The Brazilian Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (BRASCRS) awarded the ELZA Institute’s Dr. Emilio Torres-Netto the José Ignacio Barraquer Medal, in recognition of his work in the field of cataract and refractive surgery and corneal cross-linking to date.
Dr. Torres-Netto said of the award, “It is a great honor to be awarded the Jose Ignácio Barraquer Medal by BRASCRS, a society that I have always held in great esteem. Receiving this tribute from great professors that I have always admired was indescribable,” adding, “Many thanks to BRASCRS for the moving ceremony, for the recognition of our team work, and for bringing together colleagues from around the world for this sensational congress.” He also wished a “special thanks to my family for their unconditional support, and to our president Bruno Fontes, an example of competence and character, for leading BRASCRS brilliantly, also in challenging times”, concluding with a heartfelt “Thank you very much!”
Who was José Ignacio Barraquer Moner?
José Ignacio Barraquer Moner was a Spanish ophthalmologist, and is widely considered to be “the father of modern refractive surgery”, thanks to his pioneering investigations on corneal transplants and correction of corneal refraction. For example, he was the inventor of refractive keratoplasty in 1949. The Barraquer Medal is named in his honor, and it is awarded to surgeons and researchers who have made a special contribution to the field.
Barraquer was the Founder and President of the Barraquer Institute of America, Director of the Ophthalmology departments of the Marly Clinic and the Lleras Acosta in the Bogotá Institute, Colombia, and was the author of a multitude of national and international scientific publications. He was awarded 16 decorations by governments of various countries, and received 17 honorary designations of Doctor Honoris Causa, Honorary Citizen and Distinguished Guest, or Guest of Honor from different cities and universities. José Ignácio Barraquer developed 19 original surgical techniques.
