MBBS (Hons), DipOphthSci, B.Com, LLB, FRANZCO, FWCRS
Dr. Brendan Cronin is a high-volume sub-specialist and the Director
of Education at the Queensland Eye Institute (QEI).
With over 15,000 successful surgical procedures and a legacy of
global "firsts" in Keratoconus, cataracts surgery and ocular surface
disease, he is recognized as one of Australia’s most authoritative
figures in ophthalmic innovation.
Dr Cronin grew up on the Gold Coast, Queensland and completed his
medical and ophthalmic training in Brisbane.
He has over 15 years of experience as an ophthalmologist so is
highly regarded as a leading eye surgeon in Brisbane and globally.
He is highly experienced and specialised in cataract surgery, corneal, refractive and anterior segment surgery including laser
eye surgery, LASIK, lens replacement surgery, pterygium surgery,
keratoconus treatment and corneal
transplant surgery.
He trained internationally at the prestigious Manchester Royal Eye
Hospital in the United Kingdom.
This makes him one of the very few surgeons in Australia who have a
genuine fellowship in cataract and refractive surgery.
Why Dr. Cronin?
Expertise is vital, but the perspective of the surgeon matters just
as much as their skill.
Dr. Cronin’s approach to patient care is shaped by a unique personal
history:
The Surgeon Who Has Been the Patient: As a medical student,
Dr. Cronin required urgent, sight-saving eye surgery.
That experience defined his career. He understands the anxiety of
vision loss firsthand, which is why he treats every patient with the
empathy and precision he expected for his own eyes.
A "Referral-First" Reputation: Dr. Cronin has built a
practice where other doctors and optometrists send their most complex
cases.
He is known for taking on the challenges that require a higher level
of sub-specialty expertise.
Cutting-Edge as Standard: While many practices use "modern"
tech, Dr. Cronin is the one evaluating that tech as a Principal Investigator
or even creating it as an innovator for new technologies.
His patients access global innovations years before they become
mainstream.
Global Pioneer & "Firsts" in Australia
Dr. Cronin is an innovator due to his record of surgical milestones:
World-First Innovation: Performed the world’s first combined
Bowman’s membrane and CAIRS procedure—a revolutionary treatment for severe
Keratoconus.
This procedure redefined the boundaries of restorative minimally
invasive corneal surgery.
The "Brisbane Nomogram": Co-authored the world’s first
customized surgical planning nomogram for CAIRS, setting the global benchmark
for precision.
United Kingdom Firsts: Pioneered the use of topography guided
phototherapeutic keratectomy (t-PTK) at the Manchester Royal Eye
Hospital.
National Firsts:
-
Performed Australia’s first Oxygen-Enhanced "Epi-on"
Cross-linking (CXL) – Glaukos Epioxa.
-
Selected as one of 14 surgeons globally to have early access to
use the Glaukos Mosaic KXL2 system for Australia’s first and
only topography-guided CXL machine.
-
He is a global leader in corneal stabilisation and innovates in
this area with his research.
-
Introduced Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Rexon-eye (QMR)
technology for dry eye and ocular surface disease to the
Australian market and performed the first procedures on these
devices.
-
Performed Australia’s first femtosecond laser assisted Deep
Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty “DALK” with laser tunnel guidance
for endothelial sparing low rejection corneal grafting
techniques.
-
Pioneered endothelial dysfunction treatment with Australia’s
first use of Ripasudil, a Rho-Kinase inhibitor for traumatic
corneal oedema.
Scientific Authority: 40+ Peer-Reviewed Publications
Dr. Cronin’s clinical excellence is backed by a rigorous academic
record.
He has published over 40 articles in premier journals such as Ophthalmology, Cornea, and the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Selected Major Contributions to Ophthalmic Science:
- Keratoconus & CXL: Established the superior visual
outcomes of topography-guided CXL and oxygen-supplemented protocols
(JCRS, 2022/2024).
- The CAIRS Surgical Technique: Pioneered manual surgical
approaches to corneal allografts, enabling treatment for patients
worldwide (Cornea, 2025).
- Safety Discovery: Published the first documented
link between anti-oestrogen medications (Tamoxifen) and macular holes—a
landmark safety finding ( Int Ophthalmol, 2005 ).
- Regenerative Medicine: Authored a high-impact systematic
review (90+ citations) on stem cell differentiation for corneal cells
(Stem Cells, 2015).
- Pterygium Surgery: Published cutting-edge high-level
research on ocular surface changes with this disease. (Cornea and
MiVision).
International patents for new applications for corneal collagen
cross linking technology
Dr Cronin holds international patents (US-11/900583 and
US-11420073B2 – Method for treating Eyelid Laxity) applying collagen
cross linking techniques to floppy eyelid syndrome (eyelid laxity)
to treat this otherwise almost untreatable disease.
Leadership, Education and Charitable work
As the Director of Education at the Queensland Eye Institute (the
largest dedicated ophthalmic research institute in the southern
hemisphere), Dr. Cronin is responsible for training the next
generation of Australian ophthalmologists, optometrists and medical
students.
He teaches students from the University of Queensland, Griffith
University Medical School, Bond University Medical School and the
Queensland University of Technology.
Author of multiple ophthalmology textbooks: Wrote the
foundational textbook and audiobook "Ophthalmology for Medical Students,"
provided as a free global resource.
He is also the primary Author of “Ophthalmology for Medical
Receptionists”
Principal Investigator: Has lead 20+ international clinical
trials for novel intraocular devices and therapies.
Former Head of Department: Led the Mater Public Hospital
Ophthalmology Department in Brisbane for a number of years.
Former Senior Lecturer: At the University of Queensland.
Together with Dr David Gunn he developed the only online surgical
planning tool for CAIRS surgery for Keratoconus - www.cairsplan.com.
This tool is used by surgeons worldwide to learn how to perform this
extraordinary cutting edge procedure for keratoconus.
When not at work he enjoys spending time with his wife &
children.
