John D. Pemberton

Associate Professor

UAMS

Also affiliated: West Virginia University (2009–2013); Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (2011–2014); Arkansas Children's Hospital (2017–2018); Mayo Clinic (1937–1951); Harvard University (2011–2014); University of Arkansas Medical Center (2017–2024); Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (2004); Massachusetts General Hospital (2013); Albany Medical College (2013)

Ophthalmology, College of Medicine

14 h-index 62 pubs 875 cited

Research Areas

Biomedical Subjects

Links

ORCID Research Group UAMS TRI Profile

OverviewAI-generated summary

Dr. John D. Pemberton is an associate professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where he leads a research group focused on oculoplastics. He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and specializes in surgical procedures involving the eyelids, orbital masses, orbital reconstruction, and tear drainage repair. His clinical practice includes patients at the Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Arkansas Children's Hospital, and the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital.

Dr. Pemberton's research and clinical interests encompass a range of conditions affecting the structures surrounding the eye. Recent publications investigate topics such as Temozolomide-associated blepharoconjunctivitis, isolated eyelid neonatal Langerhans cell histiocytosis, and the management strategies for chalazia in pediatric patients. His work also includes exploring the timing of Jones Tube placement after excision of nasal or lacrimal drainage system malignancy and the use of Vismodegib for periorbital basal cell carcinoma. He has authored or co-authored 81 publications, which have been cited 1,720 times, and holds an h-index of 19.

His academic background includes an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Grand Canyon University and a doctorate in medicine from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Pemberton completed his ophthalmology residency at West Virginia University and undertook fellowships in oculoplastic surgery at the Beraja Medical Institute and oculoplastic and orbital reconstructive surgery at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School. His collaborations include nine shared publications with Tom Kornhauser at UAMS.

Research Overview

Dr. John D. Pemberton is an associate professor of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, specializing in plastic surgery of the eyelids, orbital masses, orbital reconstruction, tear drainage repair and other surgeries of the structures surrounding the eye. He sees patients at the Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Arkansas Children's Hospital, and the John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital. Dr. Pemberton received his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Theater from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, and his doctorate in medicine from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in San Francisco, California. He completed a residency in ophthalmology and was the chief resident at West Virginia University. He specialized further, accomplishing a 15 month fellowship in oculoplastic surgery at the Beraja Medical Institute in Miami, Florida, and another 15 month fellowship in oculoplastic and orbital reconstructive surgery at the renowned Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts. While there he saw patients at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Isreal Hospital, and the Brigham and Women's Hospital; all teaching hospitals for the Harvard Medical School.Dr. Pemberton has been in the military since 1989 and has over 21 years of service. He started his military career as a combat medic which segued naturally into a career in medicine. In 2002, after completing his internship at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, he was assigned as a flight surgeon for the 1st Cavalry Division, 7th Cavalry Regiment at Ft. Hood, Texas, a famous U.S. Army unit with historic members such Colonel Custer and Colonel Moore. He remained with this unit from 2002 thru 2005, 13 months of which included a tour in Iraq. He received the Bronze Star Combat Medal, Combat Medical Badge, Golden Spurs Award, and the Iraqi Expeditionary Medal for his service.Dr. Pemberton is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) which is a professional doctoral degree for physicians in the United States. Holders of the DO degree are known as osteopathic physicians. The difference is that DOs belong to a separate but equal branch of American medical care–through the osteopathic approach. Osteopathic physicians look at the entire person to reach a diagnosis, rather than focusing only on the symptoms, and they are trained to help the body heal itself. They teach patients how to prevent illness and injury by living a healthy lifestyle, and perform osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), a hands-on treatment whereby the DO will manipulate muscles and joints with techniques that include stretching, resistance and gentle pressure. DOs practice with the belief that all parts of the body work together, influencing one another. They receive special training about the nervous system and musculoskeletal system, and they provide something very important to the patient–a healing touch.

Metrics

h-index: 14
Publications: 62
Citations: 875

Positions

Associate Professor 2011–present

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Ophthalmology, College of Medicine Institutional directory

Selected Publications

Risk of neuroblastoma among patients with pediatric Horner syndrome (2026)

Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus DOI OpenAlex
Association between Dupilumab and Ocular Surface Diseases in Children (2026)

Ophthalmology Science DOI OpenAlex
Digital binocular surgical loupes for oculoplastic surgery using a three-dimensional digital camera and a virtual reality smart glasses: A pilot study (2025)

Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology 1 citation DOI OpenAlex
Management strategies for chalazia in pediatric patients: A scoping review (2025)

European Journal of Ophthalmology 4 citations DOI OpenAlex
Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction in a Patient With Sotos Syndrome (2024)

Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery DOI OpenAlex
Postoperative Outcomes of Enucleation Without Closure of the Conjunctiva (2024)

Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 1 citation DOI OpenAlex
Vismodegib as an adjuvant treatment for periorbital basal cell carcinoma: a case report and review of literature (2024)

Annals of Translational Medicine 2 citations DOI OpenAlex
Temozolomide-associated blepharoconjunctivitis: a case report (2024)

BMC Ophthalmology 3 citations DOI OpenAlex
Basal cell carcinoma appearing to emanate from the punctum (2024)

American Journal of Ophthalmology Case Reports 1 citation DOI OpenAlex
Isolated eyelid neonatal Langerhans cell histiocytosis (2024)

Orbit 3 citations DOI OpenAlex
Timing and Indications of Jones Tube Placement in Lacrimal Drainage System Malignancy Patients: A Rebuttal to the Letter by Shah et al [Response to Letter] (2023)

Clinical ophthalmology DOI OpenAlex
Timing of Jones Tube Placement After Excision of Nasal or Lacrimal Drainage System Malignancy: A Survey of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) (2023)

Clinical ophthalmology 3 citations DOI OpenAlex
Temozolomide-associated Blepharoconjunctivitis (2023)

Research Square DOI OpenAlex
Ocular TASER Probe Injury Managed with Primary Evisceration: Case Report (2021)

Case Reports in Ophthalmology 2 citations DOI OpenAlex
An Ode to Gillies and Millard: “The Ten Commandments Applied to Self-Inflicted Head and Neck Gunshot Wounds” (2021)

FACE 1 citation DOI OpenAlex