John H Fingert MD PHD

Glaucoma Related

Hadley-Carver Chair in Glaucoma; Director, Glaucoma Service and Glaucoma Research Center; Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences; Institute for Vision Research; Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa

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200 Hawkins DriveIowa City, IA 52242
Phone+1 319-356-3938
Fax+1 319-353-7699

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Summary

I am a board-certified ophthalmologist with fellowship training in glaucoma and I have a Ph.D. in ophthalmic genetics.

My clinic focuses on the diagnoses and medical care of glaucoma and inherited optic nerve disease.

My training and experience has provided me with broad clinical and laboratory expertise to investigate the genetic basis of optic nerve disease. My early research resulted in the detection of the first glaucoma gene, myocilin, and more recently my laboratory has discovered another of only a few known glaucoma genes, TBK1.

My laboratory investigates the mechanisms by which defects in these genes lead to glaucoma using transgenic mice, induced pluripotent stem cells, and other patient-based studies. These projects are part of an overall mission to investigate the genetic basis of optic nerve disease and develop sight-saving therapies for this common group of blinding diseases.

Education & Training

University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsFellowship, Glaucoma, 2004 - 2006
University of Iowa Health Care Medical CenterResidency, Ophthalmology, 2001 - 2004
Aurora Health CareInternship, Transitional Year, 2000 - 2001
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of MedicineClass of 2000
Dartmouth CollegeBA, BE, Engineering, 1987 - 1992

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Certifications & Licensure

IA State Medical License 2001 - 2027
American Board of Ophthalmology Ophthalmology

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Impact Scholar Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 2024
Outstanding Basic Science Mentor Award Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 2024
Gold Fellow Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2022

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

MMP9 Genotype and Systemic T-Cell Subsets Correlate With Structural and Functional Outcomes in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.
Thomas L Martinez, Zeb R Zacharias, Kyungmoo Lee, Ian C Han, Chunhua Jiao
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2026-06-01
Single-Cell Gene Expression and eQTL Analyses in the Human Retina, RPE, and Choroid in Macular Degeneration.
Andrew P Voigt, Nathaniel K Mullin, Kelly Mulfaul, Lola P Lozano, Emma M Navratil
Biorxiv. 2026-04-01
A Multitrait Polygenic Risk Score for Open-Angle Glaucoma Stratifies Risk of Pigmentary Glaucoma in Pigment Dispersion Syndrome.
Antonia Kolovos, Ayub Qassim, Henry N Marshall, Thi Thi Nguyen, Joshua Schmidt
Ophthalmology. Glaucoma. 2025-10-21

Journal Articles

Long-Term Follow-up of Normal Tension Glaucoma Patients with TBK1 Gene Mutations in One Large Pedigree
John Fingert, MD, American Journal of Ophthalmology
CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Engineering: Treating Inherited Retinal Degeneration
Arlene V Drack, John H Fingert, Joseph C Giacalone, Robert F Mullins, Edwin M Stone, ScienceDirect
The Myocilin Gly252Arg mutation confers glaucoma of intermediate severity and in Caucasians originated from a common founder.
Hewitt, A.W., Bennett, S.L., Richards, J.E., Dimasi, D.P., Booth, A.P., Inglehearn, C., Anwar, R., Yamamoto, T., Fingert, J.H., Heon, E., Craig, J.E., Mackey, D.A, Archives of Ophthalmology

Books/Book Chapters

A Patient’s Guide to Glaucoma.
Chapter: F.E.P. International Inc
Kwon, Y.H., Fingert, J.H., Greenlee, E.CEditors: Kwon Y. H.Coralville
Characterization of a large family with adult-onset primary open angle glaucoma caused by a mutation in the GLC1A gene.
Chapter: Chapter 7
Alward, W.L.M., Fingert, J.H., Kwon, Y.H., Johnson, A.T., Hayreh, S.S., Sheffield, V.C., Stone, E.MEditors: Glaucoma Update VI, Grieglstein GK.Springer-Verlag: Berlin
The Molecular genetics of corneal disease.
Chapter: Chapter 18
Fingert, J.H., Stone, E.MEditors: Cornea, Krachmer, Mannis, Holland.Elsevier Science Inc, Philadelphia

Abstracts/Posters

Glaucoma Genetics in 2009.
Fingert, J. H, Glaucoma Today

Other

A Patient’s Guide to Glaucoma.
Kwon, Y.H., Fingert, J.H., Greenlee, E.C
http://www.medrounds.org/glaucoma-guide/
Juvenile open-angle glaucoma: 22 year-old Caucasian female referred in 1990 for evaluation of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).
Lively GD, Alward, WLM, Fingert JH, EyeRounds.org
http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eyeforum/cases/87-Myocilin-juvenile-open-angle-glaucoma.htm
Plateau Iris.
Rogers, GM, Alward, WLM, Fingert JH, EyeRounds.org
http://webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/eyeforum/cases/143-plateau-iris.htm

Press Mentions

Researchers Find Link Between Eye Disease and Degeneration of the BrainNovember 6th, 2019

Grant Support

Foundational Biology of Glaucoma GWAS LociUNIVERSITY OF IOWA2024–2028
Genetic Factors for Glaucoma in the OHTS; Risk, Progression and MechanismUNIVERSITY OF IOWA2023–2028
Genetic Factors for Glaucoma in the OHTS; Risk, Progression and MechanismUNIVERSITY OF IOWA2023–2028
Stem cell approaches to normal tension glaucomaUNIVERSITY OF IOWA2024–2025
TBK1-Related GlaucomaNational Eye Institute (NEI)2016–2018