Honoring the history of the Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture. The L Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture. Part 1.

Abstract

The occasion of the 50th Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture provides an opportunity to look back on the history of the lecture that honors the memory of one of the most outstanding ophthalmologists of modern times. A review is provided as to how the lecture was established after Dr. Jackson's death in 1942 and how the memorial lecturers are chosen. There is a brief glimpse into the life, accomplishments, and personality of Dr. Jackson, and past Jackson lectures are highlighted to demonstrate the breadth of topics and their significance to the advancement of medicine and ophthalmology. In particular, two Jackson Memorial Lectures on the subjects of genetics and glaucoma are discussed since they fit well into the 40-year anniversary of the discovery, in 1953, of the DNA double helix.