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Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology—40 Years
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGyTM FRANK
W.
NEWELL,
Editor-in-Chief
Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, lllinois 60611
EDITORIAL BOARD Mathea R. Allansmith, Boston Douglas R. Anderson, Miami Crowell Beard, San Jose Bernard Becker, St. Louis Benjamin F. Boyd, Panama Charles ]. Campbell, New York Ronald E. Carr, New York Thomas Chalkley, Chicago Claes H. Dohlman, Boston Fred Ederer, Bethesda
DuPont Guerry III, Richmond Robert W. Hollenhorst, Rochester Herbert E. Kaufman, New Orleans Arthur H. Keeney, Louisville Carl Kupfer, Bethesda Irving H. Leopold, lroine A. Edward Maumenee, Baltimore Irene H. Maumenee, Baltimore Edward W. D. Norton, Miami G. Richard O'Connor, San Francisco
Arnall Patz, Baltimore Steven M. Podos, New York Albert M. Potts, Louisville Algernon B. Reese, New York Robert D. Reinecke, Albany Marvin L. Sears, New Haven David Shoch, Chicago Bruce E. Spivey, San Francisco Bradley R. Straatsma, Los Angeles Gunter K. von Noorden, Houston
Published rrwnthly by the Ophthalmic Publishing Company Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611 Directors: A. EDWARD MAUMENEE, President; DAVID SHOCH, Vice President; FRANK W. NEWELL, Secretary and Treasurer; EDWARD W. D. NORTON, BRUCE E. SPIVEY, BRADLEY R. STRAATSMA
PAN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF OPHTHALMOLOGY---40 YEARS In 1938 Harry S. Gradle of Chicago, then president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, conceived the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology to bring together ophthalmologists in North and South America to promote the exchange of scientific knowledge, increase professionalism, and encourage friendship and understanding among eye specialists in the western hemisphere. An organizational meeting in 1940 brought together Moacyr Alvaro of San Paulo, Brazil, and Conrad Benrens of New York City. The first PanAmerican Congress of Ophthalmology was held in Cleveland in 1940 in conjunction with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology meeting. From the beginning the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology was dedicated to education. When Benjamin F. Boyd of Panama succeeded Moacyr Alvaro as executive director, educational activities rapidly increased. The PanAmerican Congress, which originally met every four years, is now held every
two years. Two Congresses meet in Latin American countries to everyone held in North America. They have become increasingly important and over 1,000 ophthalmologists attended the 1979 Congress in Miami, Florida (Am. J. Ophthalmol. 87:722, 1979). The Association sponsors two basic clinical science courses for Latin American residents. The oldest of these, at the University of Puerto Rico, is an intensive four-month course with classes six days weekly. Instruction is provided by the faculty of the Puerto Rico University and by outstanding teachers from the United States, Canada, and Latin America who donate their services. The students are 27 ophthalmology residents who are selected through national contests supervised jointly by the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology and the national society in each of 18 Latin American countries. Three hundred forty residents have completed this course; some 140 of these are currently teaching in medical schools. An Andean program was established in 1971 with particular emphasis on the skills required by ophthalmologists who
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CORRESPONDENCE
practice in the remote regions of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and Chile. The Visiting Professor project is one of the most progressive and effective teaching programs in ophthalmology. The Pan-American Association arranges an itinerary and plans meetings for two or more specialists to visit different countries and to share their expertise with local ophthalmologists. Since the program began in 1962, more than 225 visiting professors have participated and more than 10,000 ophthalmologists have attended the sessions. In recent years the Pan-American Pathology Club, the Pan-American Microsurgical Association, the Pan-American Glaucoma Club, and the Pan-American Strabismological Society have been established under the aegis of the PanAmerican Association. These groups meet at the time of the Congress and bring together individuals of similar interests from North and South America. Inasmuch as Latin America has few major eye centers there are ambitious plans for future activities. Ophthalmic basic science manuals in Spanish are necessary. A method must be provided to teach outstanding Latin American ophthalmologists new techniques in the United States. Monolingual ophthalmologists of major cities in the United States must learn to manage patients speaking their native Spanish. Ophthalmic teaching centers must be developed in Latin America. To maintain forward progress meetings must be held more frequently than every two years. The Association currently has 3,500 members. Membership is open to all ophthalmologists in the Western Hemisphere. Membership dues are $100 annually. For information on joining or renewing membership, write H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr., M. D., Secretary-Treasurer for the Northern Hemisphere, #1 Tara View Road, Tiburon, CA 94920; or Dr.
Francisco Conteras, Secretary-Treasurer for the Southern Hemisphere, Ramon Ribeyro 525, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. The next Congress is scheduled for Acapulco, Mexico, May 10-15, 1981. FRANKW. NEWELL
CORRESPONDENCE Letters to the Editor must be typed double-spaced on 8 1 / 2 x ll-inch bond paper, with }1/2-inch margins on all four sides, and limited in length to two manuscript pages.
Isosorbide and Isorbide Dinitrate Editor: Isosorbide (Ismotic) is a new hyperosmotic agent that has recently been introduced in the United States for the shortterm reduction of intraocular pressure. Another compound, isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) has been used in this country by internists for many years for the treatment of angina pectoris. The similarity between the generic names of the two compounds is potentially confusing. The hyperosmotic, isosorbide, is supplied only as a liquid, whereas isosorbide dinitrate is a tablet, which possibly will lessen this confusion. Nevertheless, with the increasing trend toward the use of generic names, the internist and ophthalmologist should be aware of the potential problems, which might be lessened by the use of the full generic or brand name. EDWARD G. BUCKLEY, M.D. AND
M. BRUCE SHIELDS, M.D.
Durham, North Carolina
The Incidence of Fundus Lesions in Septicemia Editor: I read with interest the recent article, "The incidence of fundus lesions in septicemia," by S. Meyers (Am. J. Ophthalmol.
W.
NEWELL,
Editor-in-Chief
Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, lllinois 60611
EDITORIAL BOARD Mathea R. Allansmith, Boston Douglas R. Anderson, Miami Crowell Beard, San Jose Bernard Becker, St. Louis Benjamin F. Boyd, Panama Charles ]. Campbell, New York Ronald E. Carr, New York Thomas Chalkley, Chicago Claes H. Dohlman, Boston Fred Ederer, Bethesda
DuPont Guerry III, Richmond Robert W. Hollenhorst, Rochester Herbert E. Kaufman, New Orleans Arthur H. Keeney, Louisville Carl Kupfer, Bethesda Irving H. Leopold, lroine A. Edward Maumenee, Baltimore Irene H. Maumenee, Baltimore Edward W. D. Norton, Miami G. Richard O'Connor, San Francisco
Arnall Patz, Baltimore Steven M. Podos, New York Albert M. Potts, Louisville Algernon B. Reese, New York Robert D. Reinecke, Albany Marvin L. Sears, New Haven David Shoch, Chicago Bruce E. Spivey, San Francisco Bradley R. Straatsma, Los Angeles Gunter K. von Noorden, Houston
Published rrwnthly by the Ophthalmic Publishing Company Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611 Directors: A. EDWARD MAUMENEE, President; DAVID SHOCH, Vice President; FRANK W. NEWELL, Secretary and Treasurer; EDWARD W. D. NORTON, BRUCE E. SPIVEY, BRADLEY R. STRAATSMA
PAN-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF OPHTHALMOLOGY---40 YEARS In 1938 Harry S. Gradle of Chicago, then president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, conceived the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology to bring together ophthalmologists in North and South America to promote the exchange of scientific knowledge, increase professionalism, and encourage friendship and understanding among eye specialists in the western hemisphere. An organizational meeting in 1940 brought together Moacyr Alvaro of San Paulo, Brazil, and Conrad Benrens of New York City. The first PanAmerican Congress of Ophthalmology was held in Cleveland in 1940 in conjunction with the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology meeting. From the beginning the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology was dedicated to education. When Benjamin F. Boyd of Panama succeeded Moacyr Alvaro as executive director, educational activities rapidly increased. The PanAmerican Congress, which originally met every four years, is now held every
two years. Two Congresses meet in Latin American countries to everyone held in North America. They have become increasingly important and over 1,000 ophthalmologists attended the 1979 Congress in Miami, Florida (Am. J. Ophthalmol. 87:722, 1979). The Association sponsors two basic clinical science courses for Latin American residents. The oldest of these, at the University of Puerto Rico, is an intensive four-month course with classes six days weekly. Instruction is provided by the faculty of the Puerto Rico University and by outstanding teachers from the United States, Canada, and Latin America who donate their services. The students are 27 ophthalmology residents who are selected through national contests supervised jointly by the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology and the national society in each of 18 Latin American countries. Three hundred forty residents have completed this course; some 140 of these are currently teaching in medical schools. An Andean program was established in 1971 with particular emphasis on the skills required by ophthalmologists who
456
VOL. 89, NO. 3
457
CORRESPONDENCE
practice in the remote regions of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, and Chile. The Visiting Professor project is one of the most progressive and effective teaching programs in ophthalmology. The Pan-American Association arranges an itinerary and plans meetings for two or more specialists to visit different countries and to share their expertise with local ophthalmologists. Since the program began in 1962, more than 225 visiting professors have participated and more than 10,000 ophthalmologists have attended the sessions. In recent years the Pan-American Pathology Club, the Pan-American Microsurgical Association, the Pan-American Glaucoma Club, and the Pan-American Strabismological Society have been established under the aegis of the PanAmerican Association. These groups meet at the time of the Congress and bring together individuals of similar interests from North and South America. Inasmuch as Latin America has few major eye centers there are ambitious plans for future activities. Ophthalmic basic science manuals in Spanish are necessary. A method must be provided to teach outstanding Latin American ophthalmologists new techniques in the United States. Monolingual ophthalmologists of major cities in the United States must learn to manage patients speaking their native Spanish. Ophthalmic teaching centers must be developed in Latin America. To maintain forward progress meetings must be held more frequently than every two years. The Association currently has 3,500 members. Membership is open to all ophthalmologists in the Western Hemisphere. Membership dues are $100 annually. For information on joining or renewing membership, write H. Dunbar Hoskins, Jr., M. D., Secretary-Treasurer for the Northern Hemisphere, #1 Tara View Road, Tiburon, CA 94920; or Dr.
Francisco Conteras, Secretary-Treasurer for the Southern Hemisphere, Ramon Ribeyro 525, Miraflores, Lima, Peru. The next Congress is scheduled for Acapulco, Mexico, May 10-15, 1981. FRANKW. NEWELL
CORRESPONDENCE Letters to the Editor must be typed double-spaced on 8 1 / 2 x ll-inch bond paper, with }1/2-inch margins on all four sides, and limited in length to two manuscript pages.
Isosorbide and Isorbide Dinitrate Editor: Isosorbide (Ismotic) is a new hyperosmotic agent that has recently been introduced in the United States for the shortterm reduction of intraocular pressure. Another compound, isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) has been used in this country by internists for many years for the treatment of angina pectoris. The similarity between the generic names of the two compounds is potentially confusing. The hyperosmotic, isosorbide, is supplied only as a liquid, whereas isosorbide dinitrate is a tablet, which possibly will lessen this confusion. Nevertheless, with the increasing trend toward the use of generic names, the internist and ophthalmologist should be aware of the potential problems, which might be lessened by the use of the full generic or brand name. EDWARD G. BUCKLEY, M.D. AND
M. BRUCE SHIELDS, M.D.
Durham, North Carolina
The Incidence of Fundus Lesions in Septicemia Editor: I read with interest the recent article, "The incidence of fundus lesions in septicemia," by S. Meyers (Am. J. Ophthalmol.