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International Congress on Corneal and Scleral Contact Lenses
MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA EDITED BY THOMAS CHALKLEY,
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CORNEAL AND SCLERAL CONTACT LENSES On March 20-24, 1966, the Department of Ophthalmology of Baylor University College of Medicine and the Eyes of Texas, Inc., Sight Foundation sponsored an Inter national Congress on Corneal and Scleral Contact Lenses at the Hotel America in Houston, Texas. The symposium brought together the talents of 48 guest speakers representing the finest in ophthalmologic and technologic knowledge in contact lenses in the world. Many of the more sophisticat ed participants and attendants at this meet ing felt that it was the finest of its kind ever presented under medical auspices on the vital subject of contact lenses and their rela tion to the medical and surgical practice of ophthalmology. The program was a bit unusual in that it had something for everyone! It consisted of symposia with presentations by the guest speakers, lively discussions by expert panel ists and active audience participation. There were free papers, film presentations and a most interesting feature consisting of 10 courses presented on two separate days so that those attending might select one or two subjects on which they could seek counsel. The courses were as popular as any aspect of the congress. The symposium began on Sunday after noon with a unique discussion of the prob lems connected with contact lenses by both ophthalmologists and contact lens techni cians. It was almost unanimously concluded that the need for new materials, for stan dardization of technological methods and for better communication between the oph thalmologist and his ancillary technical as sistants must be resolved in the immediate future. The edited transcription of this dis 34$
M.D.
cussion will be a most interesting and infor mative section of the proceedings of the congress to be published by the C. V. Mosby Company in 1967. Following the first session, a reception was held in the ex hibit area. Participants and guests mingled with exhibitors for informal discussions of mutual problems. On Monday evening, the program com mittee had arranged to have the Harris County sheriffs' posse put on their usual show for "foreigners" (all those from out ot the State of Texas) in which Judge Roy Bean and his "gang of outlaws" would try some of the visiting celebrities in Kangeroo Court. Dr. Louis Girard, the guiding light of the congress and chairman of its execu tive committee, had planned for weeks to ride with the sheriff's posse, acting as the "finger man" for the "outlaws" of our group (Mike Hogan, Herb Gould, Jorge Buxton, Fred Ridley and Herschell Boyd). Unfortunately, during the warm-up cere monies as the posse was mounting up to ride into the tent with guns ablazing, Dr. Girard's horse suddenly became "spooked," reared, lost his balance and fell on top of his rider. Dr. Girard sustained fractures of the right femur and left ankle, requiring im mediate hospitalization and surgical proce dures that evening. However, with his zest for life and enthusiasm for a good time, Dr. Girard insisted that the program go on as planned and that the guests and participants be shown the good time that he had worked so ardently to provide. As might be expected, the entertainment, although initiated on a sorrowful note, was most unusual for the out-of-town guests as well as local participants. Everyone enjoyed the Texas bar-b-que and the harrassment of the "outlaws." To round out the evening there was food, music and good fellowship. Perhaps the highlight of this meeting oc-
VOL. 62, NO. 2
MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA
curred on Wednesday evening, March 23, at the awards banquet. Following an elaborate reception and buffet dinner, Frederick Rid ley, F.R.C.S., London, England, and Mr. Joseph W. Soper of Houston, Texas, were honored by the Eyes of Texas Inc., Sight Foundation for their many contributions to the field of contact lenses. The recipients were cited, respectively, for their outstand ing contributions to the medical aspects of contact lenses and for the advancement of contact lens technology. Mr. Ridley gave an eloquent, prepared acceptance speech; how ever, Mr. Soper, caught completely una ware, was, for perhaps the first time in this life, almost completely speechless. There was also a lovely musical program by Dr. and Mrs. Nealie Ross of Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Ross and Dr. Girard, classmates from way back, were to have put on a twin piano program but, for reasons already mentioned, Dr. Girard was unable to participate. The final session on Thursday morning closed with a stimulating question, answer and discussion period during which many of the questions and points of misunderstand ing that had arisen during the preceding days were brought forth and discussed by members of the program. Dr. Girard as sisted in moderating this panel by a closed circuit telephone hook-up directly from his hospital bed. Of the many interesting problems debated at this final session, perhaps the most significant concerned the future of hydrophilic lenses and their current stage of de velopment. Many of the participants ex pressed alarm that these lenses might be un leashed by purely commercial interests on the public without thorough scientific evalu ation. The most revealing points were made by Mr. Ridley who, in closing the congress, mentioned that, a few years ago, he had offered the complete facilities of his labora tory and all of his experience to evaluate, from a purely scientific standpoint, the mer its of the hydrophilic lenses which have
347
been developed in Czechslovakia during the last decade and are now being promoted by various groups abroad and in the States. As he described the situation, he was complete ly rebuffed in his effort to help establish the feasibility and safety of this material for use in corneal or scleral contact lenses. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone take a second look when commercial inter ests promote this material for use in contact lenses. Tentative plans are already being made to hold a similar congress in 1968. Whether it be held in Houston, New York, San Fran cisco or Hawaii, I am confident that it will have to go a long way to surpass the en thusiasm and success of the first contact lens congress held under medical auspices. Whitney G. Sampson V E R H O E F F SOCIETY REMARKS MADE BY W. A. MANSCHOT, M.D., ROTTERDAM, AT THE 2 0 T H ANNIVERSARY MEETING
The president of our European Society, Prof. Ashton, has asked me to tell you how sorry he is not to be able to be present at the 20th anniversary of your society, and to convey his very best wishes for a successful meeting. He also writes—I am quoting liter ally: "I was wondering whether this would not be a suitable occasion for you to say how much we hope they will all come to the London meeting in 1970; we are telling them now to give everybody time to learn German, French, Dutch, Italian, Finnish, Spanish, Portuguese and Swedish, to say nothing of English!" Thus spoke our Presi dent. Let me begin by telling you a story. Re cently a friend of mine, who is as bald as a billiard ball, happened to mention that his brother is even more bald-headed than he himself. When I couldn't help showing some slight incredulity, my friend added: "But of course, don't forget that his head is much larger than mine."
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON CORNEAL AND SCLERAL CONTACT LENSES On March 20-24, 1966, the Department of Ophthalmology of Baylor University College of Medicine and the Eyes of Texas, Inc., Sight Foundation sponsored an Inter national Congress on Corneal and Scleral Contact Lenses at the Hotel America in Houston, Texas. The symposium brought together the talents of 48 guest speakers representing the finest in ophthalmologic and technologic knowledge in contact lenses in the world. Many of the more sophisticat ed participants and attendants at this meet ing felt that it was the finest of its kind ever presented under medical auspices on the vital subject of contact lenses and their rela tion to the medical and surgical practice of ophthalmology. The program was a bit unusual in that it had something for everyone! It consisted of symposia with presentations by the guest speakers, lively discussions by expert panel ists and active audience participation. There were free papers, film presentations and a most interesting feature consisting of 10 courses presented on two separate days so that those attending might select one or two subjects on which they could seek counsel. The courses were as popular as any aspect of the congress. The symposium began on Sunday after noon with a unique discussion of the prob lems connected with contact lenses by both ophthalmologists and contact lens techni cians. It was almost unanimously concluded that the need for new materials, for stan dardization of technological methods and for better communication between the oph thalmologist and his ancillary technical as sistants must be resolved in the immediate future. The edited transcription of this dis 34$
M.D.
cussion will be a most interesting and infor mative section of the proceedings of the congress to be published by the C. V. Mosby Company in 1967. Following the first session, a reception was held in the ex hibit area. Participants and guests mingled with exhibitors for informal discussions of mutual problems. On Monday evening, the program com mittee had arranged to have the Harris County sheriffs' posse put on their usual show for "foreigners" (all those from out ot the State of Texas) in which Judge Roy Bean and his "gang of outlaws" would try some of the visiting celebrities in Kangeroo Court. Dr. Louis Girard, the guiding light of the congress and chairman of its execu tive committee, had planned for weeks to ride with the sheriff's posse, acting as the "finger man" for the "outlaws" of our group (Mike Hogan, Herb Gould, Jorge Buxton, Fred Ridley and Herschell Boyd). Unfortunately, during the warm-up cere monies as the posse was mounting up to ride into the tent with guns ablazing, Dr. Girard's horse suddenly became "spooked," reared, lost his balance and fell on top of his rider. Dr. Girard sustained fractures of the right femur and left ankle, requiring im mediate hospitalization and surgical proce dures that evening. However, with his zest for life and enthusiasm for a good time, Dr. Girard insisted that the program go on as planned and that the guests and participants be shown the good time that he had worked so ardently to provide. As might be expected, the entertainment, although initiated on a sorrowful note, was most unusual for the out-of-town guests as well as local participants. Everyone enjoyed the Texas bar-b-que and the harrassment of the "outlaws." To round out the evening there was food, music and good fellowship. Perhaps the highlight of this meeting oc-
VOL. 62, NO. 2
MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, SYMPOSIA
curred on Wednesday evening, March 23, at the awards banquet. Following an elaborate reception and buffet dinner, Frederick Rid ley, F.R.C.S., London, England, and Mr. Joseph W. Soper of Houston, Texas, were honored by the Eyes of Texas Inc., Sight Foundation for their many contributions to the field of contact lenses. The recipients were cited, respectively, for their outstand ing contributions to the medical aspects of contact lenses and for the advancement of contact lens technology. Mr. Ridley gave an eloquent, prepared acceptance speech; how ever, Mr. Soper, caught completely una ware, was, for perhaps the first time in this life, almost completely speechless. There was also a lovely musical program by Dr. and Mrs. Nealie Ross of Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Ross and Dr. Girard, classmates from way back, were to have put on a twin piano program but, for reasons already mentioned, Dr. Girard was unable to participate. The final session on Thursday morning closed with a stimulating question, answer and discussion period during which many of the questions and points of misunderstand ing that had arisen during the preceding days were brought forth and discussed by members of the program. Dr. Girard as sisted in moderating this panel by a closed circuit telephone hook-up directly from his hospital bed. Of the many interesting problems debated at this final session, perhaps the most significant concerned the future of hydrophilic lenses and their current stage of de velopment. Many of the participants ex pressed alarm that these lenses might be un leashed by purely commercial interests on the public without thorough scientific evalu ation. The most revealing points were made by Mr. Ridley who, in closing the congress, mentioned that, a few years ago, he had offered the complete facilities of his labora tory and all of his experience to evaluate, from a purely scientific standpoint, the mer its of the hydrophilic lenses which have
347
been developed in Czechslovakia during the last decade and are now being promoted by various groups abroad and in the States. As he described the situation, he was complete ly rebuffed in his effort to help establish the feasibility and safety of this material for use in corneal or scleral contact lenses. Therefore, it is imperative that everyone take a second look when commercial inter ests promote this material for use in contact lenses. Tentative plans are already being made to hold a similar congress in 1968. Whether it be held in Houston, New York, San Fran cisco or Hawaii, I am confident that it will have to go a long way to surpass the en thusiasm and success of the first contact lens congress held under medical auspices. Whitney G. Sampson V E R H O E F F SOCIETY REMARKS MADE BY W. A. MANSCHOT, M.D., ROTTERDAM, AT THE 2 0 T H ANNIVERSARY MEETING
The president of our European Society, Prof. Ashton, has asked me to tell you how sorry he is not to be able to be present at the 20th anniversary of your society, and to convey his very best wishes for a successful meeting. He also writes—I am quoting liter ally: "I was wondering whether this would not be a suitable occasion for you to say how much we hope they will all come to the London meeting in 1970; we are telling them now to give everybody time to learn German, French, Dutch, Italian, Finnish, Spanish, Portuguese and Swedish, to say nothing of English!" Thus spoke our Presi dent. Let me begin by telling you a story. Re cently a friend of mine, who is as bald as a billiard ball, happened to mention that his brother is even more bald-headed than he himself. When I couldn't help showing some slight incredulity, my friend added: "But of course, don't forget that his head is much larger than mine."