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I only got to meet Brien Holden once, a few years ago at the Academy of Optometry meeting. Already in his 70s, he could have retired long before then. He had certainly earned it, when you consider the breadth of his contributions in more than four decades of practice. Rather than winding down his professional endeavors after a storied career, he was still going full-tilt.
At a time in his life when other pioneers would be on a yacht or a golf course, Brien was doing a meet-and-greet with the press, working the room with his trademark combination of charm and conviction. I remember how animated he was while describing to me how his forthcoming retinal camera would help bring eye health screenings to underserved populations, particularly in developing countries. There was a glint in his eye that conveyed just how much this meant to him. It was more than just another product launch; this, like so many of his projects, was for the greater good.
His tenacity in working to solve intractable problems like the delivery of eye care in poor communities reminds me of that famous Robert Kennedy quote: “Some men see things as they are and say, ‘Why?’ I dream of things that never were, and ask, ‘Why not?’” Maybe Brien wouldn’t have been brazen enough to say it quite that way, but he lived it. The Brien Holden Vision Institute was just one of the ways he acted upon that principle. The BHVI will no doubt continue to fulfill Brien’s mission. Others are surely just as dedicated to service as he was.
“Today is a very sad day in the history of our organization,” said the BHVI’s Kovin Naidoo in a statement. “Brien was a man of extraordinary vision who devoted himself to the service of mankind. He demanded that the research be indivisible from the service to society.”
A gregarious man, Brien apparently spent his last night in a pub with some colleagues. I’m glad he was surrounded by friends. I just wish I’d had a chance to have a pint with him too at some point. Those who knew him have been sharing stories in recent weeks about his personal and professional impact on them. His influence will long be felt. Cheers, Brien. And thank you.
The Quest for Comfort
This month marks Review of Optometry’s 39th year of devoting an issue to contact lenses. The theme for 2015 is one that has vexed patients and practitioners alike since the earliest days: comfort. Because discomfort is one of the most frequently reported causes of contact lens dropout, we asked several experts to share their best tips for understanding, preventing and—when needed—eliminating the sources of discomfort that lead to patient dissatisfaction. We hope you’ll find many worthwhile insights to help your patients succeed.
