Christopher J. Rapuano

About Christopher J. Rapuano

Christopher Rapuano was one of the two founding co-authors of the 1st edition of the best-selling Wills Eye Manual. As senior faculty advisor, in 2025 he directed the publication of the 9th edition, which includes updated diagnostic and treatment guidelines and additional color photos and videos.

He continues to lead the Wills Eye Hospital Cornea Service, including its three-person cornea fellowship. Over the past year, the footprint of the Cornea Service has expanded by over 50%, doubling the number of exam lanes and adding a second diagnostic testing area with new state-of-the-art equipment. These upgrades have allowed the number of cornea specialists on the Service to grow by 20%.

Rapuano recently completed his six-year term as Senior Secretary for Education of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), where he oversaw expansion of the AAO’s educational products, including several new endowed centers on the ONE Network, greatly increased number of EyeWiki entries, modernized the foundational Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC), and the launch of Ophthalmology Retina, Ophthalmology Glaucoma, and Ophthalmology Science.

On January 1st 2026, he began his one-year term as the President of the AAO. In addition to leading the Board of Trustees for the year, he will continue to advance the AAO’s mission of protecting sight and empowering lives. Rapuano will use his term to jump-start an effort to improve emergency eye care services provided in hospital emergency rooms and in-patient floors to ensure timely treatment for severe eye injuries and diseases.