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EW NEWS & OPINION March 2016 29 by Liz Hillman EyeWorld Staff Writer Milauskas said. "He was always there to help out the practice when we needed it. He never complained and was always willing to do what was needed to help his patients or the practice." An announcement about Dr. Leiske's retirement from the Milauskas Eye Institute in 2010 described him as the "consummate professional … who always put his patients first." "He brought a terrific work ethic that enabled him to do a lot of work efficiently with a positive attitude. His skills as a surgeon and clinician, as well as his gregarious nature, helped him add to our reputation and build a strong and loyal patient base," Dr. Milauskas said. As for his contributions to the field of ophthalmology as a whole, Dr. Milauskas said Dr. Leiske was a "pioneer and a risk-taker." "When phacoemulsification and IOLs were first being adopted, he was an early and true believer, he helped overcome doubts, trained surgeons in the new techniques, and helped blaze the path that opened up the field that made cataract sur- gery so successful today," he said. Dr. Leiske is credited with inventing an anterior chamber IOL—the Leiske Physioflex Style 10 Anterior Chamber Lens, patented in 1985. Outside of ophthalmology, Dr. Leiske was known for his musical talent. His obituary in The Desert Sun said that as a teenager he was faced with the decision between pursuing piano or medicine as a career. In the end, it was the latter that claimed his professional interest. "When we opened one of our satellite offices, he showed up for the grand opening by driving his own limousine there, chauffer's cap included," Dr. Milauskas said. "As serious as Larry was, he always knew how to have fun as well. An evening with Larry and his wife, Robbie, usu- ally would end with Larry wowing everyone with his skills on the pia- no. He was an accomplished player. We all miss him terribly." Dr. Leiske is survived by his wife, Robbie, his children Kelly (Rick) Riley, Kerry (Greg) Lentz, and Kevin (Crista) Leiske, his stepson Garret Saurer, and 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. EW L arry Leiske, MD, a founding member of ASCRS, died on December 18, 2015, at 78 years old. "Larry Leiske was a great ophthalmologist and great person. He was a member of the generation of ophthalmologists that helped push the profession into the modern age," said Albert Milauskas, MD, Palm Springs, Calif., who knew Dr. Leiske since the early 1980s. "He was an early adopter of phacoemulsifi- cation and IOLs. He believed very strongly in improving the technolo- gies we used in order to improve pa- tient outcomes and care. Larry was an excellent surgeon and clinician. He loved his work and his patients loved him." Dr. Leiske, according to his obituary published in The Desert Sun, was born in Alberta, Canada, on October 14, 1937. He attended Walla Walla College, College Place, Wash., where he received a Bachelor of Science in physics. He studied ophthalmology at Loma Linda School of Medicine, Loma Linda, Calif., and completed his residency at White Memorial Medical Center, Los Angeles. Dr. Leiske owned a private practice in Glendale, Calif., and served on staff at Glendale Ad- ventist, Glendale Memorial, and Verdugo Hills Hospitals, according to the newspaper. He later sold this practice and joined the Milauskas Eye Institute in Palm Springs. Dr. Milauskas said that even after joining his practice in 1993, many of Dr. Leiske's patients would make the 2-hour trip from Los Angeles to remain in his care. "Larry was the ultimate team player," Dr. In memoriam: Larry Gene Leiske, MD 3360 Scherer Drive, Suite B, St. Petersburg, FL 33716 800-637-4346 • Tel: 727-209-2244 • Fax: 727-341-8123 Email: Info@RheinMedical.com • Website: www.RheinMedical.com *Developed In Coordination With Jared R. Younger, M.D. Special Acknowledgement To John R. Shepherd, M.D. Angleo Con il Cartiglio, Bernini Younger* 360 Degree Capsule Polisher ACBF 1359 Rev.A Product #08-13230 • Special Angulated Shaft Allows Quick & Easy Polishing Of Both The Anterior And Posterior Capsules With One Instrument. • Designed To Polish Both The AC & PC The Full 360 Degrees. • The Unique Angulation Eliminates The Need For Using Two Instruments, Or Using One Instrument But Having To Exit And Enter Through A Side Port Incision To Complete The Polishing. • Reusable, Autoclaveable, Made In The USA, And Available For A 30-Day Surgical Evaluation Without Obligation. Call 727-209-2244 For More Information, Or Scan For Video P o s t e r i or V i e w A nt e ri or V i e w Larry Leiske, MD

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