EBO honours renowned Italian ophthalmologist

The renowned Italian ophthalmologist Costantino Bianchi was posthumously honoured at the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO) Diploma Award Ceremony as the recipient of the Peter Eustace Medal for his contribution to ophthalmic education in Europe. “Dr Bianchi sadly passed away last year but his legacy in terms of his achievements in Italian and European ophthalmology will continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps,” said Gordana Sunaric Mégevand, President of EBO. Born in Bergamo in 1940, Dr Bianchi began his career in ophthalmology after graduating in medicine from the University of Milan in 1969. He established his own eye clinic in Milan and established a national and international reputation for his research in refraction, tear film diagnosis and as a developer of instruments for corneal topography. From 1985 to 2005, he served as professor of ocular pathology at the Optometry Institute in Lombardy, followed by a stint at the University of Siena from 2005 until shortly before his death. Dr Bianchi was an active member of several scientific societies in Italy and abroad, serving as Italian delegate to the Ophthalmic section of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) from 2000 and Italian delegate to the EBO from 2000 to 2008. As well as being the lead author of many peer-reviewed publications, Dr Bianchi was founder and director of the ocular microsurgery magazine Viscochirurgia, and went on to edit several ophthalmological publications during his long and distinguished career.