Mays A. El-Dairi, MD
Neuro-ophthalmologist, Ophthalmologist, Pediatric Ophthalmologist
My Locations
About Me
I am an ophthalmologist specializing in both pediatric and neuro-ophthalmology. My expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of neurological conditions affecting the eyes of both adults and children. My clinical interests include pediatric and adult nystagmus, strabismus, brain tumors, autoimmune demyelinating diseases, spina bifida, craniosynostoses, hydrocephalus, neonatal hypoxic ischemic injury, spina bifida, cortical visual impairment, papilledema, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri) and all optic neuropathies. The large majority of my patients are children with/or at risk for neurologic disease or adults with developmental delay. My clinic visits often include ancillary testing such as visual fields and optical coherence tomography, which help me assess if there is a risk for vision loss. I like to try to avoid invasive testing and procedures or testing that requires anesthesia or sedation when possible. In my pediatric clinic, I like to collect and use old fashioned mechanical toys to test eye movements, which younger children usually enjoy. I will often have small prizes for younger (and older) children at the end of the visit.
- Professor of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmology, Neuro-Ophthalmology 2025
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Optic Nerve Disorders
- Optic Nerve Disorders in Children
- Adult Strabismus
Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
Clinical Focus and Research
- El-Dairi, M. A., S. Holgado, S. G. Asrani, L. B. Enyedi, and S. F. Freedman. “Correlation between optical coherence tomography and glaucomatous optic nerve head damage in children.” Br J Ophthalmol 93, no. 10 (October 2009): 1325–30. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.2008.142562.
- El-Dairi, Mays A., Sanjay G. Asrani, Laura B. Enyedi, and Sharon F. Freedman. “Optical coherence tomography in the eyes of normal children.” Arch Ophthalmol 127, no. 1 (January 2009): 50–58. https://doi.org/10.1001/archophthalmol.2008.553.
- El-Dairi, Mays A., Sandra Holgado, Thomas O’Donnell, Edward G. Buckley, Sanjay Asrani, and Sharon F. Freedman. “Optical coherence tomography as a tool for monitoring pediatric pseudotumor cerebri.” J AAPOS 11, no. 6 (December 2007): 564–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaapos.2007.06.018.
- El-Dairi, M. A., and K. Sleiman. “Optic Neuritis Associated with Neuromyelitis Optica: A Teenager with Painful Blurred Vision.” In Fundamentals of Pediatric Neuro-Ophthalmology: A Practical, Case-Based Approach to Diagnosis and Management, 61–69, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16147-6_12.
- El-Dairi, M. A., and R. J. House. “Optic nerve head abnormalities.” In Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection, 77–81, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-60984-5.00014-7.
- El-Dairi, M. “Papilledema and disc swelling versus traction elevation.” In Handbook of Pediatric Retinal OCT and the Eye-Brain Connection, 300–303, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-60984-5.00066-4.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
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Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
- Aetna/CVS Health
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Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
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Cigna
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
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*Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
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Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
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Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
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Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
- MedCost
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Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
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NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- NC Medicaid Direct
- WellCare of North Carolina
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TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
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United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)**
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
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**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.