Stuart Brown, MD

Dr. Brown is world renown for his contributions to basic and clinical research of the cornea, and has many "firsts." He was the first to initiate studies into the surface characteristics of the component of the pre-corneal tear film, was the first to implicate that collagenase was responsible for corneal ulcers after alkali burn, and was the first to develop a collagen research laboratory for the eye and to initiate biochemical and cell biological studies on the structural macromolecules of the cornea. Dr. Brown was also the first to show that severely alkali-burned cornea can be successfully transplanted, resulting in many patients across the world to see whereas this was once considered a hopeless condition. Over thirty years ago, he developed corneal transplantation in babies born blind from corneal opacities. Since few surgeons in the world feel comfortable with this complicated procedure, infants and children from all over the world come to Shiley Eye Institute for their care.

In addition, Dr. Brown was the first to initiate and organize a clinical and basic research center for the study and treatment of immunological diseases of the cornea. This center led to the development of many research concepts in the study of the immunological diseases of the cornea and to new approaches to understanding old diseases and was responsible for providing a now accepted treatment for what was previously considered to be the devastating Mooren's ulcer.

UC San Diego Health Links
For more information, see Ophthalmology.