Award Lecturers

Epstein Memorial Award Lecturers

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The Epstein Lecture is dedicated to the late Dr Edward Epstein, who was the South African pioneer in the development of pseudophakic correction in cataract surgery in the fifties. He was a founding member and honorary member of the SASCRS.

This lecture is given at a Congress of the SASCRS by an ophthalmologist who has distinguished himself by outstanding international and local contributions for the advancement of cataract or refractive surgery.

The purpose of this Award is to recognize an Ophthalmologist’s consistent participation as an Ophthalmologist, in charitable activities, indigent care, community service and other humanitarian activities.

The qualifying criteria:

  • The nominee must have demonstrated a pattern of humanitarian service in Africa over a period of several years.  Qualifying service might include, but not limited to, care for the indigent, service in inner city or rural African locations with disadvantaged persons, care for underprivileged individuals of specific racial or ethnic background and care in settings of high risk to the Ophthalmologist.
  • Service must have been above and beyond the usual service commitment required of an Ophthalmologist.
  • The service should have entailed personal sacrifice on the part of the Ophthalmologist.
  • Only one such Award may be given to an individual during his or her lifetime.

 Past Recipients

  • 1999  Roberto Zaldivar, MD
  • 2001  Emanuel S Rosen, MD
  • 2003  Michael Knorz, MD
  • 2005  Spencer Thornton, MD
  • 2009  Dr Hubrecht Brody
  • 2013  Dr Frik Potgieter
  • 2015  Prof Andries A Stulting
  • 2017  Prof Robert C Stegmann
  • 2019  Prof Marié-José Tassignon
  • 2022  Guy M Kezirian, MD

Kritzinger Safari Award Lecture

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The Kritzinger Safari Award Lecture is a prestigious named lecture in honour of the late Dr Michiel Kritzinger.  He distinguished himself as a pioneer in modern refractive surgery and identified the need to promote the subspecialty.   As part of his efforts to further the field of refractive sugery, he originally instituted the lecture as the “Safari Lecture” in 1999 during a local meeting of the ISRS in Swaziland.  After his passing in April 2000, the lecture was renamed to the Kritzinger Safari Lecture. 

Recipients of this award lecture have to exhibit the same character traits which Dr Kritzinger was known for, namely to be an original thinker and innovator, demonstrate the same leadership and perseverance, as well as show the energy so typical of him.  Furthermore the recipient has to make a significant contribution to the field of refractive surgery.

 Past Recipients

  • 1999  Dr med Klaus Ditzen
  • 2000  Prof J Charles Casebeer, MD
  • 2001  Prof Andries A Stulting
  • 2002  Prof Dr med Michael Knorz
  • 2003  Mr Charles Claoué
  • 2005  George O Waring III, MD
  • 2007  Stephen Updegraff, MD
  • 2009  Dr Johan A De Lange
  • 2011  Spencer P Thornton, MD
  • 2015  Guy M Kezirian, MD
  • 2017  Prof Hideharu Fukasaku, MD
  • 2019  Mr Arthur B Cummings
  • 2022  Prof Dr med Thomas Kohnen, MD

Cornea SA Keynote Lecturers

Cornea SA, founded in 2015, offers like-minded Ophthalmologists a sub-speciality forum focusing on corneal and external disease.

With many exciting plans for the future, the group aims to continually raise the bar in terms of corneal matters.  The invited guest speaker will be an internationally recognized authority on corneal and external disease, be regarded as a pioneer and will have distinguished him- / herself as one who challenges conventional thinking.  Furthermore, the individual will be held in high regard by his / her peers;  to such an extent that all of us would be poorer had it not been for their significant contribution to the field.

 Past Recipients

  • 2015  Mark A Terry MD (USA)
  • 2017  Prof Harminder S Dua (UK)
  • 2019  Lion’s Eye Institute