Brian Horsman, MD

Dr. Horsman was born in New Brunswick, Canada. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, followed by his Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1978. After completing a rotating internship in 1979, he practiced Family and Emergency Medicine for three years in Saint John, New Brunswick.

Dr. Horsman pursued postgraduate training in Ophthalmology at Dalhousie University, completing a four-year residency program that included one year of pathology. He then completed a fellowship in Retina at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1988.

In 1989, Dr. Horsman joined the Department of Ophthalmology at Dalhousie University as an Assistant Professor. During his six years in Halifax, he introduced numerous modern surgical techniques and played a pivotal role in advancing the treatment of retinal and vitreous diseases. Notably, he helped modernize the department’s approach to retinal detachment by adopting and demonstrating the effectiveness of pars plana vitrectomy, intravitreal gas, and laser therapy over traditional scleral buckle procedures. His surgical innovations, influenced by techniques learned from Dr. Steve Charles in Memphis, significantly improved patient outcomes and became the standard of care.

Dr. Horsman has extensive surgical experience in managing all diseases of the retina, including complications from cataract surgery. He was among the early adopters of silicone oil in retinal detachment repair and has treated a wide range of complex pediatric retinal conditions, including trauma and retinopathy of prematurity. His leadership contributed to the development of a state-of-the-art operating theater equipped for advanced vitrectomy procedures.

As one of only three retinal surgeons in Eastern Canada at the time, Dr. Horsman performed thousands of surgeries. He was actively involved in academic teaching, resident training, and surgical skill development, including the establishment of an enhanced surgical teaching lab. He co-directed the Ocular Tumor Clinic for five years and presented his research on retinal diseases at conferences across North America and Europe.

In 1995, Dr. Horsman emigrated to the United States and joined Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center as the group’s first retinal surgeon. Under his leadership, the retina department has grown to include six surgeons. He currently serves as the Director of the Retinal Department and has performed over 13,000 retinal surgeries and hundreds of thousands of laser procedures.

Dr. Horsman remains committed to clinical excellence and innovation in retinal care. He regularly attends international meetings and is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists, a Fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and a member of the European Society of Retina Specialists. He is also one of the founding members of the International Spectralis Symposium, a global forum for retinal imaging professionals sponsored by Heidelberg Engineering in Germany.

Since 2000, Dr. Horsman has utilized the Heidelberg confocal laser scanning system to perform angiographic imaging using fluorescein (FA) and indocyanine green (ICG) dyes. He studied advanced imaging techniques under Professor Giovanni Staurenghi, a leading expert in Milan, Italy. Today, all Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center locations across the Phoenix Metro area are equipped with Heidelberg imaging systems to aid in the early detection of macular degeneration, diabetic retinal disease, and retinal vascular conditions.

Dr. Horsman is also experienced in micropulse laser treatments, an advanced technique that delivers ultrashort bursts of laser energy to treat macular conditions such as diabetic macular edema and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). With 16 years of experience in micropulse laser therapy, he has helped reduce the need for repeated injections in AMD management.

Dr. Horsman now focuses his practice on laser surgery and intravitreal injections for the treatment of macular diseases. New patients are welcome, including those seeking second opinions. Dr. Horsman and his dedicated team are committed to providing expert care and will work closely with referring eye doctors to ensure continuity of care.