Dr Jim McAlister MBBS, FRANZCO, BSc. (Hons) Clin. Sci., M.D. (Res.), FRCOphth

Dr McAlister is a corneal lamellar transplantation specialist.  His refractive interests are balanced between laser and the implantation of intraocular lenses. Dr McAlister works from Vision Eye Institute Varsity Lakes and Upper Mount Gravatt.

Background

Dr McAlister has recently accepted an invitation to join The Vision Eye Institute. He originally trained at Moorfields Eye Hospital in the UK. He is a Consultant Cornea, Ocular Surface Disease and Refractive Surgeon. His training included 16 months Fellowship in Cornea, External Eye disease and Refractive Surgery at Moorfields Hospital followed by one year Fellowship in Cornea and Autoimmune Ocular Surface Disease at Southampton Hospital. 

Prior to joining Vision Group, he was Director of Cornea and External Eye Diseases at the Queensland Eye Institute, Brisbane. Before then he was a Consultant Refractive Surgeon based in Harley Street, London.

He has a strong research background. This centres on the evolving role of corneal cross linking, various refractive interventions for Keratoconus, rapid diagnosis for infective keratitis, new techniques for grading ocular surface squamous neoplasia and control of ocular surface autoimmune disease.   

His expertise also encompasses complex cataract surgery. He also provides treatment in tumours, infections and autoimmune diseases of the ocular surface. 

Dr McAlister’s personal website is www.eyesmatter.com.au

Professional Credentials

Dr McAlister’s research thesis investigated gene therapy strategies to ‘treat’ corneal disease. This work took him to Schepens Eye Research Institute affiliated to Harvard Medical School and the Institute of Ophthalmology affiliated to University College London. This was the same research group that conducted the first clinical gene therapy trials in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency and Retinitis Pigmentosa in the UK.   Dr McAlister is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland. He has ongoing clinical trials at the Mater Public Hospital.  He has published numerous peer reviewed journal articles and regularly presents his work nationally and internationally.   

Beyond Work

As a father of 3, he has a keen interest in the physical as well as general education of his children, enjoying tennis and many outdoor pursuits that living in Queensland can offer a young family.