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: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Time: 7.00pm to 8.30pm
Location: Theatre Auditorium at The University Club of Western Australia
Tickets: Free (with ticket). Secure your tickets on Eventbrite.
Parking: Parking is available on Hackett Drive, or in UWA car park 5. Fees may apply.
About the speaker
Intraocular lens (Photo credit: Chris Barry)
Professor Graham Barrett AM is a world-renowned ophthalmologist who trained in Western Australia, with specialist experience gained in the USA. He has made outstanding national and international contributions to ophthalmology and co-founded the Australian Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, serving in this role for over 25 years. He is also past President of the Asia Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
He is the first Australian ophthalmologist to receive the prestigious Binkhorst, Ridley, Sushruta and Choyce Awards in the same year, and is widely recognised for developing innovative cataract surgery instruments and mathematical formulas as well as publishing extensively and speaking at leading conferences worldwide.
In 2023, Professor Barrett was inducted into The Ophthalmologist Power List Hall of Fame, honouring his outstanding contribution to the field of ophthalmology.
