Dr Irshad has been recognized as Castle Connolly’s Top Doctor for over seven consecutive years as well as Top Doc by Austin Monthly magazine. In addition, he has been elected to the Best Cataract Surgeons in American list and won research awards during his training at Tulane Medical Center.
Dr. Irshad double majored in Biology and Finance at Washington University and then received his Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center. Dr. Irshad then went on to complete his internship in internal medicine at the University of California San Francisco Fresno program. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at Tulane School of Medicine followed by a special fellowship also at Tulane under the guidance of Dr. Delmar Caldwell and Dr. Ramesh Ayyala.
Prior to private practice, Dr Irshad spent several years on clinical faculty teaching eye surgery and supervising residents and fellows. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Tulane Medical Center and on affiliate faculty at Dell Medical School. He has served on the medical advisory board at Southern Eye Bank and on the Medical Executive Committee as well as the Governing Board at the Medical Park Tower surgery center.
Currently, Dr Irshad is a diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr Irshad is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and participates in monthly Austin Ophthalmology Society meetings. He has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and authored a cover story on “The Economics of Laser Cataract Surgery” in the February 2019 edition of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today. Dr. Irshad recently published a chapter on microinvasive glaucoma surgery in Chandler and Grant’s Glaucoma textbook in 2021.
A former Eagle Scout, Dr. Irshad also has a strong interest in local, national and international community service. He contributes to Habitat for Humanity, volunteers on medical mission trips to Mexico with the World Cataract Foundation and performs vision and glaucoma screenings in underserved communities. He spent a few years on the Board of Directors at the Montessori Educational Center and is married with three boys. Dr. Irshad’s passions include hiking, traveling, and race car driving and instructing.
Awards & Recognition
Gerald Clarke, M.D.
Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Gerald Clarke, M.D., is an incredible part of the Eye Clinic of Austin. After several years of private practice in Wisconsin, Dr. Clarke recently moved to Austin and has resumed his career here.
He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame, and first (Summa Cum Laude) from his medical school, Loyola University, in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Clarke started residency training in pediatrics at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and continued in Ophthalmology at the prestigious Milwaukee Eye Institute. During his career, he has performed over 20,000 cataract operations, 30,000 Lasik procedures, and many glaucoma surgeries. He and his partner in Wisconsin operated one of the first Lasik eye centers in the state.
Dr. Clarke has been instrumental in bringing Artificial Intelligence to the field of Ophthalmology, having written several programs to improve cataract and Lasik surgery outcomes. He has published several peer-reviewed papers on this research. At an annual conference of Ophthalmologists, he has received several awards related to this work. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
He has done many mission trips to Honduras, performing complex surgeries for the underserved and he speaks Spanish.
Dr. Clarke practices comprehensive ophthalmology, with special emphasis on glaucoma.
In his spare time, Dr. Clarke and his wife enjoy Texas Two-Step dancing, bike riding, golf, water aerobics, and the card game Bridge. He has published a novel, The Drone Virus, which was made into a movie of the same name. He is working on a second novel, The Cutting Edge.
Testimonials
Eye Care Blog
Ensuring the health and well-being of our eyes demands careful attention and proactive measures. Among the most critical actions we can take is the use of sunglasses to shield our eyes from the sun’s damaging UV rays. This simple yet effective strategy plays a pivotal role in preventing potential harm and preserving our eye health […]
Prevent Eye Injuries This Spring with Protective Eyewear Spring welcomes warmer weather and longer days, enticing many to indulge in outdoor activities. However, this season also poses potential risks for eye injuries. Understanding the significance of protective eyewear is crucial for those with sensitive eyes. At Eye Clinic of Austin, our team is committed […]
In an evolving healthcare landscape, in-office surgery has become an appealing alternative to traditional hospital-based procedures, particularly for patients seeking quality eye care and various eye surgeries, such as corneal transplants or treatment for glaucoma. At Eye Clinic of Austin, our skilled eye doctors address concerns that are related to a range of eye conditions […]
