In June 2025, Prof. Farhad Hafezi, MD, PhD, FARVO, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of the ELZA Institute, was formally inducted as a full voting member of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI). The induction took place at the AOI’s 50th Anniversary General Assembly, held from June 19 to 21, 2025, in Leiden, The Netherlands.
The Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis is a highly selective global body of leading ophthalmologists, limited to 100 members worldwide. It provides a platform for scientific exchange, clinical discussion, and international cooperation. Prof. Hafezi now holds Chair 98 within the Academy.
As part of the induction, each new member presents an inaugural lecture that introduces them personally to the Academy. Rather than a scientific lecture, this eight-minute talk is intended to present the individual behind the academic work. In his lecture, Prof. Hafezi described his early life, education, mentors, and clinical experiences that led him into corneal research. He explained how his work evolved from photochemistry into translational corneal cross-linking, emphasizing its impact on keratoconus and ectatic disorders.
The AOI 50th Anniversary meeting gathered ophthalmologists from around the world for two days of scientific presentations and personal reflections. The format encourages long-term collegial relationships built on both academic and personal exchange. The choice of Leiden as the meeting site reflected its strong medical heritage. Leiden University, founded in 1575, established one of Europe’s earliest medical schools. Pioneers such as Herman Boerhaave helped develop bedside clinical teaching methods that still form the basis of modern medical education.
The induction of Farhad Hafezi into the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis 2025 recognizes his long-standing contributions to ophthalmic science. His work on corneal biomechanics and cross-linking has translated laboratory discoveries into clinical protocols used worldwide. With this appointment, Prof. Hafezi joins a select international community committed to advancing global ophthalmology.
