Richard B Packard, 2018 ASCRS Honoured Guest

Thomas W Samuelson welcomes Richard B Packard as ASCRS Honoured Guest Incoming ASCRS President Thomas W Samuelson MD welcomed Richard B Packard MD, DO, FRCS, FRCOphth, of London, UK, as one of two Honoured Guests at the opening session of the 2018 American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, USA. Dr Packard has lectured in 60 countries, was a pioneer of phacoemulsification and a leader in the move to microincision cataract surgery, and continues to design and refine innovative surgical instruments, phaco tools and other devices, Dr Samuelson said. Dr Packard reflected on his first trip to the USA capital 61 years ago, as a 10-year-old during the presidency of Dwight D Eisenhower. At a parade he believed was held for him, Dr Packard saw then-Vice President Richard M Nixon drawing attention, and didn’t mind, though he wished the Vice President had told him in advance. On a more serious note, Dr Packard briefly reflected on his career in ophthalmology and the mentor who made it possible. “I wouldn’t be here today were it not for a man you honoured in 2007, and that is Eric Arnott. Eric brought me to phaco, he saved me from a career in oncology, and phaco has made me friends all over the world,” Dr Packard said. He thanked Dr Samuelson and the ASCRS and wished the assembly a wonderful meeting.

Tags: ASCRS 2018