EyeWorld Korea June 2012 Issue

June 2012 24 EWAP Cataract/IOL Istiantoro Soekardi, recognized for his services in ophthalmology in the Asia-Pacific region, passed away on 8 June 2012. In 1986, Prof. Istiantoro initiated a community cataract surgery program run by Indonesian Ophthalmologists Association (IOA/PERDAMI) with the support of the Dharmais Foundation. He himself traveled to remote areas all over Indonesia. At its peak, the program conducted around 12,000 operations per year. Prof. Istiantoro received the Distinguished Service Award from the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) for his work on the program in 1996, and again in 2001. This also paved the way to his becoming president of the IOA. During his administration, he focused on improving the quality of ophthalmic education in Indonesia. He initiated the National Board Exams in 1997, with the aim of having every Indonesian ophthalmologist master cataract surgery to lower the cataract backlog and blindness rate. After his presidency ended, Prof. Istiantoro remained an active and willing advisor to the IOA. He continued to lecture in ophthalmology at the University of Indonesia where he had been Chairman for the Department of Ophthalmology, for which he served as Professor of Ophthalmology. He also founded and chaired the Jakarta Eye Center and served as Chairman for the Foundation for the Advancement of Medicine in Indonesia. Prof. Istiantoro was a member of the International Society of Refractive Surgery and the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and was a member of the Board of Officers of the APACRS. He helped organize the 1995 APACRS Annual Meeting, and was congress president for the 2004 APACRS Annual Meeting. In addition to APAO’s Distinguished Service Award, he received the IOA Award in 2003 and the APACRS Medal in 2004. Prof. Istiantoro was a member of the Editorial Board of and frequent contributor to EyeWorld Asia-Pacific . We pay tribute to Prof. Istiantoro, and have asked others to share some of their thoughts and memories of one of our most distinguished ophthalmologists. Professor Istiantoro Soekardi, 1941-2012 The passing away of Prof. Istiantoro is a great loss to the world of ophthalmology in Indonesia, regional and international. A man with a warm personality, as a very close friend and colleague, more than a brother, we worked together for 40 years and since 1976 we shared the same clinic and together co-founded Jakarta Eye Center in 1984. “He was a hard worker, a really knowledgeable ophthalmologist, highly skilled surgeon with a really professional attitude toward his work and organizational activities in ophthalmology as well as in the ASEAN Association of Eye Hospitals (AAEH). “On the day of his passing away, to honor him, the Auditorium at Jakarta Eye Center @ Kedoya was named the ‘ISTIANTORO AUDITORIUM’. He will be long remembered. May his soul rest in peace.” Dr Darwan M. Purba, MD President, AAEH Hospital Director, Jakarta Eye Center @ Kedoya, Indonesia “I have known Prof. Soekardi Istiantoro for many years in his capacity as a board member for APACRS. Over the years, he contributed a great deal to the advancement of ophthalmology in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region. It was always a pleasure to spend time with him as in spite of his expert knowledge and skills he was a gentle and humble individual. He will be sorely missed by his many friends in APACRS and we will always remember his contribution. My heart goes out to his family—we share their sorrow and extend our sympathy.” Prof Graham Barrett, MD President, APACRS Founding PresidentAustralasian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (AUSCRS)Chief Medical Editor, EyeWorld Asia-Pacific Consultant Ophthalmologist & Head of Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia “Asia has lost an important leader and ophthalmologist. I had known Prof. Istiantoro for more than 30 years. He was a dedicated ophthalmologist in Asia, where he represented Indonesia. He was very effective in getting together the different ophthalmologists in Asia and throughout the world. This ability is of great importance as it enabled doctors with different national backgrounds and different cultures to understand each other. The APAO has become one of the most dynamic supranational organizations, because of his great influence in getting eye doctors from the Asia-Pacific to work together. “The APAO was very proud of him. We are saddened by the news of his demise. We extend our condolences to his family and wish that they know Prof. Istiantoro is respected by his colleagues in Asia and throughout the world.” Prof Arthur Lim Siew Ming, MD Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology of National University of Singapore (NUS) Founder Chairman of Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) Founder Director of Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) Immediate Past Secretary-General, APAO Honorary Life President, APACRS Honorary Director, Tianjin Medical University Eye Centre “Prof. Istiantoro was a good friend and colleague, ever-willing to help further the cause of cataract and refractive surgery in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. We will miss him and we send our deepest condolences to his family on his untimely demise.” Dr Ronald Yeoh, MD Secretary, APACRS Board of Officers Medical Director and Senior Consultant, Eye & Retina Surgeons Part-time Senior Consultant,