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Biography chronicles career of IOL inventor
The book, by David J. Apple, MD, recounts the history of ophthalmology’s Thomas Edison.
LONDON — In the end, Sir Harold Ridley received all the accolades of an ophthalmic innovator. But almost 60 years after the first IOL implantation, the particulars of history have been mostly lost to the general ophthalmic community. David J. Apple, MD, sought to change that.
“It’s amazing that he’s our Thomas Edison, and nobody knows who he is. That’s now quickly changing,” Dr. Apple said in an interview with OSN.
Book genesis
In 1985, Sir Ridley summoned Dr. Apple to his home because he had heard some “American guy” was doing research that validated some of his earlier work. It was that meeting that would set Dr. Apple on the path to write this book.
“I met him in 1985 and immediately knew I’d be doing it,” Dr. Apple said.
 Sir Harold Ridley and David J. Apple, MD, met regularly for more than 15 years to discuss Sir Ridley's early work. |
Dr. Apple would visit Sir Ridley three times a year from 1985 until Sir Ridley’s death in 2001. Dr. Apple recounted those meetings: “[I’d] go to his little house in Wilkshire, and every time we were there we’d walk along the river and discuss things. We’d go back and he’d get a little typewriter and start writing up what we discussed.” Dr. Apple said he was compelled to tell Sir Ridley’s story because “Harold had become almost a forgotten footnote in history.”
Response
ESCRS congress attendees were afforded the opportunity by Advanced Medical Optics to pick up a complimentary copy of the book at the company’s booth. The response was at times overwhelming. Dr. Apple was also on hand to sign many of the copies distributed at the congress. “They’ve all stood in line and wanted to discuss this if they were interested in the history,” he said. “They were standing in line for 30 minutes to get a signature.”
The book was made possible through a grant from Advanced Medical Optics.
“AMO was kind enough to help me do it,” Dr. Apple said.
Chronicles of history
From Sir Ridley’s early years to the steps that lead to his invention of the IOL to his eventual reconciliation with the ophthalmic old-guard, the book commemorates an important piece of ophthalmic history. It also illustrates the important relationship between Sir Ridley and Dr. Apple that was essential to the writing of this book.
Dr. Apple wrote “His invention was a true gift to humanity and I thought it was an incredible injustice that he was not only not being honored, he was being ignored.”
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A note from the editors
“Sir Harold Ridley and His Fight for Sight” is published by SLACK Incorporated, the same publisher as Ocular Surgery News.
For more information:
- David J. Apple, MD, can be reached at the John A. Moran Eye Center, 65 N. Medical Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84132 U.S.A.; +1-801-213-2167; e-mail: djapple@comcast.net.
- Giulia Newton can be reached at Advanced Medical Optics Inc., 1700 E. St. Andrew Place, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5162 U.S.A.; +1-714-247-8311; giulia.newton@amo-inc.com.
- Joan-Marie Stiglich, ELS, is Director, Publishing Operations, Surgery and Related Science, for SLACK Incorporated.