Thomas Vincent Johnson MD PhD

Glaucoma Related

Associate Professor, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University

Summary

My clinical speciality is the medical and surgical treatment of primary and secondary glaucoma in children and adults. My research laboratory focuses on the neurobiological processes that lead to retinal ganglion cell death and dysfunction in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies. In particular, I seek to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying axonal degeneration, dendrite retraction and afferent synapse loss, and cell body death in glaucoma. My goal is to utilize knowledge of these processes to develop targeted neuroprotective strategies to slow or halt RGC death and preserve vision for patients with glaucoma. I am also actively investigating the use of stem cell transplantation to achieve retinal ganglion cell placement, as a potential regenerative treatment for optic nerve disease, with a focus on anatomic incorporation of cell grafts, neurite growth and synapse formation, and electrophysiological retinal circuit integration.

Johns Hopkins UniversityFellowship, Glaucoma, 2018 - 2019
Johns Hopkins UniversityResidency, Ophthalmology, 2015 - 2018
Johns Hopkins UniversityInternship, Internal Medicine, 2014 - 2015
Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineClass of 2014, MD, AOA
University of CambridgePhD, Neuroscience, Gates-Cambridge Scholar, OxCam Scholar, 2006 - 2010
Northwestern UniversityBA, Biological Sciences, Summa Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2002 - 2005

Secretariate Award American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2024
Douglas H Johnson Award BrightFocus Foundation, 2022
Artemis Award American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2021
David L Epstein Award Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), 2019
Heed Fellowship The Heed Ophthalmic Foundation, 2018
AFER/ARVO Merck Innovative Ophthalmology Research Award ARVO Foundation for Eye Research, 2015
David E Rogers Award Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2014
Stephen J Ryan Prize in Ophthalmology Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2014
NEI Scientific Director’s Award National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, 2009
World Glaucoma Association Award - "Top Ten Papers" nomination World Glaucoma Association, 2009
NC3R's Prize National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in Research, 2009
Imogen Rose Prize in Brain Repair Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, 2008
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PubMed

Cellular responses to short-term intraocular pressure elevation in a porcine eye explant model.
Kelsey Ritter-Gordy, Sarah Quillen, Mary E Pease, Thomas V Johnson, Bryce Chiang
Experimental Eye Research. 2025-10-01
Clinical outcomes of Hydrus Microstent implantation for open-angle glaucoma: Results from a large academic center.
Natalie R Hamilton, Anam Akhlaq, Patrick O Nnoromele, Nicolas Gasquet, Catalina Garzon
Ophthalmology. Glaucoma. 2025-09-04
1 citations
Early Postoperative Conjunctival Complications Leading to Exposure of Surgically Implanted CorNeat EverPatch Devices.
Jacob Kanter, Atul Garkal, Nur Cardakli, Ian Pitha, Jasdeep Sabharwal
Ophthalmology. 2025-07-01

Total Human Eye Allotransplantation Innovation and Advancement (THEIA)ARPA-H2024–2030
RGC transplantation as a treatment for TBI-related optic nerve injuryUS Department of Defense2023–2027
A multifunctional biocompatible scaffold for cell replacement therapy to restore vision in optic neuropathyMaryland Stem Cell Research Foundation2024–2026
24-hour intraocular pressure variation before and after implantation of the HydrusAlcon Vision2022–2025
Transplantation of human stem cell-derived neurons for retinal ganglion cell replacement and optic nerve regenerationNational Eye Institute (NIH)2020–2025
Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing cataract surgery with hydrus microstent implantation at a large academic centerAlcon Vision2023–2024
Visualizing functional retinal integration of transplanted retinal ganglion cellsNational Eye Institute (NIH)2022–2024
In vivo adaptive optics ophthalmoscopy to characterize functional retinal integration of transplanted RGCs using a novel transgenic reporter paradigmBrightFocus Foundation2022–2024
The Retinal Ganglion Cell Repopulation, Stem Cell Transplantation, and Optic Nerve Regeneration (RReSTORe) ConsortiumNational Eye Institute (NIH)2022–2023

Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) FellowNational Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health2008 - 2010
Research AssociateDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center2005 - 2006

Hopkins Medicine Clinician Profilehttps://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/results/directory/profile/10004407/thomas-johnson
ResearchGate Profilehttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Thomas_Johnson3
Johnson Lab Websitehttp://johnsonlabjhu.com