Ian Constable Lecture 2026 - Vision, Surgery and Optics: A Modern Miracle
Join us for the Lions Eye Institute’s 26th annual Ian Constable Lecture as Professor Graham Barrett AM explores the history and evolution of the intraocular lens, a tiny invention that has transformed cataract surgery and restored vision to millions worldwide.
The journey began in World War II, when ophthalmologist Sir Harold Ridley observed that injured fighter pilots could tolerate Perspex fragments in their eyes, an insight that led to the first artificial lens implantation in 1949. Though controversial at the time, this breakthrough paved the way for modern cataract surgery.
No one has been more influential globally across this spectrum than Professor Graham Barrett, one of the world’s most distinguished figures in this field. He has played a pivotal role in advancing intraocular lens design, surgical precision and innovation. Honoured by ophthalmic societies globally, he continues to invent and validate new developments.
Date: 11 March 2026
Location: Theatre Auditorium at The University Club of Western Australia