Figure 1. Normal Retina
Our mission and passion: Eliminate glaucoma blindness
Education
We have a tradition of world-class teaching.
We produce "the" glaucoma educational resources that are used around the world, including:
For Ophthalmologists: Gonioscopy.org and Iowa Glaucoma Curriculum
For residents: Eyes for Ears
For patients: EyeAware, Patient's Guide to Glaucoma
Achievements
Development of the world's most used audio/visual resources for teaching glaucoma
Faculty are award-winning teachers
Education of patients, trainees, and colleagues is a top-priority
Glaucoma Fellowship
Teaching trainees is of paramount importance to us.
We train 12 residents, and 1 glaucoma fellow each year.
Patient Care
The Glaucoma Clinic is staffed by four faculty fellowship trained glaucoma specialists who are renowned for their expertise in clinical and surgical glaucoma management.
Achievements
Top 10 ranking for our ophthalmology program
"Best Doctors in America" selection for our senior physicians
Expertise in all medical, laser, and surgical treatments for glaucoma
Unmatched photography, visual field testing, and imaging (OCT) to aid glaucoma care
Leadership roles in the ophthalmology community
John H. Fingert, MD, PhD
Research
The Iowa Glaucoma Center is a world leader in glaucoma genetics, glaucoma animal models, glaucoma cell biology, and glaucoma clinical trials.
Our group has made landmark discoveries including identifying the first known glaucoma-causing gene, creating and characterizing mouse models of several types of glaucoma, and testing new therapies to prevent blindness from glaucoma.
Achievements
Discovery of the first glaucoma-causing gene, myocilin (MYOC)
Generation of many different mouse models of several types of glaucoma
Therapeutic trials in animal and cell culture models of glaucoma (drugs, genome editing)
Whole genome and exome DNA sequencing to discover new glaucoma genes
Support Our Research
Cash or Check Donations
Please print and fill out the donation form to specify your gift of pledge. The donation form should be mailed or returned to Katie Sturgell, at the University of Iowa Research Foundation.
Credit Card Donations
Donations to the Glaucoma Genetics Lab can be made directly online via credit card, via the University of Iowa Foundation.
Katie Sturgell
Director of Development
Glaucoma Research
Institute for Vision Research
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa Foundation
P.O. Box 4550
Iowa City, IA 52242
News
Dr. Fingert and Dr. Olusola Olawoye study the prevalence of MYOC gene mutations in Nigerian patients with JOAG
The prevalence of MYOC mutations in African patients with JOAG is unknown. With support from the Glaucoma Research Foundation, Dr. Fingert, Dr. Olawoye, Dr. Ashaye, and students Brendan Creemers and Brian Young are testing a large cohort of JOAG patients from sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria) for mutations in the MYOC gene (and other genes such as EFEMP1).
Dr. Töteberg-Harms investigates new therapies for glaucoma
iStar MINIject: Dr. Marc Töteberg-Harms is studying the efficacy of a new surgically implantable device, iStar MINIject, in lowering intraocular pressure. Read more about the STAR-V study here.
Elios Eximer laser: Dr. Töteberg is studying the use of eximer laser to increase aqueous flow out of the eye and lower intraocular pressure. Read more about this promising investigational therapy here.
Dr. Anne Coleman gives the Mansour Armaly Lecture
The Iowa Glaucoma team was honored to host Anne Coleman on March 21 for the 2025 Armaly Lecture. She gave lectures about profiling glaucoma risk and optic disc hemorrhages in glaucoma and discussed challenging glaucoma cases presented to her by resident and fellow ophthalmologists.
Dr. Erin Boese publishes patient education videos about glaucoma surgeries online
Dr. Boese produced and narrates videos about laser procedures and surgeries in plain language for patients.
Watch these videos at www.EyeAware.org
The Glaucoma Service is thrilled to announce that Dr. Nicole Mattson will be our 2025-2026 Fellow Physician
Dr. Mattson completed Medical School and Ophthalmology Residency at the University of Washington. We are looking forward to her arrival in July 2025.
Iowa glaucoma team reports mutations in new normal tension glaucoma gene (METTL23) in JAMA Ophthalmology
In a JAMA Ophthalmology article, Dr. Fingert, Dr. Boese, Dr. Pouw, and Dr. Töteberg report discovering three novel mutations in the methyltransferase-like 23 (METTL23) gene. This is the first population-based study of the METTL23 gene and it suggests that it is responsible for 0.5% of NTG cases in the United States and that it is one of the four most common NTG-causing genes in the world.
Dr. Pouw Interviews Wilmer Eye Institute's Dr. Thomas Johnson III about regenerative therapies for glaucoma on the AAO's Experts
Listen to the episode Update on Regenerative Stem Cell Developments in Glaucoma here or Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
New Iowa Glaucoma Curriculum Lectures now available online
Dr. Boese has updated and published 3 video lectures for the curriculum:
• Chapter 4: Surgical Gonioscopy Pearls
• Chapter 22: Corticosteroid-induced Glaucoma
• Chapter 42: Laser Trabeculoplasty
Access all of the curriculum at: Curriculum.IowaGlaucoma.org
Support the Department
Your contribution is more than a donation, it can change the future of ophthalmology.