William John Holmes - Prime Mover of the APAO in Prevention of Blindness in Asia and The Pacific

Malcolm Ing

Introduction: William John Holmes has been recognized as a leader in the establishment of the APAO in 1958. As a fellow ophthalmologist from Honolulu, the author was able to document his efforts on behalf of the APAO.

Methods: Research has revealed the early history of APAO from its conception in 1958 at the 19th International Congress of Ophthalmology in Brussels where Dr. Holmes aided a decision to establish the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.

Findings: Dr. Holmes helped organize the first APAO meeting in Manila, October 10-13, 1960. He was able to persuade several prominent ophthalmologists of international fame to share their knowledge with ophthalmologists from Asia and the Pacific regions and established a tradition that has carried on for the past 51 years.

Conclusion: William John Holmes can truly be called the Prime Mover of the APAO.