Fairfax VA – The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) announced that the Sunday General Sessions at its annual Symposium will henceforth be called the “Manus C. Kraff Lecture on Science and Medicine.”

ASCRS outgoing president Priscilla Arnold, MD, announced the honor during her Opening General Session address at the recent 31st ASCRS Symposium in Washington, DC.

“We have the special opportunity at this meeting to recognize and honor one of our own—a leader who devotes untold time and energy to this Society.  There is no other single ophthalmologist who is so closely associated with the growth and success of the ASCRS Symposium—and rightly so.  Dr Manus Kraff has served as Program Chairman for this meeting for 23 years.  Put in its most direct terms—the meeting has grown from a small sub-specialty gathering to the world’s premier anterior segment surgical meeting.  Manus literally founded the ASCRS Hall of Fame and was instrumental in the founding of the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, the ASCRS Film Festival and the Challenge Cup,” Arnold said. 

“Manus’ curiosity has always led him to look to other areas of science and medicine for new ideas and stimulation.  Over the years he made a point of inviting leading academics and practitioners to lecture at our symposium. His doing so has helped to broaden our perspectives.  So, it’s a fitting way that we honor him by instituting a lecture in his name,” said incoming ASCRS President Roger Steinert, MD.

“His energy is boundless and he has a dogged determination to see things through,” said David Karcher, ASCRS Executive Director.  “It has been an inspiration and a pleasure to work with him over these many years,” he added. 

Dr. Kraff practices in Chicago, Illinois