New York Intraocular Lens Implant Society

The intraocular lens (IOL) implant was a technological breakthrough developed by Harold Ridley of England in 1950. Ahead of his time, he faced intense resistance from the academic community -- as did many pioneering cataract surgeons over the next three decades. Shunned from medical meetings, implant surgeons formed IOL societies to advance the science.

The first society, co-founded by Ridley himself, was the Intra-Ocular Implant Club in 1966. The second IOL society was founded in the US in 1974: the American Intra-Ocular Implant Society, A year later, the European Implant Lens Council was formed as an amalgamation of the European national IOL societies. During that era, New York City was (and still is) a hotbed of cataract surgery innovation, home to the founder of phacoemulsifcation, Charles Kelman, and in 1978 the NYIOLIS was formed. It is believed to be the 4th oldest, still running IOL society in the world.

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1. 1966 - Intra-Ocular Implant Club  
   Now the International Intra-Ocular Implant Club (IIIC)
   283 current international members
    
2. 1974 - American Intra-Ocular Implant Society 
   Now the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).  
   9000 current international members.
    
3. 1975 - European Implant Lens Council  
   Now the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS).
   5000 current international members.
    
4. 1978 - New York IOL Implant Society (NYIOLIS) 
   42 current US members.

Today, ASCRS and ESCRS are the world's largest international organizations for cataract and refractive surgeons with open memberships. The IIIC and the NYIOLIS have retained their prestigious, invite-only exclusivity into the present day. The NYIOLIS membership is comprised of pioneers in the field of ophthalmology, including 5 past presidents of ASCRS.