Kaufman Recognized for Significant Progress In Experimental Eye Research
Paul Kaufman, MD presenting at the annual George Kambara, MD, Vision Science Symposium
Paul L. Kaufman, MD, Ernst H. Bárány Professor of Ocular Pharmacology and Chair Emeritus received the Endre A. Balazs Prize from the Council of the International Society for Eye Research (ISER) on September 12, 2018, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ISER awards this international prize to a distinguished scientist whose outstanding contributions provide significant progress in the field of experimental eye research. Dr. Kaufman’s pioneering glaucoma research was highlighted in his plenary lecture at the meeting entitled, “Deconstructing Aqueous Humor Outflow – The Last 50 Years”.
This award honors its namesake, Endre A. Balazs, for his distinguished work in eye research and his contributions to the founding of ISER. The mission of ISER is to provide a unique international platform for discussion and exchange of ideas on contemporary topics in eye and vision research among its members and the broader eye and vision research community. The Endre A. Balazs Prize is awarded at every biennial meeting.
Dr. Kaufman is a physician-scientist, specializing in glaucoma. His research laboratory studies the mechanisms of aqueous humor (internal eye fluid) formation and its drainage out of the eye, and the age-related loss of near vision (presbyopia). In open-angle glaucoma, the fluid does not flow freely through the trabecular meshwork (filtering tissue), causing an increase in intraocular pressure, damage to the optic nerve and ultimately leads to vision loss. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of irreversible vision loss in American adults and the most common among African Americans. Presbyopia is an unavoidable ocular affliction of aging.
Among his many accolades, Dr. Kaufman has had continuous research funding from the National Eye Institute for 40 years, has authored over 350 original scientific articles and 75 book chapters, received the 2017 Jonas S. Friedenwald Award from ARVO and was presented with the 2015 Research to Prevent Blindness Stein Innovation Award. Dr. Kaufman served as chair of the UW–Madison Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences from 2004-2014.