Dr. Alfonso's Biography

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D.
Professor and Chairman
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Eduardo C. Alfonso, M.D., the Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and director of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s patient care facilities, Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital in Miami, and outpatient facilities in Palm Beach Gardens, Plantation and Naples, Florida, is one of the most recognized ophthalmologists in the world.  Holder of the Edward W. D. Norton Professor of Ophthalmology, he is known for his clinical expertise in diseases and surgery of the cornea and ocular microbiology and laser vision correction.

Dr. Alfonso received a Bachelor of Science degree Summa Cum Laude (Phi Beta Kappa) from Yale College and medical degree from Yale School of Medicine. He completed an ophthalmology residency at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine and he completed three fellowships, one in cornea and external disease at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard Medical School and an ophthalmic pathology fellowship and a research fellowship both at Howe Laboratory at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at Harvard University School of Medicine.  Following this training, Dr. Alfonso returned to Miami where he joined the faculty of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in 1986.

Physician, surgeon, professor and researcher, Dr. Alfonso is an internationally known expert on ocular infectious diseases and he is the medical director of Bascom Palmer’s Ocular Microbiology Laboratory.  In 2006, he documented an increase in the incidence of an aggressive form of fungal corneal infection that was related to soft contact lens use.  His findings drew considerable media attention throughout the world and significantly reduced the number of new infections.

He is the medical director of the Ocular Microbiology Laboratory at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute and chairman of the infection control committee of the Anne Bates Leach Eye Hospital.  He is the author of more than 175 peer-reviewed publications in scientific literature, as well as book chapters, and has been guest lecturer nationally and internationally.

A leader in his profession, he was awarded  the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Honor Award in 1993 and their Senior Achievement Award in 2003.    He serves on the editorial board of US and international ophthalmology journals.

His research interests include bacterial and fungal sensitivity; and the development and clinical applications of keratoprosthesis, an artificial cornea, which has significant potential for patients awaiting transplants in developing nations where donor tissue is often scarce.  In addition, with a team of investigators from the University of Miami, he is spearheading ways to make rapid identification of sight threatening eye infections.   Clinically, Dr. Alfonso specializes in corneal transplants having performed over 1,000 of these in adults and children.

Born in Cuba, Dr. Alfonso grew up in Puerto Rico.  He was appointed to his current position at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in November 2007 with the objective of propelling the internationally acclaimed institution to even greater heights by becoming the world leader in the clinical practice of ophthalmology, ophthalmic education and vision research.

He has served as president of the Miami Ophthalmological Society, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Alumni Association, Sociedad Iberoamericana de Cornea y Cirugia Refractiva, director of Cuban Ophthalmological Society in Exile, Pan American Association of Ophthalmology,  and secretary of Continuing Education in Ophthalmology, Inc., and The Ophthalmology Research Foundation, Inc.

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