiwanese. He is professionally affiliated with the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System.