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In memoriam: Marvin L. Kwitko, MD, early advocate of RK, IOLs
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Marvin L. Kwitko, MD, a Montreal ophthalmologist best known for pioneering radial keratotomy and lens implantation surgery in Canada, died Aug. 20 from complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was 71.
Dr. Kwitko was active from the 1960s into the 1990s, mastering and teaching new surgical approaches entering ophthalmology. He traveled to Russia in the 1970s to meet Svyatoslav Fyodorov, MD, and learn his radial keratotomy technique. He learned IOL implantation from Cornelius D. Binkhorst, MD.
Dr. Kwitko trained more than 200 ophthalmologists in IOL implantation. He founded the Canadian Implant Association, organizing the annual meeting each year.
More recently, Dr. Kwitko was an associate professor at McGill University and chief of St. Mary’s Hospital, the main teaching hospital in Montreal, until illness forced him into retirement about 2 years ago.
Donations can be made in his memory to the Dr. Marvin L. Kwitko Memorial Fund, c/o the Ophthalmology Department, St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation, 3830 Lacombe, Montreal, Québec, H3T 1M5, Canada; (514) 734-2694.