Farhad Hafezi MD, PhD, FARVO | |
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Born | Remscheid, Germany | November 1, 1967
Nationality | Swiss |
Education | MD, PhD |
Occupation(s) | Ophthalmologist, clinical researcher |
Children | 3 |
Medical career | |
Institutions | Universität Zürich, Universität Genf, Keck School of Medicine of USC, ELZA Institute |
Sub-specialties | Refractive surgery, corneal collagen cross-linking, keratoconus |
Research | Cornea, cell biology, keratoconus, refractive surgery |
Notable works | Corneal collagen cross-linking, Complicated case management, corneal biomechanics |
Awards | Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Casebeer Award, International Society of Refractive Surgery, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Gold Medal, Intraocular Implant and Refractive Society of India (IIRSI); Carl Camras Translational Research Award by the ARVO Foundation, USA; Appointed FARVO (Fellow of ARVO), 2019 |
Website | www |
Farhad Hafezi is a prominent Swiss eye surgeon and researcher. Hafezi first gained recognition as a leading retina researcher in 1994, having been the first to discover a gene responsible for light-induced retinal degeneration. However, he changed his research focus to the cornea in 2003, and it is this work, particularly on corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL), which he helped pioneer, and advanced laser refractive surgery that he is internationally known for today. Hafezi's current clinical and laboratory research is focused on gaining a better understanding of the cornea. His research group at the University of Zurich has three main research foci:
Hafezi is considered to be a leading expert and key opinion leader[1] in the development and translation of CXL and its multiple applications in the field of ophthalmology, including the treatment of corneal ectatic disorders like keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration and post-LASIK ectasia. Hafezi and his colleagues have also pioneered the use of CXL for the treatment of corneal infections, calling the technique “photoactivated chromophore for infectious keratitis cross-linking”, or PACK-CXL. Hafezi has published almost 200 articles in various peer-reviewed scientific journals since 1993, including Nature Medicine, Nature Genetics, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (IOVS), the Journal of Refractive Surgery, and Cell Death & Differentiation.
His work in the field of corneal collagen cross-linking has led him to receive a number of international awards.[which?] In 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2023 his peers ranked Hafezi as one of the top 100 most influential people in ophthalmology.[2]
He is currently a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Geneva, an adjunct clinical professor of ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, a research group leader of the Ocular Cell Biology Group at the Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine at the University of Zurich, a visiting professor at the University of Wenzhou, China, a research professor of ophthalmology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine,[3] and medical director of the ELZA Institute.[4]