Kaleb Abbott is an optometrist and assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s of science in nutrition, he attended The University of Houston College of Optometry for both his doctorate of optometry and master’s of science in physiological optics and vision science where he investigated the intricate relationship between intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, sleep, melatonin, and refractive error.
At the University of Colorado, he is faculty in both the Dry Eye Clinic and the Center for Ocular Inflammation where he specializes in complex ocular surface disease. He actively participates in clinical trials and conducts research pertaining to dry eye disease. He enjoys treating dry eye disease and ocular pain as he feels that he is truly able to make a difference in his patients’ lives by improving their eye comfort and thus quality of life. He has a special affinity for corneal nerve disorders, especially neuropathic pain, as these patients are oftentimes written off and their pain disregarded. Improving eye pain through both medicine and lifestyle modifications is his passion.
In 2022 he was elected Vice Chair of the Nutrition, Disease Prevention, and Wellness SIG at the American Academy of Optometry, invited to be an advisor to the Academic Medical Center Optometry SIG, and his start-up company (SunSnap Kids) took first place in the inaugural Bright Ideas Pitch Competition. Currently, SunSnap Kids is a finalist for the Optometry Innovation Awards with the winners to be announced at Eyes on 2024. He was also selected for the Flom Leadership Academy through the American Academy of Optometry which he will be attending in 2023-2024.
When not seeing patients, conducting research, or working on SunSnap Kids, Dr. Abbott lectures on ocular surface disease, writes articles for Modern Optometry and Healio, and is a medical reviewer for both The Ocular Surface and Optometry and Vision Science. He resides in Denver, CO with his wife and daughter where they enjoy skiing, hiking, and spending time outdoors.
