His main research interests are surgical techniques of Glaucoma surgery, normal pressure glaucoma, and glaucoma patterns of practice in developed and developing countries. He is the author and editor of seven textbooks on Glaucoma, and more than 120 book chapters and publications in peer reviewed journals. He is the editor in chief of the journal of current glaucoma practice, he also serves on the editorial board of many ophthalmology journals, including the International Journal of Ophthalmology, the Journal of Glaucoma, the Canadian Journal of ophthalmology, the Middle East African Journal of ophthalmology, and The Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, among others.
In addition to his glaucoma practice Tarek Shaarawy is active in a number of NGOs dealing with global prevention of blindness, and is a founder member of the board of trustees of the Baladi Foundation, which serves patients in upper Egypt.