“I was drawn to ophthalmology because of its capacity to make major beneficial changes to people’s lives.”
Professor Ian McAllister
Professor McAllister undertook training in Western Australia with additional sub-specialty training in vitreoretinal disorders at the Cleveland Clinic in the USA for two years. He is a consultant ophthalmologist at the Lions Eye Institute. He was a consultant ophthalmologist at Royal Perth Hospital for 32 years and a previous head of the department.
Professor McAllister has a doctorate in medicine which is the highest post-graduate degree at The University of Western Australia and is actively involved in research for cures for vitreoretinal disorders, especially retinal vascular disorders, and has held 10 NHMRC grants in this area as well as numerous minor grants. He has been involved for many years in state-wide diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment and was vice-chairman of the Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia and chairman of the Research Board for many years. He has published more than 160 papers in scientific journals and has given over 180 papers at national and international meetings as an invited guest speaker.
Professor McAllister has an achievement award for distinguished service to ophthalmology from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a member of the Retina Hall of Fame.
Areas of clinical specialty
- Vitreoretinal surgery and disorders
- Retinal detachments
- Retinal vascular disease
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Macular degeneration
- Ocular trauma
- Cataract surgery
Research interests
- Cures for vitreoretinal disorders and retinal vascular disorders
Awards/Professional Achievements
- Retina Hall of Fame (2019)
- American Academy of Ophthalmology achievement award for distinguished service to ophthalmology (2012)
- Pharmacia Award for best scientific paper at the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologist’s 27th Annual Congress (1995)
- Developed the world’s only causal-based treatment for retinal venous occlusion
- Published more than 160 peer-reviewed journal papers
- Held 10 NHMRC grants in cures for vitreoretinal disorders
- Held 6 Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia research grants
- Has presented at more than 180 national and international conferences as invited speaker
Professional memberships
- Australian Medical Association
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
- Royal Australian College of Surgeons
- Cleveland Ophthalmological Society
- American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Oceanic Retina Association
- Norther Greece Ophthalmological Society
- Retina Society
- Australia and New Zealand Society of Retinal Surgeons
- Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society
- Euretina
Teaching
- Professor Ian McAllister has an ongoing commitment to teaching of medical students and post-graduate ophthalmology trainees through The University of WA and the Lions Eye Institute.
Current hospital/university affiliations
- Professor of Ophthalmology, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, UWA
- Clinical doctor, Lions Eye Institute
