John Marshall (eye laser scientist)


John Marshall MBE, FMedSci, PhD, DSc, FRCPath, FRSB, FRCOphth, FRCOptom, FARVO is a British medical scientist and inventor. Currently he is the Frost Professor of Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology UCL and Emeritus Professor King's College London. He is a pioneer of laser eye surgery.

Education

Marshall's earliest years were in war torn London, prior to moving to St Pauls Cray near Orpington in Kent. He had primary tuberculosis as a child and spent some years away from the family in a variety of sanatoria and as a consequence was late starting school at the age of seven. He graduated with a BSc in Zoology from Sir John Cass College, London in 1965 and then began his 50-year career in eye research starting at the Institute of Ophthalmology. In 1968 he was awarded a PhD from the University of London for a thesis entitled "Laser-induced damage in the retina". His postgraduate supervisor was Kit Pedler, known for creating the cybermen of Doctor Who fame.

Career and research

In 1983 he became Sembal Professor of Experimental Ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology then based in Judd Street, London. In 1991 he moved to St Thomas' Hospital, UMDS to become the Frost Professor of Ophthalmology, honorary consultant and Head of Department of Ophthalmology. He has published extensively in the field of ophthalmology, on a broad range of ocular problems. This has included age-related, diabetic and inherited retinal disease; lens and intraocular lens design, development of lasers for diagnosis and surgery, light and ageing, refractive surgery and problems of the vitreous and glaucoma. He produced and patented the revolutionary Excimer laser, the grandfather patent for corneal laser refractive surgery He also created the world's first Diode laser for treating eye problems of diabetes, glaucoma and ageing. He has sat on and chaired many national and international committees* concerned with protecting the public against the possible damaging effects of lasers and other artificial light sources and played a leading role with the ICRC and addressed the United Nations to successfully obtain a Geneva Convention banning the use of anti-personnel laser weapons. He is a frequent lecturer at international and national ophthalmology meetings and has successfully supervised 60 candidates for higher doctorate degrees.
Marshall is also a past master and on the court of the Worshipful Company of Spectacle Makers, Trustee of the Frost Foundation, Trustee of Retina UK, Ambassador for Fight For Sight and Vice-president of the National Eye Research Center.

Industry

He has chaired and served on the Medical Advisory Boards of many companies in the field of ophthalmology, including Avellino, Avedro, Summitt Technology Inc, Intralase, Diomed and Ellex.