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Brian J. Forbes, MD, PhD

Brian J. Forbes, MD, PhD

Brian J. Forbes, MD, PhD

Brian J. Forbes, MD, PhD, is an attending surgeon in the Division of Ophthalmology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of expertise: 22q deletion syndrome and associated ocular findings, Abusive head trauma and associated ocular findings, Complicated pediatric strabismus, Craniofacial disorders and associated ocular findings, Pediatric ophthalmology

Locations: Specialty Care & Surgery Center, Brandywine Valley, Specialty Care, Exton, Main Building

Make an appointment

215-590-2791

About Brian J. Forbes, MD, PhD

Brian J. Forbes, MD, PhD, is an attending surgeon in the Division of Ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

Dr. Forbes enjoys helping children get better, both medically, through his practice, and on his off hours, as a youth sports coach.

“I have always liked working with — and for — kids,” he says.

Dr. Forbes sees children at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Main Campus, as well as the Specialty Care Centers in Brandywine Valley and Exton. He is the ophthalmology point person for children with craniofacial disorders and is well published on the subject. Additionally, he sees and performs surgery on children with basic eye issues as well as cases of complex strabismus. Along with his work at CHOP, Dr. Forbes is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

Dr. Forbes also directs the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigative Group's studies at CHOP and has varied research interests, including assessing ocular injuries associated with abusive injuries as well the mechanism of retinal hemorrhages in these traumatic brain injuries.

He hopes families come away from their experience at CHOP feeling reassured by the high degree of attention that medical team members devote to each child in their care.

Titles

Attending Surgeon

Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Certifications

Ophthalmology – American Board of Ophthalmology

Education & training

Graduate Degree

PhD in Biochemistry - Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA

Medical Degree

MD - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Internship

Transitional Internship - Mercy Catholic Medical Center, Darby, PA

Residency

Ophthalmology - University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ

Fellowship

Pediatric Ophthalmology - Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA

Team affiliations

View fewer all team affiliations View all all team affiliations

Publications

Publications

2018

Campbell IM, Sheppard SE, Crowley TB, McGinn DE, Bailey A, McGinn MJ, Unolt M, Homans JF, Chen EY, Salmons HI, Gaynor JW, Goldmuntz E, Jackson OA2, Katz LE, Mascarenhas MR, Deeney VFX, Castelein RM, Zur KB, Elden L, Kallish S, Kolon TF, Hopkins SE, Chadehumbe MA, Lambert MP, Forbes BJ, Moldenhauer JS, Schindewolf EM1, Solot CB, Moss EM, Gur RE, Sullivan KE, Emanuel BS, Zackai EH, McDonald-McGinn DM. What is new with 22q? An update from the 22q and You Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Am J Med Genet A. 2018 Oct;176(10):2058-2069. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.a.40637.

2016

Forbes BJ, McDonald-McGinn DM, Wootton G, Dawson L, Zackai E, Binenbaum G. Ocular findings associated with chromosome 22q11.2 duplication. J AAPOS. 2016 Jun;20(3):278-80.

Binenbaum G, Chen W, Huang J, Ying GS, Forbes BJ. The natural history of retinal hemorrhage in pediatric head trauma. J AAPOS. 2016 Apr;20(2):131-5.

2015

Geloneck MM, Forbes BJ, Shaffer J, Ying GS, Binenbaum G. Ocular complications in children with diabetes mellitus. Ophthalmology. 2015 Dec;122(12):2457-64.

Binenbaum G, Christian C, Guttmann K, Huang J, Ying GS, Forbes BJ. Evaluation of temporal association between vaccinations and retinal hemorrhage in children. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2015 Nov;133(11):1261-5.

Aleman TS, Brodie F, Garvin C, Gewaily DY, Ficicioglu CH, Mills MD, Forbes BJ, Maguire AM, Davidson SL. Retinal structure in cobalamin C disease: mechanistic and therapeutic implications. Ophthalmic Genet. 2015;36(4):339-48.

2013

Binenbaum G, Christion CW, Forbes BJ, et al. Retinal hemorrhage and brain injury patterns on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in children with head trauma. J AAPOS. 2013 Dec;17(6):603-8.

Binenbaum G, Rogers DL, Forbes BJ, et al. Patterns of retinal hemorrhage associated with increased intracranial pressure in children. Pediatrics. 2013 Aug;132(2):e430-4.

2010

Barry GP, Ny BM, Zackai EH, Grunwald L, Forbes BJ. A case report of a patient with Pfeiffer syndrome, an FGRF 2 mutation (Trp290Cys) and unique ocular anterior segment findings. Ophthalmic Genet. 2010 Sep 1. [Epub ahead of print]

Forbes BJ. Congenital craniofacial anomalies. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2010 Jul 14. [Epub ahead of print].

Forbes BJ, Rubin SE, Margolin E, Levin AV. Evaluation and management of retinal hemorrhages in infants with and without abusive head trauma. J AAPOS. 2010 Jun;14(3):267-273.

Coats B, Binenbaum G, Peiffer RL, Forbes BJ, Margulies SS. Ocular hemorrhages in neonatal porcine eyes from single, rapid rotational events. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 Sep;51(9):4792-7. Epub 2010 Apr 30.

Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group, Good WV, Hardy RJ, Dobson V, Palmer EA, Phelps DL, Tung B, Redford M. Final visual acuity results in the early treatment for retinopathy of prematurity study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2010 Jun;128(6):663-71. Epub 2010 Apr 12.

Nallasamy S, Davidson SL, Kuhn I, Mills MD, Forbes BJ, Anninger WV, Stricker PA. Simultaneous bilateral intraocular surgery in children. J AAPOS. 2010 Feb;14(1):15-9.

Editorials, Reviews, Chapters

Forbes B, Katowitz WR, Katowitz JA. Congenital craniofacial anomalies and their management. In: Edward Jaeger, editor. Duane's Ophthalmology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins;2009. Chapter 41.

Patient experience rating

(based on 377 submissions)

  • Clear Explanation
    4.8 of 5
  • Showed Concern
    4.8 of 5
  • Included in decisions
    4.8 of 5
  • Would recommend
    4.8 of 5
  • Discussion of Proposed Treatment
    4.8 of 5
Learn about the patient experience rating system

Comments

  • Dr. Forbes has been great at being honest about our daughter condition and any questions we had on alternative options.

    5 of 5
    Jun 03, 2024
  • Dr. Forbes is great with all of my kids. He listens to concerns and answers any questions.

    5 of 5
    Apr 04, 2024
  • Dr. Forbes is an absolute wonderful doctor!

    5 of 5
    Apr 03, 2024
  • Good experience. He listened to all questions and made sure kids were comfortable and understood what he was doing

    5 of 5
    Apr 02, 2024
  • We love Dr Forbes. He has a great "bedside" manner and we love his sense of humor. He is includes our teenage child on the conversations and makes her feel welcome too

    5 of 5
    Mar 31, 2024
  • Dr. Forbes explained the completion of my child's continued post surgical recovery and signs to look for if my child exhibits future symptoms. The surgery he performed on my child in Dec 2022 was 100% successful. We are so appreciative of what Dr. Forbes did for our child!

    5 of 5
    Mar 31, 2024
  • Dr Forbes is exceptional

    5 of 5
    Feb 23, 2024
  • We love Dr. Forbes. Very knowledgeable and great with our son.

    5 of 5
    Dec 29, 2023
  • Provider took the time to find out about my child

    5 of 5
    Dec 28, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes is awesome and so great with my daughter!

    5 of 5
    Dec 08, 2023
  • We've already recommended Dr Forbes to many people!

    5 of 5
    Dec 03, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes is amazing. We love him. He takes such great care of our daughter and keeps us laughing!

    5 of 5
    Dec 01, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes is great.

    5 of 5
    Nov 14, 2023
  • We love Dr. Forbes

    5 of 5
    Nov 08, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes and staff has always treated my son and myself with great respect and has always been clear with responses on any concerns or questions.

    5 of 5
    Nov 01, 2023
  • I always recommend Dr. Forbes to everyone who says their child needs an eye doctor.

    5 of 5
    Oct 12, 2023
  • Dr Forbes is wonderful all of the time

    5 of 5
    Oct 11, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes has an amazing bedside manner. He made my daughter and I feel at ease. His knowledge and kindness made us feel comfortable and confident with our experience.

    5 of 5
    Oct 04, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes is always thorough, patient and kind.

    5 of 5
    Aug 23, 2023
  • Provider was knowledgeable and made my son feel at ease.

    5 of 5
    Aug 17, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes is always a pleasure. His bedside manner is wonderful and he is great with children. He explains to us exactly what is going on but keeps the conversations lighthearted and relaxed which makes my son feel less anxious.

    5 of 5
    Aug 17, 2023
  • Dr Forbes really listens to parental concerns and is very practical in discussing the merits of different treatment options and reason(s) why he chose the treatment that he did for my child's condition. I really like Dr Forbes and his "bedside" manner/rapport with myself and my child, his practicality, and can tell he is excellent & knowledgeable at his profession. My child's condition has markedly improved since beginning evaluation & treatment under Dr. Forbes and I would recommend him to other parents if given the opportunity.

    5 of 5
    Aug 16, 2023
  • I really enjoyed Dr. Forbes "bedside" manner. He was friendly, kind, patient, and funny!

    5 of 5
    Jun 07, 2023
  • Dr Forbes is the best!! Great bedside manner and kind and helpful. Easy to understand

    5 of 5
    May 12, 2023
  • He was excellent. Hope to never need him again, but I know where'll I will go if I do.

    5 of 5
    Apr 26, 2023
  • Such a nice doctor! Very good "bedside manner" very good with kids and adults.

    5 of 5
    Mar 29, 2023
  • Dr Forbes established rapport easily with my child, asked him questions directly, and listened to him.

    5 of 5
    Mar 29, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes is great. I highly recommend him anytime I have the opportunity.

    5 of 5
    Mar 14, 2023
  • Dr. Forbes is amazing !!

    5 of 5
    Mar 03, 2023
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About the Patient Experience Rating System

The Patient Experience Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown above from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. We are committed to true transparency. However, to ensure the comments are fair and correctly attributed, we review each one before posting to the website. We exclude entire comments that disclose patient’s protected health information, are off-topic, or include other confidential or inappropriate content. Comments will appear on provider bios only if providers have a minimum number of comments. Comments are shared internally for education purposes to ensure that we are doing our very best for the patients and families for whom we are privileged to care. The comments are submitted by patients and families and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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