Dr. Erica Renee Alvarez graduated from Paul L. Foster School of Medicine Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, Texas. Completed her Internal Medicine Internship at the University of Chicago, Ophthalmology Residency at Howard University Hospital in Washington, D.C, and fellowship training at The Ohio State University. Dr. Alvarez is an El Paso native, bilingual in Spanish, and accepting new patients now.

Dr. Alvarez offers her expertise in treating cancers of the eye including primary vitreoretinal lymphoma, uveal melanoma, conjunctival melanoma, leukemic retinopathy, ocular side effects of cancer treatments as well as metastatic diseases to the eye. Trained in the latest techniques including: intravitreal chemotherapy injections. Proficient in the placement of brachy radiation therapy plaques and transpupillary thermotherapy for treatment of uveal melanoma. She offers fine needle aspiration biopsies, and transcleral biopsies for identification of tumor genetic markers and overall prognostication. For Larger tumors she is competent in surgical removal via enucleation. She has worked with Radiation Oncology and is competent in following patients as they receive external beam radiation, for treatment of metastatic lesions as well as other cancers. 

As a Retina specialist Dr. Alvarez has experience in treating diabetic eye diseases, macular degeneration, uveitis, autoimmune retinopathy and numerous vascular and proliferative diseases of the retina. She offers screening for plaquenil or hydroxychloroquine toxicity. She is knowledgeable in Von Hippel Lindau disease and the different ophthalmic lasers for adequate treatment of hemangioblastomas. She not only offers intravitreal injections with steroids and anti-VEGF medications, but is also well versed in the numerous ophthalmology laser treatments which she tailors to each patient’s individual needs.