Relief Jones, III, M.D.
Dr. Jones is a board-certified ophthalmologist–a medical doctor that specializes in diseases and surgery of the eye. He is an expert cataract and glaucoma surgeon who performs the latest surgical techniques including laser cataract surgery and minimally-invasive glaucoma surgical (MIGS) procedures. He was born in Gretna, Louisiana and grew up in the small town of Buras, Louisiana (suburbs of New Orleans). He graduated Valedictorian of his class and is a graduate of Stanford University (with Honors) and the Duke University School of Medicine.
At Duke, he completed the Biomedical Engineering Research Track where he honed his investigative skills and learned to solve some of the most pressing problems in medicine. After medical school, he continued his research with Wayne Streilein, M.D., “the Father of Modern Ocular Immunology”, in the Ocular Immunology and Transplantation Laboratory at the Schepens Eye Research Institute/Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Jones relocated from Boston to New Orleans for an Internship year which combined Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Emergency Medicine at Tulane University. He then traveled to San Antonio for a 3-year Residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio. Finally, Dr. Jones returned to Boston for a Clinical Glaucoma Fellowship at the prestigious Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Jones is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Health Science Center and served as a Team Physician for the San Antonio Rampage Hockey Team from 2010-2016. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and published a book for physicians on Physician Employment Contracts. He’s been selected numerous times as a “Leading Physician in the World”, one of “America’s Top Ophthalmologists”, and a “Top Doctor” by Scene in San Antonio. He was selected as a “Doctor of Excellence” by the board of the Leaders in Healthcare Network and appears in the “Doctors of Excellence” edition of Physicians Review. He is a proficient Spanish speaker.
Dr. Jones is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Texas Medical Association, Bexar County Medical Society, and the San Antonio Society of Ophthalmologists (served as its President from 2016-17). In his spare time, he is passionate about helping the next generation by serving as a college fair representative and alumni interviewer for Stanford University. He’s also volunteered as a Youth Basketball Coach (YMCA & JCC).
In his free time, he enjoys traveling, playing USTA league tennis, lifting weights, and dancing salsa and merengue with his wife, Dr. Triana. Together they enjoy spending time with their family.
Interesting Facts About Dr. Jones
- Academic All-State Football Player (Peyton Manning was one of their biggest rivals)
- Individual Wrestling State Champion (Collegiate and Freestyle)
- Member of the Louisiana National Freestyle Wrestling Team
- Team Member of State Championship Winning Football and Wrestling Teams
- Varsity Cheerleader at Stanford University (Winner of Sears Director’s Cup Post-Graduate Scholarship)
- Has appeared on a National TV Show “Net Worth” Hosted by Terry Bradshaw
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Jones R III, Triana MI, Sponsel WE, Stodtmeister R. Retinal vein outflow pressure in glaucoma suspects with asymmetric disc cupping. Manuscript submitted to American Journal of Ophthalmology, July 2007.
Jones R 3rd and Carter JE. Calcium channel blocker induced posterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Resident and Staff Physician 2008 Feb;54(2).
Jones R 3rd, Pasquale LR, Pavan-Langston D. Herpes simplex virus: an important etiology for secondary glaucoma. International Ophthalmology Clinics 2007 Spring;47(2):99-107.
Jones R 3rd.Providing Post-Hurricane Eye Care. Archives of Ophthalmology 2006 Jul;124(7):1067.
Jones R 3rd and Rhee DJ. Corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension and glaucoma: a brief review and update of the literature. Current Opinion in Ophthalmology 2006 Apr;17(2):163-167.
Jones R 3rd, Triana MI, Zaslow K, Sponsel WE. Uniocular drug trial. Ophthalmology 2005 Jun;112(6):1170.
Kypson AP, Morphew E, Jones R, Gottfried MR, and Seigler HF. Heterotopic ossification in rectal cancer: Rare finding with a novel proposed mechanism. Journal of Surgical Oncology 2003 Feb;82(2):132-6.
Elliot DM, Jones R 3rd, Setton LA, Scully SP, Vail TP, Guilak F. Joint degeneration following meniscal allograft transplantation in a canine model: mechanical properties and semiquantitative histology of articular cartilage. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, and Arthroscopy 2002 Mar;10(2):109-118.
Scientific Posters
2006 Mujat, T. Chen, R.C. Chan, B. Cense, B.H. Park, R. Jones, J.F. de Boer. Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness Map Determined with SD-OCT and Performance Assessment of the Automatic Algorithm. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, Fl, May 2006.
2006 M.I. Triana, D. Logan, R. Jones, III, E. Delbono, J.L. Wiggs. Distribution of DNA Sequence Variants in COL8A1 and COL8A2 in Glaucoma Patients with Thin CCT. ARVO, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 2006 and 2006 Update on Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston, MA, June 2006
2005 R. Jones, III, M.I. Triana, W.E. Sponsel, R. Stodtmeister. Central Retinal Vein Collapse Pressure in Glaucoma Suspects with Cup-to-Disc Ratio Asymmetry. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 2005.
2005 M.I. Triana, R. Jones, III, J.C. MacDonald, R. Glickman. Formulation of an Optimized Local Anesthetic for Ocular Surgical Procedures. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 2005.
2004 R. Jones, III, M.J. Gallardo, and S. McKinnon. Transient Intraocular Pressure Increase in Complete Head-Down Yoga Postures. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 2004.
2004M M.J. Gallardo, R. Jones, III, and C. MacDonald. Cost comparison of AREDS formula tabs versus individual vitamin supplements. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, FL, April 2004.
Presentations
R. Jones, III. Young Ophthalmologist, Your Future is Coming. Are You Ready? Grand Rounds, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, September 2009.
R. Jones, III. Glaucoma: Bad Things Can Happen. Chandler Grant Glaucoma Society Symposium, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, May 2006.
R. Jones, III. Herpes Simplex Virus: An Important Etiology for Secondary Glaucoma. Ocular and Adnexal Infections, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, April 2006.
R. Jones, III. Central Retinal Vein Collapse Pressure in Glaucoma Suspects with Cup-to-Disc Asymmetry, Alamo City Conference, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, March 2005 and the Texas Medical Association/Texas Ophthalmological Association Meeting, Grapevine, Texas, May 2005.
R. Jones, III. Ocular Manifestations of Syphilis. Clinical Update for Optometrist Meeting, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, April 2004.
R. Jones, III, M.J. Gallardo, and S. McKinnon. Transient Intraocular Pressure Increase in Complete Head-Down Yoga Postures. Alamo City Conference, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, March 2004.
R. Jones, III. Microbial Keratitis. Clinical Update for Optometrist Meeting, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, April 2003.
R. Jones, III. A.C.A.I.D. Induction Via the Indirect Immune Pathway. Schepens Eye Research Institute, Boston, MA, June 2001.
R. Jones, III. Chondroprotective Effects of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation: Tensile Mechanical Properties and Semiquantitative Histology of Articular Cartilage. Alpha Omega Alpha Research Symposium, Duke University, Durham, NC, May 1999 and Bristol-Meyers Squibb/National Medical Fellowships, Inc. Research Symposium, Hartford, CT, May 1999.
R. Jones, III. Social Strain in Interracial Interactions. Stanford University Honors Program in Psychology Research Symposium, April 1996.