An ordinary meeting of the Society was held on December 2nd 2020, on Zoom due to the continuing pandemic. The President was in the chair. She introduced the speaker Mr David Anderson, Consultant Ophthalmologist in Southampton, who spoke to the title “The Development of Cataract Surgery and the Goal of 2020 Vision”. David introduced his talk with a brief history of cataract surgery. It was not until the mid eighteenth century that the first controlled cataract extractions were performed and only after WW2 were modern techniques developed. Sir Harold Ridley developed the first intraocular lens that could be inserted into the eye, having observed during WW2 that injured pilots with intraocular shards of cockpit canopy did not develop an inflammatory reaction to the acrylic. A plastic lens was developed which he first inserted in 1949. The operation was very controversial at the time. Many types of lens have since been developed. Monofocal lenses are the commonest. Toric lenses are used for patients with astigmatism. Corneal assessment is so accurate nowadays that most astigmatisms can be corrected. Multifocal and trifocal lenses are also available. The lenses can also have extended depth of focus for working with computers etc. Nowadays there is such a choice that consultants are asking patients what they think they would like to achieve from the operation. This is particularly helpful for people who need good close up vision for various occupations and even hobbies. He noted that colour perception changes after treatment and that artists in particular need to be aware of this. David said that laser treatments are very good for improving some eye injuries, postoperative changes, and curing corneal distortions. This year the pandemic has prevented a grand celebration of achievement in paediatric eye surgery - the ability to insert lenses into children. This obviates the need for very thick pebble glasses. David finished by saying that intraocular lenses do not degrade or wear out and are inserted very easily under local, or occasionally regional, anaesthetic. The patient can also have sedation if they wish. This, he thought, seemed to apply particularly to a modern less stoical generation!
The President thanked David for his excellent talk.
The meeting then moved onto some other business. Mr Robert Jackson proposed that the Hon Secretary, Dr Alister Hutchin, should be granted an honorary membership for his services to the Society over some 40 years, This was seconded by Dr David Rowen. The proposal was carried. Dr Hutchin thanked the members for conferring this honour.
There being no other business the meeting was closed.