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David J. Apple, MD, renowned ophthalmologist and educator, dies at age 69
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 David J. Apple |
David J. Apple, MD, a trailblazing ophthalmologist, pathologist, educator and OSN Cataract Surgery Board Member, died Aug. 18. He was 69 years old.
Dr. Apple trained more than 200 students and physicians during his medical career.
Born Sept. 14, 1941, in Alton, Ill., he graduated from Northwestern University and University of Illinois College of Medicine. He served his internship and residency in pathology at Louisiana State University. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Iowa in 1980.
Dr. Apple was professor of ophthalmology and pathology, and director of the David J. Apple, MD, Laboratory for Ophthalmic Devices Research in Sullivan's Island, S.C., an official collaborating center for the World Health Organization's blindness prevention program.
He established the Center for Developing World Ophthalmology at the Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston.
Dr. Apple received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Life Achievement Honor Award, the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame award, the Kelman Award, and the Binkhorst Lecture and medal. He also received the AAO's Senior Honor Award, was named one of the Best Ophthalmologists in America and was elected to the German Academy of Research in the Natural Sciences.
Dr. Apple and Randall J. Olson, MD, established the Center for Intraocular Lens Research in 1982. Dr. Apple was also professor and chairman emeritus at the Storm Eye Institute, Pawek-Vallotton Chair of Biomedical Engineering and director of the Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevices.
Dr. Apple authored Sir Harold Ridley and His Fight for Sight: He Changed the World So That We May Better See It, a biography of the inventor of the IOL. He presented more than 1,400 scientific lectures, 168 scientific posters and more than 60 exhibits and videos. He authored 566 scientific publications and 23 textbooks and contributed 71 textbook chapters.
Dr. Apple is survived by his wife, Ann Addlestone Apple, a stepson, a stepdaughter, two step-grandchildren, one nephew and two nieces.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Foundation, Research Fund, 4000 Legato Road, Suite 700, Fairfax, VA 22033. Please indicate that the contribution is in memory of David J. Apple, MD.