Eyeworld Supplements

1974–1980s SUPPLEMENT TO EYEWORLD | 19 "I know it was onerous, but I think the FDA did a very good job because we have products now that we know are safe and effective," Dr. Masket said. It was in the 1980s that the Society's relationship with industry, which was heavily involved in the innovation and manufacturing of IOLs, developed as well. Richard Lindstrom, MD, 2007–2008 ASCRS President, said industry was embraced as a partner in the early days of ASCRS. "For an innovation to find its way to the bedside from the bench … we needed a partnership with industry. We needed someone to help us get through the regulatory process and to manufacture and distribute, etc.," he said. is type of relationship wasn't common at the time, and Dr. Lindstrom said ASCRS remains a major lead- er in terms of collaboration with industry on products, technologies, and approaches to help surgeons and their patients. Engaging and gathering of like minds e establishment of the Annual Meeting and member communication With IOL discussions being shut down at medical meet- ings and in peer-reviewed literature, an annual meeting for membership and a newsletter (later a journal) were established to be forums on the topic. e first scientific meeting of AIOIS membership took place in September 1975 in Dallas, Texas, as a satellite meeting of the American Academy of Oph- thalmolog y and Otolaryngolog y. Within a couple of years, the AIOIS meeting was large enough to func- tion as an independent meeting. It found its home at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California, where it remained from 1976 to 1982 before it grew and began a rotation of annual spring meetings in cit- ies on the east and west coasts. Dr. Hoffer recalled being unable to guarantee how many members would show up to the first meeting at the Century Plaza Hotel in 1977. Dr. Hoffer said the hotel's meeting manager at the time, David Karcher, took a chance and agreed to work with the Society. It wouldn't be the last time Mr. Karcher would take a chance on the Society. See page 20 for more about the Annual Meeting. In addition to establishing the Annual Meeting, in 1975 Dr. Hoffer issued a newsletter that featured an editorial, news statements, and one scientific article. is 7-page newsletter lasted two issues before it would grow and become the AIOIS Journal. In 1986, it became the Journal of Cataract & Reactive Surgery (JCRS) when the Society changed its name. See page 24 for more about JCRS. In addition, AIOIS began an alert system with paper postcards to the members, which would later evolve into fax and email alerts, to warn of adverse reactions or problems with ophthalmic products. In the early years, Stephen Obstbaum, MD, 1987– 1989 ASCRS President, said the exchange of ideas that the Society facilitated in various ways was "one of the major drivers for the success of the organization." "If there was a reluctance or a reticence to exchange ideas, the organization would have died," Dr. Obstbaum said. David Karcher, meeting manager of the Century Plaza Hotel, later became executive director of ASCRS. Source: ASCRS " If there was a reluctance or a reticence to exchange ideas, the organization would have died." —STEPHEN OBSTBAUM, MD

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