In 1969, after completing the first two years of my residency, I was
contacted by Prof. Richard Stein, a legendary eye surgeon and the director
of the eye department at the Sheba Medical Center, to go to Sweden as a
research fellow in glaucoma and ocular pharmacology. The invitation was for
a one-year research project in the Biomedical Center of the University of
Uppsala in Sweden, headed by Prof. Ernest Barany. During my stay in Uppsala
I discovered an x-substance that produces an inflammatory response in the
rabbit eye after blunt trauma, later known as prostaglandin. It became
clear to me, in the course of this work, that I was most interested in the
subject of retina. This interest lead me to a six month fellowship with Dr.
Lorimor Fison, one of the most famous retina experts in England in those
days, at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.

Ten years later I spent time with John Scott in Cambridge, England and
learned the indications for and technique of silicone oil surgery. Many of
the eyes that were operated by this new technique suffered from severe
ocular injuries of the posterior segment. My most significant exposure and
active participation in eye trauma surgery, during my training, was at my
vitreous-retina fellowship with Dr. Robert Machemer at the Bascom Palmer Eye
Institute (BPEI), Miami, from 1975 to 1976. At that time, vitrectomy was a
new tool to save desperate ophthalmologic situations, including eyes with
severe injuries.

Upon my return to Israel in 1976, I "dived into the deep water" of posterior
segment surgery. The Goldschleger Eye Institute in Israel had become the
leading center for referrals, including a large number of trauma cases. In
1984 a vitro-retinal unit was established at the Goldschleger Eye
Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, and I was appointed director
of the unit. The unit was the first choice for secondary referrals in
Israel for complicated eye trauma cases, mainly of the posterior segment of
the eye.

In 1987, after eleven years of intense activity in the field of ocular
trauma, I decided that the time had come to establish an ophthalmic
organization for eye injury. I discovered that there were many ophthalmic
societies covering an almost a complete range of fields in ophthalmology,
with the exception of the important subject of ocular trauma. This seemed to
me a situation that was both absurd and unacceptable. I felt that such an
important field in ophthalmology could not remain "an orphan". I founded the
International Society of Ocular Trauma (ISOT). After a two-year period of
preparation, ISOT organized the first ocular trauma congress in Tel Aviv.
This meeting proved to be an extraordinary success with 400 participants
from all over the world. As such, the meeting was the precursor of the four
following unforgettable, high-level congresses: Geneva in 1992, Cancun in
1994, Bombay in 1997, and Montreal in 2000.

Ocular trauma became a highlight in ophthalmology while I served as
president of ISOT. Developed countries saw an increase in safety awareness
and the use of protective equipment reducing the occurrence of injury in
these countries. Notwithstanding this, ocular trauma still is one of the
leading causes of blindness in under-developed countries, most of which are
highly populated and do not have either a sufficient number of
ophthalmologists or the financial and technical means to establish safety
systems and educational programs.

It with humility and gratitude that I retire from the position of president
of ISOT knowing my thirteen years of service, with its successes,
established a foundation from which ISOT can proceed to meet the new and
continued challenges of the future. As ISOT moves forward into the 21st
Century, I will continue to participate and provide my support to the new
leaders.