Glaucoma
September 2021

by Nathan Radcliffe, MD
Glaucoma Editor

In this issue, we are celebrating 25 years of EyeWorld. If you are wondering how old ASCRS is, it was founded in 1974, months before yours truly was born. ASCRS and EyeWorld have been the cheerleaders of innovation in cataract and glaucoma surgery for many decades. As a young cataract and glaucoma specialist beginning my professional career, I was drawn to ASCRS because I treasured the optimism and enthusiasm for innovation espoused by the organization’s members and leaders. For me, their optimism was contagious. Particularly in a disease like glaucoma, where traditional treatments leave much to be desired, I have always felt that innovation should be embraced first, nurtured second, and encouraged to grow into the criticism inherent in our field.

EyeWorld has been with me throughout my career to foster my drive for innovation. In my world, innovation has always involved learning about new therapies first, then discussing with colleagues, and finally incorporating them into my practice. The first step in any journey is often the toughest, and I credit EyeWorld for planting many seeds that led to multitudes of conversations that have enhanced my practice over the years. I can’t think of any surgeon who embodied the attitude of optimistic enthusiasm for innovation better than Alan Crandall, MD. His legacy will continue to be felt by ASCRS, EyeWorld, charitable eyecare, and ophthalmology for many years.

I dug through my email and found a thousand emails I had exchanged with EyeWorld over the years. My first article with the magazine was “10 things I want my patients to know about laser trabeculoplasty,” a topic that I still care about deeply and that has stood the test of time over the past decade or more. I am thankful for those of you supporting an organization that has given cataract, refractive, cornea, and glaucoma surgeons so much, and I hope we may all practice another 25 years together.