Dr. Jay S. Pepose, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Jay Pepose is the Founder and active Medical Director of the Pepose Vision Institute. He also serves as Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He specializes in laser vision correction, cataract and cornea surgery, in addition to being a board certified cornea and vision correction surgery subspecialist.

A pioneer in laser eye surgery to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, Dr. Pepose was the first to introduce LASIK vision correction to the St. Louis region. As one of the original 10 eye surgeons nationwide to participate in clinical trials of the excimer laser to correct mild to severe degrees of myopia and astigmatism, Dr. Pepose is regarded as a leading authority on laser vision correction diagnostics and outcomes. He was one of an elite group of eye surgeons that conducted a nationwide clinical trial that made LASIK available for the correction of farsightedness and astigmatism. Dr. Pepose is involved in many clinical trials related to the newest generation of multifocal lens implants for cataract patients, as well as clinical studies of more precise measurement devices for glaucoma and new treatments for presbyopia (age-related weakening of near vision).

Dr. Pepose serves as ophthalmic consultant for ABC TV’s 20/20 program and web site. His work in laser vision correction has been featured at the Frontiers of Medicine pavilion at Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida. As an invited speaker, he has lectured extensively throughout the world, including Korea, Japan, England, Israel and Australia.

Prior to founding the Pepose Vision Institute, Dr. Pepose held the Bernard Becker Professorship in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Pepose is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the prestigious Cogan award from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He is recognized in “Best Doctors in America” and “America’s Top Docs” as a noted subspecialist in cataract, corneal and vision correction surgery, the only such specialist in the St. Louis region to be so honored. Dr. Pepose has contributed extensively to the scientific literature, holds two patents, and has been the recipient of competitive National Eye Institute research support. He serves on the editorial board of several prestigious ophthalmology journals and is associate editor of The American Journal of Ophthalmology. Most recently, he has been appointed to the Board of Calhoun Vision, a California based innovator in emerging vision technologies.

Dr. Pepose earned his medical degree and Ph.D. from UCLA and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Wilmer Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, the premier ophthalmology program in the country. He completed his subspecialty training in cornea and external diseases at Georgetown University Medical Center.

As a reflection of his commitment to improving vision locally and globally, Dr. Pepose has established an International Fellowship in Eye Banking, and is the Founder of the Midwest Cornea Research Foundation. Along with his wife, Susan K. Feigenbaum, he established the John Lisman Award in Vision Science at Brandeis University which honors leading scientists in the vision field. The endowment also supports graduate research fellowships in vision science.