DR DAVID GUNN
MBBS (Hons I), BSc, CertLRS, FRANZCO, FWCRS
Dr David Gunn began his research career at the University of Queensland Perinatal Research Centre as an honours medical student, where he investigated a mouse glaucoma model and a project in screening premature infants for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). His early work helped examine outcomes of premature infants that developed ROP and sparked a lasting interest in translating bench discoveries into bedside eye-care solutions for vulnerable patients.
After completing sub-specialty training in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery, Dr Gunn shifted his research focus to sight-saving corneal technologies. He now leads studies on advanced treatments for keratoconus, biologic lamellar keratoplasty and laser vision correction. In 2021 he performed Australia’s first Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segment (CAIRS) procedure and co-developed CairsPlan.com, the world’s first web-based nomogram and planning platform for CAIRS implantation.
Dr Gunn remains an active scientific investigator and is an in-demand international speaker, delivering invited lectures and surgical master-classes across Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. His current projects aim to optimise CAIRS outcomes and explore bespoke corneal grafts.
RECENT PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS
2025 - DOC - 37th International Congress of German Ophthalmic Surgery
Invited Speaker Gold Medal Session Ridley Lecture - “CAIRS - A Paradigm Shift in the Management of Corneal Ectasia
2024 - Indian Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery Society
Invited Speaker and Gold Medal awarded for Contributions to Ophthalmology
2022 - RANZCO 53rd Annual Scientific Congress 2022
Australian Vision Research Recommended Abstract - Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segment Implantation for the treatment of post-LASIK keratectasia
2016 - The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
The K.G. Howsam Gold Medal awarded for the highest performance in the RANZCO Fellowship examinations
PUBLICATIONS LIST
Dr Gunn has authored 18 peer-reviewed publications. He is first author of the Brisbane nomogram for corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segments (CAIRS) — one of only four CAIRS nomograms recognised in the international literature — and introduced the CAIRS procedure to Australia in 2021. His peer-reviewed work spans keratoconus and CAIRS, corneal cross-linking, refractive and intraocular lens surgery, corneal disease, and retinopathy of prematurity. His invited lectures and congress faculty roles are listed on the conference presentations page.
Femtosecond Laser Created Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments for Keratoconus
Monocular and Binocular Visual Outcomes of an Enhanced Monofocal (Mono-EDOF) Intraocular Lens
StreamLight Single-Step Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) for Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism
Quality of vision clinical outcomes for a new fully-refractive extended depth of focus Intraocular Lens
Oxygen-supplemented and topography-guided epithelium-on corneal crosslinking with pulsed irradiation for progressive keratoconus
Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segment Implantation for Post-LASIK Ectasia
Corneal Epithelial Remodeling as a Cause of Chalazion-Induced Hypermetropia
Assessment of the accuracy of new and updated intraocular lens power calculation formulas in 10 930 eyes from the UK National Health Service
High-risk Corneal Transplantation: Recent Developments and Future Possibilities
Peripheral ulcerative keratitis with corneal melt as the primary presentation in a case of human immunodeficiency virus
The successful treatment of a multidrug-resistant Achromobacter xylosoxidans corneal ulcer with topical meropenem
Prevalence and outcomes of laser treatment of aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity
Treatment of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely premature infants over an 18-year period
Unilateral optic neuropathy from possible sphenoidal sinus barotrauma after recreational scuba diving: A case report
Incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in extremely premature infants over an 18-year period
Specific amacrine cell changes in an induced mouse model of glaucoma
ARTICLES & MEDIA
Apple Vision Pro enters the operating theatre in Australian ophthalmology first
Insight reports Dr David Gunn's Australian-first Apple Vision Pro-assisted surgery at the Queensland Eye Institute on 24 August 2026: a combined cataract and corneal transplant, an all-femtosecond CAIRS procedure for keratoconus, and multifocal cataract surgery, with the Alcon NGENUITY 3D feed displayed in the headset through ScopeXR.
Read Full Article →Ophthalmologists urge eye checks as rates of short-sightedness 'surge' in young people
The Courier-Mail's health section surveyed 39 Australian ophthalmologists on rising short-sightedness in young people. Dr David Gunn, listed for Focus Vision and the Queensland Eye Institute, named keratoconus as his biggest trend, now known to affect about 1 in 84 Australians rather than 1 in 2,000 and newly treatable, called eye rubbing the biggest mistake people make with their eyes, and advised readers not to ignore a change in vision and to have their eyes scanned early.
Read Full Article →A Paradigm Shift in Refractive Surgery: Wavelight Plus Ray Tracing LASIK - mivision
Corneal-based refractive surgery is currently undergoing a transformation with the introduction of the first commercially available ray tracing-based procedure.
Read Full Article →Rayner’s world-first Galaxy spiral IOL – do believe the hype
The launch of Rayner’s world-first spiral IOLs in Barcelona last year set tongues wagging in the global ophthalmic community.
Read Full Article →RayOne EMV Toric First-in-Eye Multicentre Real World Clinical Results
CAIRS Plan tool to streamline keratoconus surgical procedures
An Australian ophthalmology duo are streamlining keratoconus surgical procedures with their development of the free CAIRS Plan tool.
Read Full Article →Australian First Surgery for Keratoconus
mivision report on Dr David Gunn performing Australia's first corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment (CAIRS) procedure for keratoconus at the Queensland Eye Institute, May 2021.
Read Full Article →Australian-first keratoconus surgery performed in Brisbane
First corneal allogenic intrastromal ring segment (CAIRS) surgery in Australia performed at Queensland Eye Institute (QEI) for keratoconus.
Read Full Article →QEI clinic unveils new cross-linking technology for corneal procedure
The Queensland Eye Institute (QEI) has become the first clinic in Australia to offer a new topography-guided corneal collagen cross-linking treatment to keratoconus patients. The clinic’s Dr Brendan Cronin and Dr David Gunn are now the only ophthalmologists in Australia who can perform the procedure with the Avedro Mosaic machine, which is being touted as […]
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