David Schanzlin, MD is Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Diego and the Director of Keratorefractive Surgery at the Shiley Eye Center. Prior to assuming this position, he was the Walter and Sharon Davison Professor and the Chairman of Ophthalmology at St. Louis University’s Anheuser-Busch Eye Institute. He is the immediate Past-President of the International Society of Refractive Surgery.

Dr. Schanzlin’s research career in refractive surgery spans the last 20 years. His work on wound healing after cryolathe freeze injury in the early 1980’s highlighted the need for new approaches to refractive surgery such as the excimer laser that is widely used today. Schanzlin’s early work on corneal wound healing after excimer laser treatment asserted one potential cause of corneal haze seen after treatment. In the late 1980’s, Schanzlin’s laboratory research determined the basic mechanism of action of the Intracorneal Ring and developed the arc-shortening model that is the basis for clinical application of this technology today. In the early 1990’s Schanzlin’s laboratory studied the theoretical and clinical applications of the picosecond laser in ophthalmic surgery, and currently his research has expanded to the area of femtosecond laser ophthalmic surgical applications.

Dr. Schanzlin’s interest in the application of wavefront measurements and adaptive optics to the corneal surface dates back to 1993. He helped lead an engineering development team with Coherent Medical Laser Group to develop a prototype laser delivery system with eye tracking capability, a feature that was well ahead of it’s time. This laser system was designed to treat the cornea with the 5th harmonic of a Nd:Yag laser. Although this system was never commercialized, Schanzlin served as the Medical advisor to the engineers who built the system.

Schanzlin will serve as the Principal Investigator on this proposal. As the senior medical member of the research team his oversight and direction are key to the success of this program. His experience as a medical investigator, clinician and department chairman has prepared him to be an effective group leader with vision and managerial skill. He will conduct the monthly research team meetings.