Melanie R. Daulton, MD
Board-Certified Ophthalmologist in Reno, Sparks & Carson City, NV
Melanie R. Daulton, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist serving patients in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and the Tahoe region. She completed two fellowships: one in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus surgery, and one in cornea and refractive surgery. At Nevada Eye Consultants, she provides medical and surgical eye care, including the treatment of corneal conditions.
Dr. Daulton trained at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, and the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. She is a published researcher and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to apply my training to care for each patient who presents to me,” says Dr. Daulton. “No matter how simple or complex the concern may be, after a thorough assessment, I want every patient to leave the exam room with the confidence that we will work together with clear steps to address the problem.”
Education & Training
Dr. Daulton earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics at Dartmouth College in 2012. After deciding to pursue a medical career, she went on to complete a Certificate in Premedical Studies in 2014 at Columbia University.
She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2019, completing her medical school thesis on techniques for genomically profiling tumor samples.
Following medical school, Dr. Daulton completed a general surgery internship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She then completed residency training in ophthalmology at the same institution in 2023, where she served as chief resident in her final year.
To gain additional expertise, in 2024 Dr. Daulton completed fellowship training in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus surgery at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford. There, she trained in the surgical care of eye misalignment (strabismus) in adult and pediatric patients, as well as childhood cataract and tear duct disorders.
In 2026 she completed a second fellowship in cornea and refractive surgery at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute, training in more complex anterior segment surgery including corneal transplantation.
Board Certification & Professional Memberships
Dr. Daulton is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology. She is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. She is licensed to practice medicine in Nevada.
Professional Experience
Clinical Instructor, Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine (2024-2025)
Dr. Daulton previously worked as a Clinical Instructor in Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine. In this role, she cared for patients at the Byers Eye Institute and taught medical students and ophthalmology trainees.
Ophthalmologist, Nevada Eye Consultants (2026-Present)
Dr. Daulton joined Nevada Eye Consultants in 2026, where she provides medical and surgical eye care for patients across Northern Nevada.
Service & Leadership
Community Service & Global Eye Care
Dr. Daulton has volunteered her skills to provide eye care in areas of need with the Community Health Clinic in Chicago and with the Stanford Belize Vision Clinic. She has also presented and published on strengthening pediatric eye care in low-income countries.
“I recognize the importance of access to care in a community, and I bring that sense of purpose to every patient I see in Northern Nevada,” says Dr. Daulton.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Dr. Daulton currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.
Other Teaching Roles
Teaching has been a passion of Dr. Daulton’s throughout her education and career. She tutored undergraduate students in calculus at Dartmouth College, and in biology and mathematics at Columbia University. She served as an instructor for medical student courses at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Stanford University School of Medicine.
Research
Dr. Daulton is a published researcher whose work spans health equity, pediatric ophthalmology, anterior segment surgery, and eye-brain connections. She served as principal investigator on an Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness research grant, studying the link between retinal and cerebral vascular malformations.
Peer-Reviewed Publications:
- Bothun ED, Lusobya RC, Rodriguez SH, Daulton MR, Brant AM, Isenberg S, Wilson ME, Lambert SR. “Strengthening pediatric ophthalmology in low-income countries.” JAAPOS. 2026;30(3):104814.
- Daulton M, Haque ME, Moshfeghi D, Lambert S, Pershing S. “Disparities in childhood blindness resulting from retinopathy of prematurity using the IRIS Registry.” Ophthalmology. 2025;132(7):848-850.
- Chan K, Daulton M, Reddy V, McComb E, Lavine J. “Prevalence of retinal venous malformations in patients with cerebral cavernous or arteriovenous malformations.” Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology. 2024;44(2):226-231.
Professional Publications:
- Daulton MR, Miller KM. “Genetically predisposed to capsular bag instability.” Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today. 2026;July:12-13.
- Daulton M, Nadimpalli S, Jeyaseelan P, Zeid JL, Rahmani B. “Occult foreign body of the conjunctival fornix.” EyeNet Magazine. 2022;26(1):62.
Conference Presentations & Speaking Engagements:
- 2025 Cornea and Eye Banking Forum (Orlando, FL) – “Recurrence of p.Met619Lys mutation associated TGFBI corneal dystrophy following DALK”
- 2025 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT) – “Non-surgical pediatric eye care in Belize,” part of the workshop “Strengthening pediatric ophthalmology in low-income countries: what can you do to help?”
- 2024 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Annual Meeting (Austin, TX) – “Disparities in childhood blindness from retinopathy of prematurity using the IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight)”
- 2024 Stanford Annual Ophthalmology Research Day (Palo Alto, CA) – “Disparities in childhood blindness from retinopathy of prematurity using the IRIS Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight)”
- 2024 19th Annual Solitude Pediatric Ophthalmology Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT) – “Case presentation: partial cranial nerve three palsy”
- 2023 Clinical Topics in Ophthalmology Course, Stanford University School of Medicine (Palo Alto, CA) – “Pediatric ophthalmology”
- 2023 Bay Area Ophthalmology Course (Palo Alto, CA) – “Case presentations: persistent fetal vasculature with suspected patent hyaloid vessel, Duane syndrome in twins”
- 2023 Chicago Ophthalmological Society Joint Meeting with the Chicago Glaucoma Society (Chicago, IL) – “Case presentation: acute angle closure in endothelial dystrophy”
- 2022 Chicago Oculoplastic Society Meeting (Chicago, IL) – “An eyelid scab”
- 2022 Cornea and External Disease: Review and Update, Virtual CME Program (Chicago, IL) – “Keratoprosthesis: thrill of victory or agony of defeat”
- 2022 Ophthalmology and Vision Research Day, Northwestern University (Chicago, IL) – “Association between retinal venous malformations and cerebral venous malformations”
- 2022 Yannuzzi Rounds, International Retinal Imaging Society (Chicago, IL) – “Case presentation: acute zonal occult outer retinopathy”
- 2021 Next Steps for the Neuro-Ophthalmologic Complaint: When (Not) to Worry, Virtual CME Program (Chicago, IL) – “Next steps for the neuro-ophthalmic complaint: anisocoria” and “Next steps for the neuro-ophthalmic complaint: papilledema”
- 2019 Chicago Ophthalmological Society and Rabb Retina Study Group Meeting (Chicago, IL) – “Case presentation: congenital retinal macrovessel”
Poster Presentations:
- Moudgil A, Yu G, Daulton M, Kossler A. “Frontal bone Coccidioides osteomyelitis presenting as an orbital mass.” Poster presented at the 2025 American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.
- Daulton M, Chan K, Reddy V, McComb E, Lavine J. “Prevalence of retinal venous malformations in patients with cerebral cavernous or arteriovenous malformations.” Poster presented at the 2023 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting.
- Daulton M, Wenzel A, Park J, Yang J, Choi J. “Development of CTCL-Seq, a rapid, high throughput method to genomically profile cutaneous T cell lymphomas.” Poster presented at the 2016 AOSC Poster Session, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Honors & Awards
Dr. Daulton’s academic achievements have been recognized throughout her career:
- Best Fellow Presentation (awarded as a resident), Yannuzzi Rounds, International Retinal Imaging Society (2022)
- Resident Research Award, Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University (2022)
- ISPB Research Grant, Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Principal Investigator (2020-2023)
Serving Northern Nevada Communities
Nevada Eye Consultants has cared for Northern Nevada for over 30 years. Dr. Daulton is honored to join our team of eye doctors and bring subspecialty-trained care to the region. She serves patients throughout Northern Nevada, including:
Primary Service Areas:
- Reno, NV
- Sparks, NV
- Carson City, NV
- Truckee, CA
Extended Service Areas:
- Fernley, NV
- Fallon, NV
- North Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
- Incline Village, NV
- Susanville, CA
Outside of her medical practice, Dr. Daulton is an accomplished rock climber and enjoys being outdoors in the mountains around the Reno-Tahoe area. In her youth, she qualified for and competed in 10 USA Climbing National Championships in bouldering and sport climbing. She also enjoys skiing, biking, and travel, and has hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu and summited Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kinabalu.
Why Choose Dr. Daulton?
Exceptional Training & Credentials
- Board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology
- Pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus fellowship at Stanford
- Cornea and refractive surgery fellowship at UCLA
Leadership & Teaching Excellence
- Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno
- Former Clinical Instructor at Stanford University School of Medicine
- Course instructor and speaker at Stanford and Northwestern
Research & Innovation
- Published in Ophthalmology, JAAPOS, and the Journal of Neuro-ophthalmology
- Principal investigator on a funded vision research grant
- Speaker at national ophthalmology meetings
- Award-winning researcher and presenter
Patient-Centered Care
- Clear explanations of every diagnosis and option
- Personalized care plans for each patient
- Volunteers to provide eye care in underserved areas
- Shares the active outdoor lifestyle of many of her patients
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find a board-certified ophthalmologist in Reno or Carson City?
Dr. Melanie Daulton practices at Nevada Eye Consultants in Reno. She sees patients from throughout Northern Nevada, including Sparks, Carson City, and Truckee. Dr. Daulton is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and fellowship-trained at Stanford and UCLA.
What makes Dr. Daulton’s training unique?
Dr. Daulton completed two separate fellowships at two leading academic eye centers. She trained in pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus surgery at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford. She then trained in cornea and refractive surgery at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute. This dual-fellowship training gives her a broad foundation for caring for complex eye conditions.
What eye conditions does Dr. Daulton treat?
Dr. Daulton provides medical and surgical treatment for conditions affecting the front of the eye. These include infections, inflammation, dystrophies, and neoplasms (tumors) of the cornea and conjunctiva. She also treats pterygia, cataracts, and eye trauma. In addition, she is trained in strabismus and pediatric ophthalmology, including childhood cataract and nasolacrimal (tear) duct disorders. A consultation is the first step in finding the right treatment plan for your eyes.
What insurance plans does Nevada Eye Consultants accept?
Nevada Eye Consultants accepts most major insurance plans. Please call our office at 775.329.2300 to verify your specific coverage and benefits. Our staff can help you understand your coverage for consultations, treatments, and follow-up care.
Does Dr. Daulton treat eye injuries?
Yes. Dr. Daulton has extensive experience treating eye trauma. She previously managed severe ocular injuries for three years at Stanford and UCLA, both level 1 trauma centers. If you have a mild eye injury, call our office at775.329.2300. For a severe eye injury, go to the nearest emergency room right away.
Schedule Your Consultation with Dr. Daulton
If you are looking for a board-certified ophthalmologist in Reno, Sparks, Carson City, or Truckee, Dr. Melanie Daulton offers subspecialty training and personalized care. Whether you need care for a corneal condition, cataracts, an eye injury, or another eye concern, our team is here to help you see your best.
The doctors at Nevada Eye Consultants have approved this content.
Page Updated: