Dr. John E. Downing, MD, FACS

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Get to know Ophthalmologist Dr. John E. Downing, who serves patients in Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

Dr. Downing is a board certified ophthalmologist who is currently serving patients at his private practice, Downing Eye Care in Kentucky. Downing Eye Care offers patients superior medical eye care services performed by skilled, patient hands. The practice’s presence and reputation as a great ophthalmology option is backed by decades of great service. 

Dr. Downing was born and raised in Monroe County, Kentucky. He attended college at Georgetown College and Baylor University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology with honors. He earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville, where he was President of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After his medical internship at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, he joined the U. S. Navy and attended the School of Aerospace Medicine, thereby becoming a flight surgeon. He undertook his residency training at the Naval Hospital, Wills Eye Hospital, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Downing went off of active duty with the Navy in 1971 when he started his practice in Bowling Green. However, he remained in the Naval Reserve until his retirement from Navy Captain with 21 years of service. Since 1971, Dr. Downing has been a part-time Clinical Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine. In 2010, he began teaching part-time in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Louisville. There, he received three teaching awards. Dr. Downing has received several awards for teaching excellence. He has also published several papers on cataract and lens implant surgery.

Since 1989, Dr. Downing has been a volunteer faculty member with the project Orbis, which encompasses the world’s only flying eye hospital. The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital is unlike any other plane. A state-of-the-art teaching facility complete with operating room, classroom, and recovery room – the amazing aircraft has been a beacon of hope since 1982. The Orbis Flying Eye Hospital flies a team of elite eye care specialists to developing countries where they share skills and techniques with local medical teams.

Dr. Downing is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also board certified in ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO). The ABO is an independent, non-profit organization responsible for certifying ophthalmologists in the United States of America.

Ophthalmology is a branch of medicine and surgery, which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Ophthalmologists are experts in the diseases, functions, and anatomy of the eye. They may provide routine care such as vision testing, as well as prescribe and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, ophthalmologists are also surgeons. They repair traumatic injuries to the eye and perform cataract, glaucoma, and corneal surgery. Dr. Downing’s primary areas of practice are cataract surgery, intraocular lens implant surgery, and refractive surgery. He also treats a wide variety of medical problems such as glaucoma and diabetes.

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