MBBS, FRANZCO, FRACS, FRCOphth
Dr Lawless is a recognised world authority in eye surgery. His specialty is laser vision correction, cataract eye surgery, corneal transplantation and lens replacement surgery. Dr Lawless has performed over 20,000 ophthalmological surgical procedures in the following areas:
-LASIK and ASLA
- Refractive lensectomy, cataract and lens surgery (including phakic intraocular lens surgery)
- Corneal transplantation
He provides his specialist services at laser eye surgery Chatswood Vision Eye Institute.
Education:
Dr Lawless graduated in Medicine from the University of Sydney in 1980. Ophthalmology training in Sydney was followed by two years of sub-speciality education, a corneal and external diseases Fellowship with Professor Doug Coster in Adelaide, and a second Fellowship in corneal and refractive surgery with Professor Richard Troutman at the Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital in New York.
Career Highlights:
Performed the first LASIK procedure in Sydney in 1995.
President, International Society of Refractive Surgery, 2001.
Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Royal North Shore Hospital, 2000-2006.
60 publications in peer reviewed scientific literature and 30 textbook chapters written on innovations in eye surgery.
Selected to perform televised live surgery at international meetings, including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.
Awards:
Cedric Cohen Medal for Excellence in the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists examination, 1982.
Visiting Professor, University of Melbourne, 1998.
Honour Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology for Services to Education in Ophthalmic Surgery, 1999.
Founders Award from the International Society of Refractive Surgery, Chicago 2005.
Invited Guest Lecturer to the world’s main scientific meetings, most recently the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Bali, 2009; the Taiwan Ophthalmological Society in May 2010; and the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Chicago, October 2010.
Other:
Consultant ophthalmologist to the Australian Defence Force
Consultant ophthalmologist to the NSW Rugby Union
Dr Lawless is married with three teenage children and is a Shodan (black belt) in Goju Ryu karate.

