Founder. Retired in August 2024.
Dr. Jay Pepose is the Founder and former Medical Director of the Pepose Vision Institute.
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 was regarded as a leading authority on laser vision correction diagnostics and outcomes. He was one of an elite group of eye surgeons who conducted a nationwide clinical trial that made LASIK available for the correction of farsightedness and astigmatism. Dr. Pepose was 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).
During his career, Dr. Pepose served as Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital. He specialized in laser vision correction, cataract, and cornea surgery, in addition to being a board-certified cornea and vision correction surgery subspecialist.
Prior to founding the Pepose Vision Institute, Dr. Pepose held the Bernard Becker Professorship in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Pepose was the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the prestigious Cogan Award from the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. He was 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 served on the editorial board of several prestigious ophthalmology journals and was associate editor of The American Journal of Ophthalmology. He also served on 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 established an International Fellowship in Eye Banking, and founded 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.
