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CAIRSPlan
Dr David Gunn, corneal and refractive surgeon

Surgeon profile

Dr David Gunn

MBBS (Hons I), BSc, CertLRS, FRANZCO, FWCRS

Corneal, cataract & refractive surgeon

Keratoconus & CAIRS Cataract surgery Laser vision correction Corneal transplantation

Brisbane-born and Brisbane-trained, Dr David Gunn is a corneal subspecialist who introduced Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segment (CAIRS) surgery to Australia in May 2021 — and remains one of only a handful of surgeons worldwide performing the procedure.

Training

Bachelor of Science (Physiology & Anatomy) and Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, both from the University of Queensland, the latter awarded with First Class Honours. Ophthalmology training through the Queensland hospital network, where Dr Gunn was awarded the K.G. Howsam Medal for the highest results in the Australian and New Zealand final ophthalmology examinations.

Subspecialty fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at Bristol Eye Hospital in the United Kingdom, with further training at the London Vision Clinic. Certified in laser refractive surgery by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK) by examination.

Clinical focus

  • Keratoconus — CAIRS, topography-guided cross-linking, the Athens Protocol, and customised laser regularisation.
  • Cataract surgery — premium and laser-assisted cataract surgery with multifocal, EDOF and toric lens options.
  • Laser vision correction — LASIK, SMILE, and ray-tracing LASIK (introduced to Queensland in 2024).
  • Implantable contact lenses for patients outside the laser range.
  • Modern corneal transplantation — DMEK and DWEK for Fuchs dystrophy and corneal endothelial disease.

Research & innovation

Co-author of the published Brisbane nomogram for femtosecond-laser-created CAIRS, in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology. Co-developer of CAIRSPlan, the planning tool that supports the Brisbane, Istanbul (KeraNatural) and Awwad nomograms used internationally. Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland; regular international speaker on keratoconus and refractive surgery.

Memberships

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists · European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons · American Academy of Ophthalmology · American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery · Cornea Society · Refractive Surgery Alliance Society · World College of Refractive Surgery and Visual Sciences (founding member).

drdavidgunn.com.au Focus Vision QEI profile Meet Dr Brendan Cronin →