ASCRS News
Winter 2024

I. Howard Fine, MD, a past president of ASCRS and innovator of surgical instruments and procedures, died August 29, 2024, at 88 years old. 

Dr. Fine served as president of ASCRS from 2001–2002 and was inducted into the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame in 2018. He was integral in founding the ASCRS Foundation. He also served as president of the Intraocular Implant Club from 2008–2010. 

Prior to retirement, Dr. Fine practiced at Drs. Fine, Hoffman, and Sims Ophthalmologists in Eugene, Oregon. He is credited with designing dozens of instruments, implants, and surgical procedures, including cortical cleaving hydrodissection, a temporal approach to cataract surgery, and the self-sealing clear corneal incision. 

Dr. Fine received his undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then attended Boston University Medical Center for medical school and residency. In addition to more than 50 years in private practice, in his career Dr. Fine served as a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Oregon Health & Science University and was co-founder of the Oregon Eye Surgery Center. 

Dr. Fine has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, written book chapters, and edited textbooks. In addition, he delivered countless lectures and received numerous awards, including the ASCRS Cornelius D. Binkhorst, MD, Lecture and Medal in 2010 and the ASCRS Charles D. Kelman, MD, Innovator’s Lecture and Medal in 1994. 

Vicky Fine shared a few thoughts about her late husband with EyeWorld that showcase who he was as a physician and a person. She said that he loved teaching and trying to improve techniques, instrumentation, and technology, all with the desire to improve surgical results for patients. Mrs. Fine mentioned what Dr. Fine told ophthalmologist Elizabeth Davis, MD, his goddaughter: “Lizzie, you treat every patient as if they are the only patient of the day because for them, this is the only patient of the day.” In retirement, he enjoyed riding motorcycles, working out, watching movies, and spending time at the beach with his family. 

His delightful sense of humor was well known, Mrs. Fine said. A few of his more frequent “witticisms” were:

1. If you’re 5’6” and wear glasses, you have to try harder.
2. If I felt any better, I’d be twins (after someone asked him how he was doing that day).
3. I never met a calorie I didn’t like.
4. I only weigh 110 pounds. The rest is ice cream. (Ice cream was his favorite food.)

‘Truly world renowned’

Richard Hoffman, MD

I had the pleasure of working with Howard for more than 30 years and was always impressed with his work ethic, ingenuity, and approachability. Howard was instrumental in improving the power modulation settings that we currently take for granted on our phacoemulsification machines. He described cortical cleaving hydrodissection for improved cortex removal, and most importantly, he was the innovator of clear corneal cataract incisions.

Howard was a caring, ethical, hard-working surgeon who was loved by his staff, patients, and fellow ophthalmologists around the world. He had a tremendous wit and enjoyed teaching surgeons to perform better cataract surgery. He made me a better surgeon, a better clinician, a better parent, a better public speaker, and a much better and happier human being. Howard was loved by everyone and loved everyone—our staff, our patients; worldwide ophthalmologists respected and loved Howard Fine. He was responsible for advancing the field of ophthalmology throughout the world. He is truly world-renowned. One of my favorite memories of Howie was the time I had the opportunity to have dinner out with him and Vicky at a steakhouse in Boston at an ASCRS Annual Meeting. When my ribeye came out, it was fairly big but nothing in comparison to the porterhouse that Howie ordered. His steak was larger than my head, hanging over the edge of a large serving plate and at least 2–3 inches thick. It was humongous. I told him there was no way he was going to be able to finish it. But he proved me wrong, stating that it was the best steak he’d had all day. He might have even ordered dessert.

Howie was a stand-in grandfather for my children and a father figure to me. He taught me how to practice with care and the highest ethical standards. He would say that all you needed to be truly successful was to eat your Wheaties in the morning, go to work, and do the right thing. 

‘Caring physician and a master surgeon’

Richard Lindstrom, MD

I. Howard Fine, MD, was a mentor and special friend. I met Howard early in my career at an ASCRS Annual Meeting, and he befriended me immediately, as he had hundreds of other anterior segment surgeons seeking to learn from this grand master cataract/IOL surgeon. As my career evolved, we traveled the world together for decades teaching cataract and refractive cataract surgical skills. 

One of our shared passions was ASCRS. Howard dedicated himself to leadership at ASCRS and served as its 16th president. His practice and only two others, including Minnesota Eye Consultants, which I founded, have generated two presidents of ASCRS. Howard was everywhere at the ASCRS meetings, lecturing and leading. He was an active reviewer and author for the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery. Howard led the creation of the ASCRS Foundation, and he nurtured it through its formative years as a major donor and the first ASCRS Foundation Board Chairman. In 2018, he was inducted into the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame.  

Howard, along with his wife, Vicky, were full of life and great fun. Howard and I spoke a lot about ophthalmology, but we also rode motorcycles together, shared great meals, good wines, a few cigars, and prioritized our families. Our wives became close friends, and we shared our ophthalmology travels with them. 

I. Howard Fine will be remembered by his patients as a compassionate, caring physician and master surgeon. He will be remembered by his colleagues for his friendly, welcoming nature, commitment to teaching, and extraordinary contributions to ASCRS. I will remember him for his love of life and the great friendship we shared. 

‘Howie was my hero’

Stephen Obstbaum, MD

Howie was my hero. We met at a cataract advisory board meeting and struck up a friendship that lasted more than 40 years. I was immediately impressed by his incisive questioning, his perceptive insights, and the transparency in his willingness to share his knowledge. These qualities—and his ability to simplify complex concepts—solidified his reputation as a leader in the field of cataract surgery.

Howie was an exceptionally talented communicator and teacher. He felt it was important to educate future generations of ophthalmologists and was a generous resource for young cataract surgeons. Often at the end of a symposium, as the speakers were leaving the podium, a crowd would congregate around Howie, asking him questions and seeking his opinions. 

Among the numerous honors and awards he received during his illustrious career, I think the ASCRS Innovator’s Award best captures Howie’s spirit. He was a true innovator. He had bright insights to complex issues and the generosity to share them for the benefit of our profession. Concepts that might have escaped our observation or understanding were made clear when Howie explained them.

He was an exceptionally gifted surgeon. In fact, I was the beneficiary of Howie’s surgical talent; he performed my cataract surgery 25 years ago. In typical Howie form, the day after surgery, bedecked in motorcycle jacket, boots, and helmet, he said we were taking a motorcycle ride.

Above all, Howie was a mensch—a man of great warmth and wonderful interpersonal qualities. 

There are a handful of figures in contemporary ophthalmology who, through their roles as researchers, educators, and innovators, have influenced the clinical practice of medicine. Howie was among this number. With his surgical techniques adopted worldwide, the impact of his teaching is appreciated every day, each time a cataract operation is performed. 

‘Howard took the stand in his Harley jacket’

David Karcher

Howard and I met prior to his joining the ASCRS Scientific Advisory Board. He instantly became a valued member of the Board and the Executive Committee and served as ASCRS president. It was such a privilege to work with Howard, to get to know him and become a close friend.

Howard once told me that he loved teaching, but in teaching he was also learning. He was a great listener and considered himself equal to everyone, even though most people recognized him as a superior surgeon. He was an incredible leader, innovator, and person.

Howard had a great sense of humor. One of my favorite stories was when Anne and I were traveling with Howard and Vicky in Europe. European hotels very often have small guest rooms. We met Howard in the lobby for dinner and I asked him how his room was. His response was, “David, my room is so small I have to go out in the hallway to change my mind.”

Another special memory was when ASCRS asked Howard to participate as an expert witness in the patent lawsuit in the early 1990s. He flew to Vermont for the court hearing and called me when he arrived, saying his luggage had been lost. He said, “I don’t know if I can go before the court as all I have to wear is my Harley jacket and jeans.” I told him not to go shopping for a suit, just go as he was. He took the stand in his Harley jacket. As it turned out, the judge was a Harley fan, and with Howard’s testimony, as well as that of Paul Ernest, MD, we won the patent case on behalf of Jack Singer, MD.

Every time Howard and I got together, professionally and personally, was a time of joy and wonderful discussions. He was a sincere person, full of life, who touched everyone he met. He will never be forgotten.

‘He was an international rock star’

Robert Osher, MD

I met Howie soon after I finished training and was immediately attracted to his enthusiastic and charismatic persona. Our shared love for teaching led to a lifelong friendship. Not only did we cherish our career choice as a cataract surgeon, but we also enjoyed the thrill of innovation. He was always trying to find a technique or device to make surgery better, and he had a gift for creativity. We also saw the unprecedented potential of using video, and I am indebted to Howie for frequently serving as one of the featured surgeons when the Video Journal of Cataract, Refractive, and Glaucoma Surgery was introduced in 1985.

As we aged, we wound up on many panels together, always sneaking out and getting a bite (he loved to eat) and laughing throughout the meal. He had a lovely sense of humor to go along with his intellectual curiosity. But it was our passion for teaching that really drew us together. Without question, Howie was a rock star as an educator, receiving invitations galore from national and international societies. It didn’t matter if he was in Brazil, Australia, Europe, or Africa, Howie was at home on the podium. I greatly admired how he taught (and entertained) both small and gigantic audiences, speaking as a kind and humble expert. After a lecture, he would patiently answer questions until every trainee or experienced surgeon was satisfied.

Howie was an innovator, a wonderful statesman, a philanthropist, and a great friend to so many ophthalmologists. But he was also an exceptional mentor, and not just in ophthalmology. He and Vicky were soulmates, always holding hands and sharing joy together. He was a great role model to those trying to find life balance. Ophthalmology has lost an extraordinary human being, but not before he gently touched so many of our lives.