Dr. J. Donald M. Gass was universally recognized as the father of macular diseases and one of the most influential ophthalmologists of the twentieth century. Born on Prince Edward Island, Canada in 1928, he completed both his undergraduate and medical education at Vanderbilt University, graduating with the Founder's Medal as the top student in his medical school class of 1957. Following three years of service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War era, he completed an internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and a residency at the prestigious Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. Gass spent the majority of his career at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami, where he served as assistant professor from 1963 to 1972 and full professor from 1972 to 1995, before returning to Vanderbilt University School of Medicine as professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
Dr. Gass pioneered the clinical application of fluorescein angiography, transforming the diagnosis and understanding of retinal diseases through detailed visualization of vascular patterns in the retina and choroid. His seminal work in characterizing the wet form of age-related macular degeneration and establishing the classification system for choroidal neovascularization became the foundation for modern treatment approaches. In 1967, he co-described Irvine-Gass syndrome, identifying the most common cause of vision impairment following cataract surgery, which remains a critical consideration in ophthalmic practice. His groundbreaking late 1980s research on macular hole pathogenesis established the tangential traction theory that later guided successful surgical interventions for what was previously considered an untreatable condition. The comprehensive knowledge he accumulated through decades of clinical observation and research was synthesized in his definitive textbook, Stereoscopic Atlas of Macular Diseases, affectionately known as Gass's Atlas, which has educated generations of ophthalmologists worldwide through multiple editions.
Dr. Gass's weekly fluorescein angiography conferences at Bascom Palmer became legendary for their intellectual rigor, with colleagues and trainees attempting in vain to challenge his encyclopedic knowledge of retinal disease patterns. His contributions earned him numerous prestigious honors including the Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology, the Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research, and the Laureate Recognition Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology. As a dedicated educator, he trained countless fellows who went on to become leaders in retinal diseases, ensuring his methodologies and diagnostic approaches would continue to benefit patients globally. Beyond his academic pursuits, Dr. Gass served as director of the American Board of Ophthalmology from 1976 to 1983, significantly influencing the standards of ophthalmic practice and certification. Though he passed away in 2007, his legacy endures through the continued use of his classification systems, the ongoing relevance of Gass's Atlas, and the millions of patients whose vision has been preserved through diagnostic and therapeutic approaches he pioneered.
