Eyeworld

26 | EYEWORLD | SEPTEMBER 2021 Relevant disclosures Holland: Aurion Biotech Koch: Alcon, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Perfect Lens Lane: Alcon Lindstrom: Aurion Biotech, Glaukos, Minnesota Eye Consultants, Unifeye Vision Partners Samuelson: None Thompson: None Yeu: None by Ellen Stodola Editorial Co-Director 2021 ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING ASCRS NEWS There were two groups of high-risk corneal patients, immunologic and severe ocular surface disease. At the time, the existence of limbal stem cells was not known. With the lack of stem cells, Dr. Holland said, there are persistent epithelial defects, cor- neal scarring and ulceration, conjunctivalization of the cornea, severe visual loss, and chronic pain. Primary keratoplasty fails in every case due to lack of corneal epithelialization. After the discovery of limbal stem cells and the understanding of their function, ocular surface stem cell transplantation tissue tech- niques were invented, including autografts and allografts. However, the next challenge was ocular sur- face stem cell transplant rejection. The solution was to adopt and embrace systemic immuno- suppression protocols, as are used in organ transplantation. Dr. Holland shared information on the history of immunosuppression and how to address some of the challenges of preventing rejection and reducing the side effects of immu- nosuppression. In 2000, Dr. Holland moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, which offered him a unique hybrid of academics and private practice with dual ap- pointments at the Cincinnati Eye Institute and the University of Cincinnati. He described his collaboration in Cincinnati, working on ocular surface transplantations and building a team based on organ transplantation. The "Cincinnati Protocol" includes adapting and embracing systematic immunosuppression, partnering with renal transplant specialists and adopting their principles, hiring a transplant coordinator, and building a team of specialists. Dr. Holland also collaborated with Dr. Lindstrom on injectable endothelial cell therapy, which has the potential for one donor cornea to supply enough endothelial cells for hundreds of patients. This could change eye banking worldwide, Dr. Holland said, and this technique could help solve world corneal blindness. He described the procedure and the history of research in this area. Dr. Holland and Dr. Lindstrom are now working with Aurion Biotech on this research. Inaugural Lindstrom Symposium continued on page 28 From left: Drs. Yeu, Holland, Lindstrom, Koch, Thompson, Lane, and Samuelson Source: ASCRS E lizabeth Yeu, MD, began the inaugural Lindstrom Symposium at the ASCRS Annual Meeting by introducing Richard Lindstrom, MD, highlighting his career and many accomplishments. "Today we honor one of the most influential contributors in ASCRS history," she said, adding that Dr. Lindstrom has been at the forefront of ophthal- mology's revolutionary changes. One of his con- tributions to ASCRS was to urge and guide the formation of the ASCRS non-profit foundation. In a video introduction, Dr. Lindstrom shared his family history and how he decided to go into medicine and ophthalmology. He built one of the first academic private practices in the country. Now, he spends much of his time in innovation as an inventor and investor trying to find solutions to unmet needs. The session featured presentations in the different areas of Dr. Lindstrom's ophthalmic interests: cornea, cataract, refractive, glaucoma, and the business/industry of ophthalmology. Edward Holland, MD, gave the Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, Lecture, calling it "one of the highlights of my career." Dr. Holland discussed his first clinical rotation as a resident in 1981 on Dr. Lindstrom's cornea service where Dr. Lind- strom was seeing about 100 patients a day and performing cutting-edge surgery and research. As a second-year resident, Dr. Lindstrom suggested Dr. Holland do a cornea fellowship elsewhere and return. Dr. Holland did two fel- lowships, one at the University of Iowa and one at the National Eye Institute. Back at the Univer- sity of Minnesota, Dr. Holland helped build the high-risk cornea service with Dr. Lindstrom.

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