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Bascom Palmer Eye Institute 50th Anniversary Reunion & Scientific Meeting

Top 15 Discoveries & Innovations from Bascom Palmer

For 50 years, the physicians and scientists of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute have advanced the world of ophthalmology through discovery and innovation.

Among their exceptional accomplishments are the following:

Donald M. Gass, MD
J. Donald M. Gass, MD

1966 Intravenous Fluorescein Angiography.

J. Donald M. Gass, MD

Pioneered the use of intravenous fluorescein angiography for the diagnosis of intraocular disease, including macular degeneration.

Donald M. Gass, MD
J. Donald M. Gass, MD

1966 Intravenous Fluorescein Angiography.

J. Donald M. Gass, MD

Pioneered the use of intravenous fluorescein angiography for the diagnosis of intraocular disease, including macular degeneration.

Edward Norton, MD
Edward W.D. Norton, MD

1969 Retinal Detachment Treatment

Edward W.D. Norton, MD

Described use of intraocular air and gases to treat retinal detachment.

Robert Machemer, MD
Robert Machemer, MD

1970 Vitrectomy Surgery

Robert Machemer, MD

Performed the first successful pars plana vitrectomy surgery and invented the micro-surgical tools required for the procedure.

Jean-Marie Parel, PhD
Jean-Marie Parel, PhD

1970 - Present Ophthalmic Instruments

Jean-Marie Parel, PhD

Invented or improved more than 350 ophthalmic instruments.

Richard K. Forster, MD
Richard K. Forster, MD

1974 Endophthalmitis

Richard K. Forster, MD

Pioneered the use of intraocular antibiotics for endophthalmitis.

Douglas R. Anderson, MD
Douglas Anderson, MD

1976 Glaucoma and Intraocular Pressure

Douglas R. Anderson, MD

Discovered that elevated intraocular pressure impairs axonal transport in the optic nerve and is affected by glaucoma.

Richard K. Parrish, MD
Richard K. Parrish, MD

1984 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)

Richard K. Parrish, MD

Introduced the drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) to prevent the growth of scar tissue following glaucoma filtering surgery (trabeculectomy).

David T. Tse, MD
David T. Tse, MD

1986 Intra-arterial Chemotherapy

David T. Tse, MD

First to introduce the use of intra-arterial chemotherapy to treat lethal lacrimal gland cancer.

Paul F. Palmberg, MD, PhD
Paul Palmberg, MD, PhD

1988 Target Eye Pressure

Paul Palmberg, MD, PhD

Introduced the "target pressure" concept in the eye to halt or slow glaucoma.

William W. Culbertson, MD
William Culbertson, MD

1993 Acute Retinal Necrosis

William W. Culbertson, MD

Identified the herpes virus as a cause of acute retinal necrosis, a devastating infection of the retina.

William W. Culbertson, MD
William Culbertson, MD

1998 Posterior Lamellar Endothelial Transplantation

William W. Culbertson, MD

Performed the first successful posterior lamellar endothelial transplantation demonstrating its potential therapeutic value in eyes with corneal endothelial dysfunction.

Carol L. Karp, MD
Carol L. Karp, MD

1999 Ocular Neoplasia Treatment

Carol L. Karp, MD

Discovered the use of interferon for treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia.

Philip Rosenfeld, MD PhD
Philip Rosenfeld, MD PhD

2006 Bevacizumab (Avastin)

Philip Rosenfeld, MD PhD

Introduced bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of retinal diseases including usage for age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and venous occulusive disease.

Victor L. Perez, MD
Victor L. Perez, MD

2009 “The Eyetooth Surgery”

Victor L. Perez, MD

Performed the first modified osteo-odonto keratoprosthesis (MOOKP), commonly known as “the eyetooth surgery,” in the United States.