Professor Jost Bruno Jonas is a distinguished German ophthalmologist and academic leader whose expertise has profoundly shaped modern eye care across Europe and globally. He currently serves as Professor and Chairman of Ophthalmology at the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University while maintaining an active clinical practice at his Heidelberg-based ophthalmology clinic. Appointed as Director of the University Eye Clinic Mannheim and Chairholder in Ophthalmology at the University of Mannheim in 2000, he held these positions until 2012 when he was relieved of his directorial duties due to a deeply disturbed trust relationship with hospital leadership. His professional journey encompasses extensive international collaboration with research activities spanning France, India, Russia, and China, reflecting his global influence in advancing ophthalmological science. Professor Jonas has maintained continuous scholarly activity since his early career, establishing himself as one of Europe's most respected figures in eye medicine through both clinical excellence and academic leadership.
Professor Jonas has pioneered groundbreaking approaches to treating diabetic and age-related macular degeneration through intravitreal injections of therapeutic agents directly into the vitreous body, revolutionizing care for millions of patients worldwide. His development of a morphological classification system for glaucomas has provided clinicians with a more precise diagnostic framework that has been widely adopted in clinical practice and education. His extensive epidemiological research on eye diseases across diverse populations in China, Russia, and India has generated critical insights into global vision health challenges and risk factors, contributing significantly to public health understanding. As a leading contributor to the Global Burden of Disease study, his work has illuminated the prevalence, prevention, and therapeutic approaches for myopia, cataracts, and retinal conditions, establishing evidence-based standards for ophthalmological care internationally.
Beyond his clinical and research achievements, Professor Jonas has profoundly influenced the field through his role as Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, one of the most prestigious publications in eye medicine, shaping scholarly discourse for decades. His membership in the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Glaucoma Research Society, Macula Society, and Retina Society underscores his standing as a thought leader whose expertise guides the direction of ophthalmological research globally. Recognized with the International Gold Award from the Chinese Ophthalmologic Society and honorary memberships in the French Ophthalmological Society and Asia-Pacific Vitreoretinal Society, his contributions have earned him international acclaim. Professor Jonas continues to advance the field through his clinical practice in Heidelberg, where he applies cutting-edge technologies like optical coherence tomography to refine diagnostic precision and develop personalized treatment approaches for complex ocular conditions.
