Herbert E. Kaufman, MD September 28, 1931 – July 11, 2026
The ophthalmology community mourns the loss of Herbert Edward Kaufman, M.D., a pioneering physician-scientist, educator, and innovator whose remarkable career reshaped the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of eye disease, restoring and preserving vision for countless people around the world.
Born on September 28, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Kaufman displayed extraordinary academic promise from an early age, entering Princeton University at just 16 before earning his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1956. He completed his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, spent two years as a fellow at the National Institutes of Health, and finished his residency in ophthalmology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 1962, he became the founding chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Florida, where he led the department through 1977 and helped establish it as a center of excellence in ophthalmic research, education, and patient care. In 1978, he moved to New Orleans to serve as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and director of the LSU Eye Center, continuing a career defined by visionary leadership and transformative contributions to the field.
Dr. Kaufman’s storied career influenced many advances in the field:
- He developed the first effective antivirals in ophthalmology and pioneered the combination of steroid and antiviral therapy for the treatment of herpes stromal keratitis
- He was involved in the development of M-K and K-Sol media, which made modern eye banking possible. He was involved in the introduction of therapeutic soft contact lenses and the development and clinical use of specular microscopy
- He and his colleagues discovered that intraocular lenses could produce corneal endothelial damage, and that this damage can be prevented by viscous agents
- He also helped to identify the beta-adrenergic blocking agent, timolol and the antifungal agent Natamycin
- He was also a leader in the development of refractive surgery in the United States
He was a member of more than 30 professional associations and societies including:
- The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American College of Surgeons and the Royal Society of Medicine in England
- Editor of “Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science” and served on the editorial boards of a number of journals, including the American Journal of Ophthalmology
- President of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists and the International Society of Refractive Keratoplasty
- Served two terms on the Advisory Council of the National Eye Institute
He has more than 700 publications in his bibliography, including work on herpes virus and ocular disease, antiviral drugs, corneal surgery and refractive surgery.
During Dr. Kaufman’s tenure, clinical facilities expansions began, and UF Ophthalmology became the premier ophthalmologic facility in North Central Florida and the first department at UF to train residents at the University Hospital in Jacksonville. As the department grew, it gained national recognition for its strong clinical and educational programs. Under his guidance, the department became a nationally and internationally recognized academic medical hub for ophthalmology.
On behalf of the Department of Ophthalmology faculty, staff and trainees, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. Dr. Kaufman’s legacy will continue to inspire and guide us.