Claes H. Dohlman, MD, PhD, passed away peacefully at the age of 101 on July 14, 2024. This post has been updated from a story from September 2022, when Dr. Dohlman was honored with the 2022 António Champalimaud Vision Award for his exceptional contributions to the field . His impressive body of work took place over a monumental seven-decade career at Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Ophthalmology. Watch this 2022 video to learn more about Dr. Dohlman’s storied career from those who he has influenced.
Claes H. Dohlman, MD, PhD, professor of Ophthalmology, Emeritus, and former Chief and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School (HMS), passed away peacefully at the age of 101 on July 14, 2024. Dr. Dohlman is considered by many to be the father of modern corneal science, whose transformative work modernized the field and continues to be widely utilized today.
“Dr. Dohlman’s pioneering research has forever changed the way conditions of the cornea are understood and treated,” said Joan W. Miller, MD, Chair of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School. “His work has benefited millions of people around the world, and his legacy of knowledge thrives today in the hundreds of fellows, students, and colleagues he has trained and mentored over the years. Harvard Medical School—and indeed, the whole world—is a far better place today because of his remarkable talent, contributions, and character. He will continue to inspire all of us to greater accomplishment.”
The “Father of Modern Corneal Science”
Internationally recognized as the founding father of modern corneal science, Dr. Dohlman spearheaded key research investigations to help better understand the structure and function of the cornea—the clear outer layer at the front of the eye that allows people to focus light and see clearly. His research efforts laid the groundwork for the modern treatments and methods used today for dry eye disease, corneal burns, wound healing, corneal transplantation and keratoprosthesis (an artificial cornea). As a result, Dr. Dohlman’s work has helped improve the vision and lives of millions of people around the world.
Born in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1922, Dr. Dohlman earned his Medical Degree and a Doctor of Medical Research from the University of Lund in Sweden and completed his residency training in ophthalmology at the Eye Clinic of the University of Lund.
In 1958, he was recruited to work at Schepens Eye Research Institute of Mass Eye and Ear (then known as The Retina Foundation Institute of Boston) by his former mentor and celebrated retina surgeon, Charles Schepens, MD.
A career of firsts
In 1964, at the request of then Chief of Ophthalmology Edwin Dunphy, MD, Dr. Dohlman established the Cornea Service at Mass Eye and Ear—the first cornea subspecialty clinic in the world. Under the leadership of Dr. Dohlman and his successor and former mentee Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH, the service has grown to become one of the largest and most renowned in the world.
That was just the start of the many firsts in Dr. Dohlman’s career. He was also the first person to create a formal cornea fellowship program (also at Mass Eye and Ear), the first to recruit full-time cornea fellows to Harvard Medical School, and the first to pioneer several new surgical advances in corneal transplants (keratoplasty) and artificial corneas (keratoprosthesis).
The biggest of these surgical innovations is undoubtedly the Boston Keratoprosthesis. Invented by Dr. Dohlman in the 1960s, this innovative procedure, commonly known as the “Boston KPro,” involves implanting an artificial cornea to replace one that is diseased or damaged. The Boston KPro remains the most successful artificial cornea in the world with 19,000 implantations to date.
Evolution of the Boston KPro
Beyond the age of 100, Dr. Dohlman continued to work with a new generation of clinician-scientists and researchers to improve the Boston KPro. James Chodosh, MD, MPH, who served as Director of the Boston Keratoprosthesis Program from 2017 to 2022, developed the ‘Lucia’ type I keratoprosthesis, an FDA-approved design created to offer an improved cosmetic appearance for patients.
When Dr. Chodosh departed Mass Eye and Ear in September 2022 to become the inaugural chair of The University of New Mexico Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Dr. Dohlman welcomed a new generation of leadership. After many years of training and mentorship under Drs. Dohlman and Chodosh, Eleftherios Paschalis, PhD, was appointed Director of Research, Development, and Regulatory Affairs and Thomas Dohlman, MD, appointed Medical Director. They were joined by Reza Dana, MD, MSc, MPH, director of the Cornea Service at Mass Eye and Ear, who will provide research and business strategy support to the program. Together, Drs. Dana, Paschalis and Thomas Dohlman continue to work to further the Boston Keratoprosthesis Program and its mission to help those suffering from corneal blindness.
Leadership and teaching
While most known for his innovative cornea research and advances in clinical care, Dr. Dohlman also had an enormous impact on Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Ophthalmology through leadership and teaching.
In 1974, Dr. Dohlman was appointed Chief of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and Director of the Howe Laboratory of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear. He remained in these roles until 1989, when he stepped back to focus more on his research and teaching.
Throughout Dr. Dohlman’s 64 years at Mass Eye and Ear, he has trained more than 200 cornea specialists—more than any other ophthalmologist in the world. He continued to work with and mentor trainees and junior faculty into his nineties, and his dedication to teaching is reflected in the three Resident Teacher of the Year awards he has received from Harvard Ophthalmology residents.
“I had the privilege of training under Dr. Dohlman as a resident and working alongside him as a colleague for more than 30 years,” said Miller. “When I became Chair of the department in 2003, Dr. Dohlman continued to be a generous, kind advisor and supporter of mine, for which I am eternally grateful.”
Among the most honored ophthalmologists in the world
Throughout his career, Dr. Dohlman received numerous awards and honors for his groundbreaking contributions to corneal research and clinical care, including:
- American Academy of Ophthalmology Laureate Award
- Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Friedenwald Award
- Swedish Medical Society Gullstrand Medal
- Cornea Society Castroviejo Medal
- New England Ophthalmological Society Award
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Distinguished Service Award
- Swedish Ophthalmological Society Honorary Award
- Named Harvard Medical School Professorship (Claes H. Dohlman Professor of Ophthalmology)
- Order of Vasa, Sweden
- Honorary degrees from the Université de Montréal and Harvard University
The 2022 António Champalimaud Vision Award was Dr. Dohlman’s most recent—and most prestigious—honor. Established in 2006, the Champalimaud Vision Award, presented by the Portugal-based Champalimaud Foundation, is the highest distinction bestowed in ophthalmology and vision science, and is considered the “Nobel Prize of Vision.”
Dr. Dohlman and fellow 2022 Champalimaud winner, Gerrit R. J. Melles, MD, PhD, founder of the Netherlands Institute for Innovative Ocular Surgery and the Melles Cornea Clinic in Rotterdam, received a prize of $1,000,000 to further their research efforts.
“This award was a truly fitting recognition of Dr. Dohlman’s many professional contributions over a lifetime of work,” said Miller.
Dr. Dohlman’s work and dedication has benefited Mass Eye and Ear patients—and millions of people around the world—and his legacy of knowledge thrives today in the hundreds of fellows, students and colleagues he has trained and mentored over the years.
The Mass Eye and Ear and Harvard Ophthalmology communities extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family, especially his six children, Lena, Jan, Ebba, Henrik, Peter, and Erik; and his 12 grandchildren, including Harvard Ophthalmology faculty members Thomas Dohlman, MD, and Jenny Dohlman, MD.
My name is Denise de Freitas. I am a Professor at the Paulista School of Medicina at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, in São Paulo, Brazil.
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of dear Professor Dohlman. I have a successful career here in Brazil and I CERTAINLY only achieved this success due to the fundamental teachings of Prof. Dohlman. There were not only ophthalmological teachings, but also about how to care about others, contribute to society, and alleviate patients’ pain and desires.
I had the honor of receiving Prof. Dohlman here in Brazil as our speaker in one of our international meetings and his dedication and attention to us was simply THE BEST, like everything he did…..
I wish my deepest condolences to the family and emphasize that Prof. Dohlman will never disappear from our hearts.
With deep sadness, but with great affection I say goodbye to this giant of global ophthalmology
Sincerely,
Denise de Freitas, MD, PhD
Dr Thomas Dolhman MD I’m incredibly sorry to hear the passing of your grandfather. Thinking of you, your family and the entire faculty of Mass Eye and Ear.