AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY FRANK
W.
NEWELL,
Editor-in-Chief
Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60611 EDITORIAL BOARD Mathea R. Allansmith, Boston Douglas R. Anderson, Miami Crowell Beard, San Jose Bernard Becker, St. Louis Benjamin F. Boyd, Panama Charles J. Campbell, New York Ronald E. Carr, New York Thomas Chalkley, Chicago Claes H. Dohlman, Boston Fred Ederer, Bethesda
Published
DuPont Guerry III, Richmond Arnall Patz, Baltimore Paul Henkind, Bronx Steven M. Podos, New York Robert W. Hollenhorst, Rochester Albert M. Potts, Louisville Herbert E. Kaufman, New Orleans Algernon B. Reese, New York Arthur H. Keeney, Louisville Robert D. Reinecke, Albany Carl Kupfer, Bethesda Marvin L. Sears, New Haven Irving H. Leopold, Irvine David Shoch, Chicago A. Edward Maumenee, Baltimore Bruce E. Spivey, San Francisco Irene H. Maumenee, Baltimore Bradley R. Straatsma, Los Angeles Edward W. D. Norton, Miami Gunter K. von Noorden, Houston G. Richard O'Connor, San Francisco
monthly by the Ophthalmic
Publishing
Company
Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611 Directors: A. EDWARD MAUMENEE, President; DAVID SHOCH, Vice President; FRANK W. NEWELL, Secretary and Treasurer; EDWARD W. D. NORTON, BRUCE E. SPIVEY, BRADLEY R. STRAATSMA
NATIONAL C O M M I T T E E F O R RESEARCH IN OPHTHALMOLOGY AND BLINDNESS 1956-1978
two dozen national organizations with concerns in research. A pattern was set by the National Committee for Research in Neurological Diseases under A. B. Baker, In recent decades, accomplishments Chairman of Neurology at the University in medicine and ophthalmology have of Minnesota. The efforts of his "citizens prompted reassessment of missions, of thrust" led to the National Institute of various national committees, founda Neurological Diseases but only by earnest tions, and other organizations. The late and belated efforts was "and Blindness" 1940s and early 1950s were marked by added on to the name and mission of this many differing voices in the field of eye institute. disease and research. In the early 1950s From 1956 there was progressive solid even well-intended national organiza ification of healthy American volunteertions became entrapped with conflicting ism, preparing citizens' budgets a n d spe names and civil suits. Senior ophthalmol cific goals for federal research in vision. ogists in 1952 arid 1953 sought to obtain a The National Committee conducted an unified voice and established, under nual forums on technically related as Allen Woods, an ad hoc committee which pects of vision and its interface responsi labored against personal and organiza bilities with other agencies. Reports of tional penchants in addressing Congress initial efforts appeared in editorials 1 and and a looming major federal commitment in published committee reports of nation in health. Efforts to establish The Nation al ophthalmic organizations such as the al Committee for Research in Ophthal Transactions of the American Academy of mology and Blindness in 1953 sputtered Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and until 1956 when Frank W. Newell succeed the Transactions of the American Ophed in intergrating approaches from some thalmological Society. Financial support 790
VOL. 88, NO. 4 was regularly contributed from these or ganizations and also from the Section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association, the then Association for Re search in Ophthalmology, and various other volunteer health agencies. The "Secretary's Newsletter" promoted com munication in the area of research and development. The National Committee became a clear voice in health appropriation sub committees of the House and Senate. The groundwork was set for ultimate creation of a separate National Eye Institute. The report on eye research, prepared by Thomas D. Duane, in 1963, resulted from the rebirth of interest by Jules Stein, and his organization, Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. This strengthened finan cial support to the now cohesive voice of ophthalmology and also made possible skilled and paid professional representa tives on the Washington scene. These joined with the scientific voices of A. Edward Maumanee, David Cogan, Ber nard Becker, and others. The highly or ganized efforts of Jules Stein led to the National Eye Institute, and following a few years of growing pain, the now stable and progressive programs under Carl Kupfer. The National Committee for Research in Ophthalmology and Blindness then intensified its focus on relationships with agencies primarily in services to the blind such as The Seeing Eye, the American Foundation for the Blind, and to lesser degrees, the American Association of Workers for the Blind, the National Fede ration of the Blind, and similar associa tions. Support to these missions evolved through better understanding and friend ships with the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Fight for Sight, Inc., and the Joshua Macy, Jr., Founda tion. From these efforts grew a tangible and significant commitment of medically oriented responsibility approaching ge netic defects in visual loss, low-vision
791
EDITORIAL
aids services, and even direct support of research, exemplarily led by The Seeing Eye, Inc. The National Committee has continued to handle a stream of inquiries concerning research in America, particu larly from foreign nations and Americans unfamiliar with the processes of eye re search and eye care. White papers and annual forum reports such as those on "Institutes, Departments, and Sections" 2 and symposia such as "Ophthalmology and Rehabilitation" 3 documented these interface accomplishments. 4 - 6 Separate publications on availability of research funding and research agencies were cir culated by the Committee. Federal support of ophthalmic research has reached an all-time high level and stabilization. The relationship of organi zations and service for the blind with ophthalmic groups is friendly and effec tive. Smaller organizations such as the Council for Research in Glaucoma and Allied Diseases and the Ophthalmological Foundation have merged with larger and continuing organizations. The effec tiveness of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology has been greatly broadened and intensified in the past decade. Eye research is a major com mitment of this nation and all ophthalmic programs. This Committee expresses pro found appreciation to the nearly 200 in dividuals and over two dozen organiza tions which have supported its efforts per sonally and financially for the past quarter century. The Committee feels that its initial commissioned responsibil ities are met and it requests now to be dissolved. A L B E R T M. P O T T S , RICHARD HOOVER, A R T H U R H. K E E N E Y ,
M.D. M.D. M.D.
REFERENCES 1. Newell, F . W.: The National Committee for Research in Ophthalmology and Blindness. Arch. Ophthalmol. 59:1, 1957. 2. Keeney, A. H.: Institutes, departments, and sections. Arch. Ophthalmol. 73:1, 1965.
792
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
3. : Ophthalmology and rehabilitation. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 78:730, 1974. 4. : The institute concept in ophthalmolo gy. Surv. Ophthalmol. 11:7, 1966. 5. : Manpower against blindness. Needs, sources, and support. Eye Physician 2:13, 1969. 6. : Impact of Medicare and Medicaid on residency training and clinical research in ophthal mology. Surv. Ophthalmol. 12:360, 1969.
OBITUARY James Elzar Lebensohn 1893-1979 Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle This was but one of the many apho risms of James E. Lebensohn, a long-time member of the Department of Ophthal mology of Northwestern University, who died on July 31, 1979. Dr. Lebensohn was born in Chicago on November 5, 1893. He took his under graduate training at the University of Chicago where he also received a Mas ter's degree. In 1917 he received his med-
James E. Lebensohn, M.D.
OCTOBER, 1979
ical degree from Rush Medical College after which he entered the United States Navy as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps. On his return to Chicago he began to practice ophthalmology. After a short hiatus at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infir mary he joined the staff at Northwestern University Medical School as an instruc tor. He immediately began to develop his major interests in physiology and bio chemistry of the eye. In 1935, he was awarded a Ph.D. by Northwestern for his dissertation, "Studies in Biochemistry of the Lens." (This actually represented about the 50th article that Dr. Lebensohn had published.) He continued to write prolifically; the latest estimate is that he published approximately 350 articles, bi ographies, clinical notes, and instrument modifications. His curiosity was insatia ble, and he wrote about many areas in ophthalmology but most commonly about refraction, physiologic optics, and specta cles. This was his first love and it was while he was teaching this subject in a postgraduate course at Northwestern that most of us got to know him. He stimulat ed many of us to pursue a lifelong interest in physiologic optics and physiology of the eye. As with many of his colleagues, his career was interrupted by World War II during which he returned to the Navy, this time with the rank of captain. He served with distinction in the South Pacif ic for six years. In 1946 he returned to Chicago and to Northwestern University where he continued to teach until his retire ment as emeritus professor in 1962. Even after his retirement Dr. Lebonsohn could be found many afternoons in the library as he researched a historical personage or the earliest recording of a particular phenomenon in opthalmology. He contin ued to publish and to serve on the EdiBoard of T H E J O U R N A L . His range of interests was enormous, and although he published chiefly in the field of op tics, his earliest paper, published in
W.
NEWELL,
Editor-in-Chief
Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60611 EDITORIAL BOARD Mathea R. Allansmith, Boston Douglas R. Anderson, Miami Crowell Beard, San Jose Bernard Becker, St. Louis Benjamin F. Boyd, Panama Charles J. Campbell, New York Ronald E. Carr, New York Thomas Chalkley, Chicago Claes H. Dohlman, Boston Fred Ederer, Bethesda
Published
DuPont Guerry III, Richmond Arnall Patz, Baltimore Paul Henkind, Bronx Steven M. Podos, New York Robert W. Hollenhorst, Rochester Albert M. Potts, Louisville Herbert E. Kaufman, New Orleans Algernon B. Reese, New York Arthur H. Keeney, Louisville Robert D. Reinecke, Albany Carl Kupfer, Bethesda Marvin L. Sears, New Haven Irving H. Leopold, Irvine David Shoch, Chicago A. Edward Maumenee, Baltimore Bruce E. Spivey, San Francisco Irene H. Maumenee, Baltimore Bradley R. Straatsma, Los Angeles Edward W. D. Norton, Miami Gunter K. von Noorden, Houston G. Richard O'Connor, San Francisco
monthly by the Ophthalmic
Publishing
Company
Tribune Tower, Suite 1415, 435 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611 Directors: A. EDWARD MAUMENEE, President; DAVID SHOCH, Vice President; FRANK W. NEWELL, Secretary and Treasurer; EDWARD W. D. NORTON, BRUCE E. SPIVEY, BRADLEY R. STRAATSMA
NATIONAL C O M M I T T E E F O R RESEARCH IN OPHTHALMOLOGY AND BLINDNESS 1956-1978
two dozen national organizations with concerns in research. A pattern was set by the National Committee for Research in Neurological Diseases under A. B. Baker, In recent decades, accomplishments Chairman of Neurology at the University in medicine and ophthalmology have of Minnesota. The efforts of his "citizens prompted reassessment of missions, of thrust" led to the National Institute of various national committees, founda Neurological Diseases but only by earnest tions, and other organizations. The late and belated efforts was "and Blindness" 1940s and early 1950s were marked by added on to the name and mission of this many differing voices in the field of eye institute. disease and research. In the early 1950s From 1956 there was progressive solid even well-intended national organiza ification of healthy American volunteertions became entrapped with conflicting ism, preparing citizens' budgets a n d spe names and civil suits. Senior ophthalmol cific goals for federal research in vision. ogists in 1952 arid 1953 sought to obtain a The National Committee conducted an unified voice and established, under nual forums on technically related as Allen Woods, an ad hoc committee which pects of vision and its interface responsi labored against personal and organiza bilities with other agencies. Reports of tional penchants in addressing Congress initial efforts appeared in editorials 1 and and a looming major federal commitment in published committee reports of nation in health. Efforts to establish The Nation al ophthalmic organizations such as the al Committee for Research in Ophthal Transactions of the American Academy of mology and Blindness in 1953 sputtered Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and until 1956 when Frank W. Newell succeed the Transactions of the American Ophed in intergrating approaches from some thalmological Society. Financial support 790
VOL. 88, NO. 4 was regularly contributed from these or ganizations and also from the Section on Ophthalmology of the American Medical Association, the then Association for Re search in Ophthalmology, and various other volunteer health agencies. The "Secretary's Newsletter" promoted com munication in the area of research and development. The National Committee became a clear voice in health appropriation sub committees of the House and Senate. The groundwork was set for ultimate creation of a separate National Eye Institute. The report on eye research, prepared by Thomas D. Duane, in 1963, resulted from the rebirth of interest by Jules Stein, and his organization, Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. This strengthened finan cial support to the now cohesive voice of ophthalmology and also made possible skilled and paid professional representa tives on the Washington scene. These joined with the scientific voices of A. Edward Maumanee, David Cogan, Ber nard Becker, and others. The highly or ganized efforts of Jules Stein led to the National Eye Institute, and following a few years of growing pain, the now stable and progressive programs under Carl Kupfer. The National Committee for Research in Ophthalmology and Blindness then intensified its focus on relationships with agencies primarily in services to the blind such as The Seeing Eye, the American Foundation for the Blind, and to lesser degrees, the American Association of Workers for the Blind, the National Fede ration of the Blind, and similar associa tions. Support to these missions evolved through better understanding and friend ships with the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, Fight for Sight, Inc., and the Joshua Macy, Jr., Founda tion. From these efforts grew a tangible and significant commitment of medically oriented responsibility approaching ge netic defects in visual loss, low-vision
791
EDITORIAL
aids services, and even direct support of research, exemplarily led by The Seeing Eye, Inc. The National Committee has continued to handle a stream of inquiries concerning research in America, particu larly from foreign nations and Americans unfamiliar with the processes of eye re search and eye care. White papers and annual forum reports such as those on "Institutes, Departments, and Sections" 2 and symposia such as "Ophthalmology and Rehabilitation" 3 documented these interface accomplishments. 4 - 6 Separate publications on availability of research funding and research agencies were cir culated by the Committee. Federal support of ophthalmic research has reached an all-time high level and stabilization. The relationship of organi zations and service for the blind with ophthalmic groups is friendly and effec tive. Smaller organizations such as the Council for Research in Glaucoma and Allied Diseases and the Ophthalmological Foundation have merged with larger and continuing organizations. The effec tiveness of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology has been greatly broadened and intensified in the past decade. Eye research is a major com mitment of this nation and all ophthalmic programs. This Committee expresses pro found appreciation to the nearly 200 in dividuals and over two dozen organiza tions which have supported its efforts per sonally and financially for the past quarter century. The Committee feels that its initial commissioned responsibil ities are met and it requests now to be dissolved. A L B E R T M. P O T T S , RICHARD HOOVER, A R T H U R H. K E E N E Y ,
M.D. M.D. M.D.
REFERENCES 1. Newell, F . W.: The National Committee for Research in Ophthalmology and Blindness. Arch. Ophthalmol. 59:1, 1957. 2. Keeney, A. H.: Institutes, departments, and sections. Arch. Ophthalmol. 73:1, 1965.
792
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
3. : Ophthalmology and rehabilitation. Am. J. Ophthalmol. 78:730, 1974. 4. : The institute concept in ophthalmolo gy. Surv. Ophthalmol. 11:7, 1966. 5. : Manpower against blindness. Needs, sources, and support. Eye Physician 2:13, 1969. 6. : Impact of Medicare and Medicaid on residency training and clinical research in ophthal mology. Surv. Ophthalmol. 12:360, 1969.
OBITUARY James Elzar Lebensohn 1893-1979 Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle This was but one of the many apho risms of James E. Lebensohn, a long-time member of the Department of Ophthal mology of Northwestern University, who died on July 31, 1979. Dr. Lebensohn was born in Chicago on November 5, 1893. He took his under graduate training at the University of Chicago where he also received a Mas ter's degree. In 1917 he received his med-
James E. Lebensohn, M.D.
OCTOBER, 1979
ical degree from Rush Medical College after which he entered the United States Navy as a Lieutenant in the Medical Corps. On his return to Chicago he began to practice ophthalmology. After a short hiatus at the Illinois Eye and Ear Infir mary he joined the staff at Northwestern University Medical School as an instruc tor. He immediately began to develop his major interests in physiology and bio chemistry of the eye. In 1935, he was awarded a Ph.D. by Northwestern for his dissertation, "Studies in Biochemistry of the Lens." (This actually represented about the 50th article that Dr. Lebensohn had published.) He continued to write prolifically; the latest estimate is that he published approximately 350 articles, bi ographies, clinical notes, and instrument modifications. His curiosity was insatia ble, and he wrote about many areas in ophthalmology but most commonly about refraction, physiologic optics, and specta cles. This was his first love and it was while he was teaching this subject in a postgraduate course at Northwestern that most of us got to know him. He stimulat ed many of us to pursue a lifelong interest in physiologic optics and physiology of the eye. As with many of his colleagues, his career was interrupted by World War II during which he returned to the Navy, this time with the rank of captain. He served with distinction in the South Pacif ic for six years. In 1946 he returned to Chicago and to Northwestern University where he continued to teach until his retire ment as emeritus professor in 1962. Even after his retirement Dr. Lebonsohn could be found many afternoons in the library as he researched a historical personage or the earliest recording of a particular phenomenon in opthalmology. He contin ued to publish and to serve on the EdiBoard of T H E J O U R N A L . His range of interests was enormous, and although he published chiefly in the field of op tics, his earliest paper, published in
