Eyeworld

EW NEWS & OPINION 16 D avid Apple and his loving wife, Ann, were insepara- ble in the last decade of his life. Thus, these thoughts are in remem- brance of not just David, but "the Apples." He was a very special man, she is a very special woman, and they were a unique couple. My wife Jaci and I spent significant time with "the Apples" as we traveled the world sharing our knowledge and friendships in our beloved specialty, ophthalmology. "The Apples" were great traveling companions; they were intellectually curious about the people, locations, and cultures we were blessed to visit together, they never lost an opportunity to learn, and they were always respectful and giving to those in the countries we visited. David and Ann were trusted and loyal friends to Jaci and I, and the memories of the adventures we shared around the world will carry me through the sadness of this loss. David was a gifted and extraordinar- ily talented teacher, both in large groups and one-on-one. The hours spent studying the pathophysiology of eye disease in his laboratory and his broad knowledge of ophthalmol- ogy combined with his commitment to seek the truth made him a unique resource for a generation of oph- thalmic surgeons. While he was the recipient of numerous well-deserved awards, he was primarily driven by an insatiable desire to learn and share his knowledge with others in a manner that not only enhanced sci- ence, but also the quality of every- day clinical care. In spite of significant physical hardships in his later years, he never complained, and he lived fully right to his last days, never ceasing to make the most of every day. Jaci and I feel blessed to have been friends of "the Apples," and remain blessed to have Ann in our lives for the future. We will never forget David, and many will benefit from his research and teaching and positive approach to the challenges of life as our life's journey continues. David and Ann, thank you for sharing your knowl- edge, life, and love with us. We are much the better for our friendship. Dick and Jaci Lindstrom David Apple came on the scene of intraocular lenses pathophysiology with a most unusual background. A trained pathologist with subspecialty interest in ophthalmic pathology, he later went on to complete an oph- thalmology residency. When David first joined our department in 1981 he was working on the definitive treatise of the embryology of ex- traocular muscles and wanted to do strabismus surgery. After asking for his help on a complicated IOL eye donation, he took off like a roman candle and the rest is history. No one, with the possible exception of Harold Ridley, has done more to ex- plain the concerns of IOLs and helped in their improvement to the point that they are such a routine part of our world. David has more peer-reviewed publications in our area than any other author of which I am aware and far and away more seminal papers in the field than any other person, living or deceased, at this time. David was also a consum- mate teacher and the impact of his "Apple Korp" cadre of fellows reads like a "who's who" in our field. Plagued by ill health for many years and once declared beyond survival several years ago, he refused to give in until this last disastrous illness. His loss is a loss to all in our field. Our hearts go out to his loved ones, especially his beloved Ann. David will always be remembered as a giant in our field. Randall J. Olson, M.D. I came to the United States to work with Dr. David Apple in January 1999, after my residency in ophthal- mology in Brazil and my Ph.D. pro- gram in biomaterials in France. The decision to join his laboratory, at the time located in Charleston, S.C., was without a doubt the most significant of my career, and I will always be deeply grateful to Dr. Apple for all of the opportunities I had since then. Together with Nick Mamalis, we cur- rently continue the line of work started by Dr. Apple and Dr. Randall Olson on intraocular lens research in our laboratory at the University of Utah. I have the personal privilege and the honor to sit in the office oc- cupied by Dr. Apple when he was at the John A. Moran Eye Center, be- fore his retirement in 2008. The strength he demonstrated since his diagnosis and throughout his treat- ment was truly inspirational for all of us. Liliana Werner, M.D. Working under Dr. David Apple at the Storm Eye Institute as a pre-resi- dency research fellow was indeed a valuable experience. From analysis of the pathology of previously im- planted IOLs in human eye bank eyes, he made recommendations that shaped the development of IOLs. The Miyake technique and wet labs at various meetings provided further knowledge of the newer IOLs. He analyzed U.S. and foreign manufactured lenses to determine the safety and cost effectiveness for worldwide implantation. Dr. Apple nurtured the excitement of develop- ing a research concept and complet- ing the project through data analysis, presentation, and publica- tion. He had the vision to do analy- sis of ocular pathology in eye bank eyes and then to interpret and incor- porate the information into innova- tion. Dr. David Apple was the father of the modern IOL. Ettaleah Bluestein, M.D. I had the privilege of being one of David Apple's fellows between 1989- 1991 and a close friend over the next 20 years. When I chose cataract surgery as the path of my profes- sional life I thought it would be best to start from the basics: anatomy, physiology, and pathology. There was no better choice than learning from the master, David Apple. David lived through the most exciting pe- riod of cataract surgery—the innova- tions of intraocular lenses, phacoemulsification, viscoelastic substances, and more. He was the right person in the right time. Being a pathologist, an ophthalmologist, and a scientist, he followed the de- velopment, witnessed the faults, documented the pathology, and sug- gested many of the solutions that were implemented in modern cataract surgery and implants. He did not personally perform surgery, but with his brilliant mind and fun- damental understanding he ana- lyzed and realized better than anyone else how tissues react and how implant lenses perform. His major contribution to the science of intraocular lenses affected the vision and wellbeing of millions. Many of his numerous (over 200!) fellows, the Apple Korps, continue his legacy and are now leading surgeons and scientists in the U.S. and worldwide. David was a gifted teacher, a sup- portive mentor, and an inspiration for all of us. David was active even in his most difficult times, and some of his new findings and ideas were never published. His death is a loss not only to his loving family and friends but also to the world of oph- thalmology and medicine. We miss him already. Ehud I. Assia, M.D. When I decided to go into ophthal- mology, I sought help from mem- bers of our ophthalmology department on how to go about preparing for an ophthalmology res- idency. They suggested working with an ophthalmic pathologist named David Apple who would be joining the University faculty. When David suggested that I consider a pre-resi- dency fellowship in ophthalmic pathology, I readily accepted. The early 1980s were an era of great innovation in the area of cataract surgery and intraocular lens devel- opment. There were new IOL de- signs and materials that were being October 2011 Friends and colleagues pay homage

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