Edward ‘Terry’ S Perkins was a renowned British-American ophthalmologist and researcher in the United Kingdom, Kenya and the United States of America who made many contributions in ophthalmology. He was born on 15 October 1919, in London to Edward Walter Perkins and Gertrude Fanny Perkins née Price. His father was a First World War veteran and a civil servant. His mother was a housewife. An only child, he was raised in the Norbury district of southwest London and was educated at local schools and then at Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith. When Perkins was 17 years old, his mother suggested he pursue the study of medicine. He enrolled in St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College in London. While there, Perkins was influenced by the lectures of Hamilton Hartridge, a visual physiologist and fellow of the Royal Society. Perkins’ medical studies at Barts were impacted by the turbulence of Second World War. In 1940, during the Battle of Britain, he and his classmates served as first aid providers during air raids. In 1942, Perkins qualified with the conjoint examination. He then began a post at Hill End Hospital in St Albans, Hertfordshire. During this three-month period, Perkins decided to concentrate on ophthalmology. While at Hill End Hospital, he worked with the well-known eye surgeons Rupert S Scott, Seymour Philps and H B Stallard. Perkins was called to active duty in 1942 and attained the rank of captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He was deployed to Kenya to provide medical care to soldiers, Kenyans and Italian prisoners of war. In Nairobi, Perkins met the eye clinic director, W O G Taylor, an ophthalmic geneticist. When Taylor became ill, Perkins assumed responsibility for clinic operations until 1945. Following his demobilisation in 1946, Perkins completed his ophthalmic training at Barts. He was appointed to the Institute of Ophthalmology in London, where he continued his professional achievements as a research associate, junior lecturer and reader in ophthalmology (1954) over the next 30 years. As Perkins performed his clinical work at the Institute, his interest in ophthalmic research began as a research assistant in the glaucoma clinic. His interest expanded to eye physiology and intraocular pressure. In 1957, Perkins obtained his PhD from the University of London with a thesis on the role of the fifth cranial nerve and intraocular pressure. He continued his research under the guidance of Sir Stewart Duke-Elder. Perkins collaborated with Duke-Elder to author *System of ophthalmology: diseases of the uveal tract (vol. IX)* (London, Henry Kimpton, 1966). In 1961, Perkins was named the first professor of experimental ophthalmology at the Institute of Ophthalmology. That same year, he published *Uveitis and toxoplasmosis, etc.* (London, J & A Churchill, 1961). He spent a sabbatical year doing research at Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Upon his return to London in 1962, Perkins expanded his research. He designed and built a handheld applanation tonometer. This device enabled eye pressure measurements for patients unable to be checked at a slit lamp microscope. In 1975, Perkins received a Design Council award from the Duke of Edinburgh. Perkins served a major role starting the Association for Eye Research (AER), modelled after the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology in the USA, and served as the first chairman. The AER has since been renamed the European Association for Vision and Eye Research. He became an early member of the International Glaucoma Symposium, now the Glaucoma Research Society. Perkins created several inventions. He built a ruby laser to create iridotomies for the treatment of angle-closure glaucoma. With Robert A Weale, Perkins designed an artificial eye to teach retinoscopy. He also developed a technique for transferring patient information to magnetic tape for computer analysis (to create early electronic health records). After working with Perkins at the Institute of Ophthalmology in London, Sohan Hayreh strongly recommended him to Frederick C Blodi, head of the department of ophthalmology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. In 1979, Perkins was invited to join the faculty as a professor. He developed many clinical projects and research studies, including developing uveitis and low vision clinics. Perkins retired from the University of Iowa in 1986. During his retirement years, Perkins was very active. He enjoyed playing golf, travelling and birdwatching. He studied music, art, architecture and native American anthropology. Perkins played the violin, published a book about the structure and function of the violin (*The violin: 400 years of perfection*) and built several violins. Perkins and his wife Anne (née Rammell), whom he married in 1952, raised two sons and two daughters – Richard, Stephen, Juliet and Helena. Three of the children settled in Wisconsin and one son remained in England. Several years after his retirement, Perkins and his wife moved to Wisconsin to be near their children. Perkins died in Watertown, Wisconsin, USA on 9 September 2015, at the age of 95. Edward S ‘Terry’ Perkins was dedicated to the field of ophthalmology. Throughout his professional career, he trained many residents and fellows, treated many patients, performed research and constructed medical equipment. Due to his characteristic modesty, many of Perkins' achievements have not received the recognition that they so well deserved.