Explore UAB

Colleges & Schools

School of Optometry

UAB Eye Care

Ocular Disease and Low Vision Service

Jillian F. Ziemanski headshot.

Associate Professor

jfmead@uab.edu

Schedule a UAB Eye Care Appointment: (205) 975-2020

Teaching/research interests: Sjogren's syndrome, dry eye, MGD, glaucoma diagnosis and management, retinal imaging, assessment of systemic diseases relevant to optometry, recognition and management of in-office emergencies using simulation

Lab Website: sites.uab.edu/ziemanskilab 

Office hours: By appointment

Education:   

  • BS, West Virginia University, Biology
  • MS, Ohio State University, Vision Science
  • OD, Ohio State University
  • Residency, University of California, Berkeley (San Francisco VA Medical Center), Primary Care and Ocular Disease
  • PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Vision Science

Jillian F. Ziemanski, OD, PhD, FAAO is an Assistant Professor at the UAB School of Optometry where she actively researches Sjogren's syndrome and dry eye disease and serves as a clinical attending in the Ocular Disease Service. She earned her BS in Biology from West Virginia University (2008, summa cum laude), her MS in Vision Science from Ohio State University (2011, summa cum laude), and her OD also from Ohio State University (2012, magna cum laude). She then completed a prestigious residency in Primary Care and Ocular Disease at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, affiliated with the University of California, Berkeley. She also completed her second doctoral degree, a PhD in Vision Science, at UAB in 2020. During the second year of the program, she was named the AOF Merton Flom Ezell Fellow in Leadership.

Dr. Ziemanski has written and lectured on numerous topics including Sjӧgren’s syndrome, dry eye, meibomian gland dysfunction, glaucoma, and choroidal neovascularization, among others. She has received private research funding from the American Optometric Foundation and has been an investigator in a myriad of FDA clinical trials (Phase 1 through Phase 3) in addition to several, post-approval, industry-sponsored clinical studies. She has published several abstracts and manuscripts and has continuously presented her research at annual conferences since 2010. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and a member of the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society.

Dr. Ziemanski is eager to continue her path toward becoming an independent clinician scientist. She is passionate about the study of the immunopathophysiology of Sjӧgren’s syndrome with the aim to identify novel biomarkers and mechanisms that can aid in early diagnosis and improved therapeutic outcomes.

Recent courses taught:

  • CLN 231: Primary Eye Care Clinic I, Clinical Attending
  • CLN 3X1: Primary Eye Care Clinic II-IV, Clinical Attending
  • CLN 4X0: Primary Eye Care Clinic V-VI, Clinical Attending
  • CLN 423: Ocular Disease/Low Vision, Clinical Attending (current)
  • OPT 315: Assessment of Systemic Disease, Co-Instructor (current)
  • OPT 325: Clinical Management, Co-Instructor

Invited Lectures:

  • OPT 225: Diseases of the Posterior Segment
  • OPT 227: Introduction to Clinic
  • OPT 316: Glaucoma
  • OPVS 111: Basic Science and Clinical Optometry

Select publications:

  • Meadows JF, Ramamoorthy P, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK. Development of the 4-3-2-1 meibum expressibility scale. Eye and Contact Lens. 2012;38(2):86-92.
  • Meadows JF, Dionne K, Nichols KK. Differential profiling of T-cell cytokines as measured by protein microarray across dry eye subgroups. Cornea. 2016;35(3):329-35.
  • Meadows JF, Ramamoorthy P, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK. Development of the 4-3-2-1 Meibum Expressibility Scale. Optom Vis Sci 2010;87:E-abstract 100185.
  • Meadows JF, Jones-Jordan L, Thangavelu M, Nichols KK. Efficacy evaluation of Systane® Ultra Lubricant Eye Drops in postmenopausal women with dry eye. Optom Vis Sci 2011;88:E-abstract 110069.
  • Meadows JF, Jones-Jordan L, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK. Application of diagnostic algorithms for dry eye and MGD. Optom Vis Sci 2012;89:E-abstract 120684.
  • Meadows JF, Dionne K, Nichols KK. Differential profiling of inflammatory cytokines as measured by quantitative microarray across dry eye subgroups. Optom Vis Sci 2014;90:E-abstract 140014.
  • Meadows JF, Wolters LR, Jones-Jordan L, Nichols JJ, Nichols KK. Dietary omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid intake and ocular surface disease in postmenopausal women. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2015;56:ARVO E-Abstract 2164324.
  • Meadows JF, Chen J, Basso K, Nichols KK. Differential expression of lipid species in human meibum across dry eye subgroups. Optom Vis Sci 2015;91:E-abstract 150086.
  • Khodai O, Barber L, Croley T, Lievens C, Montaquila S, Meadows J, Denno M, Lunacsek O, Burk C, Patel V. The burden of dry eye symptoms and the impact on daily activities across International Task Force (ITF) guidelines severity levels in the United States. Optom Vis Sci 2015;91:E-abstract 155696.
  • Meadows JF, Chen J, Dionne K, Nichols KK. Identification of lipid species produced by differentiated immortalized human meibomian gland epithelial cells. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2016; 57; ARVO E-Abstract.

Clinical interests: Sjӧgren’s syndrome, dry eye, MGD, glaucoma, macular and retinal disorders

Academic distinctions and professional societies:  

  • Fellow, American Academy of Optometry
  • Member, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
  • Member, Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society
  • Member, Alabama Optometric Association
  • Member, American Optometric Association

If you are a clinician, in what UAB Eye Care clinic do you provide care?

  • Ocular Disease/Low Vision
  • Dry Eye Relief Clinic

 

Directions and Parking

1716 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone: (205) 975-2020

UAB Eye Care is conveniently located in the heart of the UAB campus at 1716 University Blvd and offers free, dedicated parking for our clinic’s patients in a lot adjacent to our building. Street parking may also be available, and UAB employees or downtown Birmingham residents may be able to walk to our clinic.

From I-65/University Boulevard intersection: Head north on University Boulevard. Continue north approximately one mile and stay in the left lane. Turn left into our parking lot just before 18th Street South. Press the intercom button at the gate, and tell the operator your name. You will then be given access to the parking lot. Note: Do not take the driveway for parking at the Eye Foundation Hospital, located to the right of the UAB Eye Care driveway.

From Red Mountain Expressway: Exit the Red Mountain Expressway onto University Boulevard heading south. Turn right into our parking lot just past 18th Street South. The parking entrance is the second driveway on the right. Press the intercom button at the gate, and tell the operator your name. You will then be given access to the parking lot. Note: Do not take the driveway for parking at the Eye Foundation Hospital, located to the right of the UAB Eye Care driveway.

Patient and Visitor Information

  • Emergencies

    If you have an emergency after normal business hours (Monday - Friday, 8 am to 5 pm) or during a holiday, please call (205) 975-2020. You will hear instructions on how to contact the on-call doctor.

    If you call after hours and it is not an emergency, you can leave a message. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

  • Fees, Insurance and Billing

    UAB Eye Care accepts many medical insurance plans, including BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama, Medicare, Medicaid and VIVA. We are also a provider for vision plans such as VSP, Southland, Avesis and Superior.

    Call (205) 975-2020 for more information.

  • Online Patient Registration and Registration Portal

    In order to expedite the appointment check in process, you can register as a UAB Eye Care patient.

    Register as a New Patient

    If you are an established patient, you can access your patient portal.

    Patient Portal
  • Patient Forms
  • UAB Student and Employee Perks

    At UAB Eye Care, students and employees are more than visitors, they're family. Our goal is to be your go-to destination for all your eye care needs.

    UAB Undergraduate and Graduate Student Perks:

    • 25% off out-of-pocket expenses for eyewear purchased without vision insurance
    • 50% off out-of-pocket expenses for contact lens evaluations, fits and refits
    • 50% off out-of-pocket expenses for specialty services such as dry eye procedures, vision therapy and myopia control

    UAB Employee Perks:

    • 25% off out-of-pocket expenses for eyewear purchased without vision insurance
    • Payroll deduction, which allows university employees to pay over time

    Note:

    • UAB student and UAB employee perks cannot be combined.
    • Patient is responsible for the full sales tax before perks are applied to eyewear
    • Perks do not apply to insurance copays, deductibles or coinsurance.  

    Perks details can be found here.

  • What to Bring to your Appointment

    In order to help your optometrist assess your general health and the health of your eyes, please bring these items with you.

    • Your insurance card(s)
    • If you need a referral from your primary care physician, you must obtain it before you can be examined.
    • Your driver's license
    • A list of your current doctors
    • A list of any current health problems
    • A detailed list of medications you are taking
    • All eyeglasses and/or your contact lenses, and any previous eye prescriptions from the past two years.

    You may also want to bring a list of questions or problems you may have so that we can answer any concerns during your appointment.

Schedule an Appointment

Call (205) 975-2020 or schedule your appointment online.

Register as a New Patient Patient Portal