Ioannis Pallikaris

Ioannis Pallikaris is Professor Emeritus of Ophthalmology at the University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. After studying medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Prof. Pallikaris trained in ophthalmology at the University of Zurich and completed a doctoral thesis there. At the University of Crete, Prof. Pallikaris became Professor of Ophthalmology in 1996, headed the Department of Ophthalmology and was later Rector. Prof. Pallikaris founded the Vardinoyannion Eye Institute of Crete.

Research centres on refractive surgery and visual optics. The Pallikaris group at the University of Crete developed laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), performing the first procedure on a blind human eye in 1989, and later introduced Epi-LASIK. Prof. Pallikaris was President of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) from 2006 to 2008 and gave the ESCRS Heritage Lecture in 2026. Honours include the American Academy of Ophthalmology Barraquer Award and the ASCRS Kelman Innovator's Lecture.