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MBBS (QLD), DO (Melb), FRANZCO, FRACS, MD(QLD), MPH(JOHNS HOPKINS)
Lawrence Hirst graduated with M.B.B.S. (first classes honours) from University of Queensland in 1969. After two years internship at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, he undertook 3 years of Ophthalmology registrarship at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia from 1973-1976 and obtained The Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists and The Royal Australian College of Surgeons as well as a Diploma of Ophthalmology.
ÂThen followed a Fellowship in Cornea and External Disease at the Wilmer Institute, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA, as Professor Walter Stark’s first fellow in 1976-1977.
 Another Fellowship in Neuro-ophthalmology as Professor Neil Miller’s first fellow, was undertaken in 1977-1978.
Lawrence Hirst then joined the Faculty of the Wilmer Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital as Assistant Director of the Corneal and External Disease Service and as Director of the first Eye Trauma Service.
ÂFrom 1978-1983 Lawrence Hirst undertook clinical practice in Corneal and External Disease, published many scientific publications, and obtained a number of research grants including National Eye Institute grants.
ÂIn 1983 Lawrence Hirst moved to the Bethesda Eye Institute, St Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA as Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of Corneal and External Diseases.
 In 1984, Lawrence Hirst was promoted to Director of Bethesda Eye Institute, and Chairman of Ophthalmology Department, St Louis University.Professor Lawrence Hirst returned to Australia in December, 1986 to become to take up the inaugural Chair of Ophthalmology, at the University of Queensland, Australia, at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
ÂAt the same time, Lawrence Hirst became Executive Director of the Prevent Blindness Foundation and established the first eyebank in Queensland where he has been the Medical Director til today, The Queensland Eye Bank.
 In 2005 Lawrence Hirst took on the role as C.E.O. of the newly founded academic institution, the Queensland Eye Institute.During his academic career he has published and presented on more than 300 scientific projects and has been granted more than $20 million dollars to further teaching, clinical and research advances.Since 2008 Professor Hirst has restricted his clinical practice exclusively to the surgery of pterygium, using P.E.R.F.E.C.T. for PTERYGIUM® which he has developed. This method is the most successful method of pterygium surgery in the world with the lowest recurrence rate (close to zero), and the best cosmetic appearance after surgery.
