Dr. John Karth is originally from Illinois, and received his M.D. from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2002. Dr. Karth completed his ophthalmology residency training at the University of Rochester in New York.

He completed vitreo-retinal fellowship training at the University of British Columbia/Vancouver General Hospital in 2007, where he also participated in research for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, and various retinal and optic nerve pathologies. He has engaged in research in genetic and progressive retinopathies and published in areas such as the role of angiogenic factors in disease, as well as participating in the education of medical students and residents.