Peyman awarded technology, innovation medal

Washington, DC-President Barack Obama awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honor bestowed on an American innovator, to LASIK eye surgery inventor Gholam Peyman, MD, during a ceremony at the White House Friday.

Dr. Peyman is a professor of Optical Sciences and Engineering at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix and is among 12 researchers to receive the honor.

“We are so grateful to all of you," Obama said to the award winners. "The incredible contributions you’ve made have enhanced our lives in immeasurable ways that are practical but also inspirational. And so we know that you are going to continue to inspire and, in many ways, teach the next generation of inventors and scientists who will discover things that we can’t even dream of at this point. Thank you so much for everything that you’ve done.”


“I am so honored by this award,” said Dr. Peyman in a prepared statement. “What a wonderful surprise. I am gratified that our work has touched so many people. We work always to enhance treatments and improve the outcomes for patients. We continue to look forward since there are many more problems to solve.”


Dr. Peyman has been a pioneering force in laser and photodynamic therapy and studies on intraocular drug delivery and refractive and vitreoretinal surgery.

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