The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery has inducted many individuals into the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame—individuals whose contribution to the field have shaped the way modern ophthalmology is practiced. These pioneers laid the foundation for the use of lasers and intraocular lenses, developed and advanced the knowledge and treatment of glaucoma, trained thousands of ophthalmologists who practice throughout the world, and developed institutions that will continue ophthalmic research for years to come.

The Ophthalmology Hall of Fame was created by ASCRS in 1999 to honor pioneers in an ongoing celebration of their distinguished careers and contributions. The physicians selected for this honor are chosen by their peers—more than 30,000 ophthalmologists in the U.S. and abroad. We salute all those who supported, inspired, and carried on their work in the past and those who will do so in the future.

View the current list of the members of the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame.
Click here to loan or donate items for the 2010 Hall of Fame Exhibit.

The Binkhorst lecture and medal were established in 1975 in honor of intraocular lens (IOL) pioneer Cornelius D. Binkhorst. Each year, ASCRS awards the medal to an individual who has followed in Dr. Binkhorst’s footsteps with outstanding contributions to the understanding and practice of cataract surgery and IOL implantation. Honorees, who present the Binkhorst lecture during the annual ASCRS Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, include some of the world’s most prominent pioneering surgeons.

Click here to view the Binkhorst award winners and presentation titles.

The Charles D. Kelman Innovator’s Lecture honors the work of individuals whose creativity has benefited ophthalmologists and their patients. The lecture is presented during a special session at the annual ASCRS Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery.

Charles D. Kelman, MD, presented the first lecture in 1985. In recognition of the ongoing contribution of Dr. Kelman to anterior segment surgery, the lecture was renamed for him in 2003.

Click here to view the ASCRS Innovator Award recipients.

When the ASCRS leadership established the "Honored Guest Address" at the 2004 ASCRS●ASOA Symposium & Congress, it was their goal to honor a luminary whose life-long clinical or research experience and accomplishments offered a unique perspective on the current state of ophthalmology and the healing arts. In addition, it was hoped this Honored Guest Award would offer a different venue from the Binkhorst Medal Lecturer, Innovator Lecturer or ASCRS President, in which to recognize an important contributor to cataract surgery/IOL implantation or refractive surgery. To that end the ASCRS leadership will establish a tradition, in the form of the ASCRS Honored Guest Award, in which to pay homage to an ophthalmologist whose work will surely benefit those who follow the recipient in the profession. The Honored Guest Address is given during the Opening General Session of the Annual Symposium.

Click here to view a listing of Honored Guest recipients