The Evolution of Retinal Surgery

The Charles L. Schepens Lecture

“…Charles Schepens's life was important, and has been reviewed in biographies, histories, and memoirs, one of the most perceptive of the latter being that by Dr Lincoff. 1 In an earlier age, bronze or marble statues were erected to remember major figures, and indeed, a bronze of Schepens stands in the Schepens Retina Associates Foundation office. Statues are static, however, and do not perpetuate ideas, but I believe that an endowed, named lecture is a particularly effective and meaningful way to sustain and communicate his vision.…”

“…7), JULY 2009 ment that was frequent before the emergence of Jules Gonin in 1929 became rare since the emergence of Charles Schepens in 1950." 1 Research that Dr Schepens foresaw and encouraged has permitted major refinements in instrumentation for the study and management of vitreoretinal disorders. More of these disorders are now amenable to treatment, and such treatment has become less burdensome to the patient.…”