1. In Memorium Professor Yasuo Tano 1948-2009
Thank you Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen.
First of all, I would like to thank the organizing committee of the AOI for giving me the opportunity to address you in memory of Professor Yasuo Tano,
who was my dear colleague as well as one of my best friends.
Tatsuro Ishibashi, M.D., Ph.D.

2. Yasuo Tano, M.D. Born in Nishiwaki, Japan on February 12, 1948
1972 Graduated from Osaka University Medical School
Yasuo was born in Nishiwaki city near Kobe. After he graduated from Osaka University Medical School in 1972, he launched a career as an ophthalmologist. When he was a medical student, he met Ryoko and got married. Their loving and devoted relationship lasted for 41 years.

3. Yasuo Tano, M.D.
Residency in Ophthalmology, Osaka University Hospital
Research fellowship, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute,
Research fellowship, Duke University Eye Center
Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School
Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School
Vice President, Osaka University Hospital
After completing his ophthalmology residency at the Osaka University Hospital, Yasuo tried to receive additional subspecialty training in the US, and was luckily accepted by the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. There, he was fortunate to work with Dr. Machemer, a great leader in the field of the retina. He then moved to the Duke University Eye Center with Dr. Machemer. During the 3 years Yasuo spent in the US, he was blessed with many good friends and colleagues with whom he continued to keep up with for the rest of his life.

4. Department of Ophthalmology Osaka University Medical School
After returning to Japan in 1981, Yasuo became an Associate Professor at Osaka University Medical School. Then in 1991, he was chosen to chair the Department of Ophthalmology at Osaka University, where he oversaw 10 to 15 residents every year, and managed over 150 ophthalmologists working at the Osaka University Hospital and affiliated hospitals. Fifteen of these young residents mentored by Yasuo were to later become the heads of other ophthalmology departments in Japan.
Kyoto, 2007

5. Official Appointments: Domestic
Council Member, Science Council of Japan
President, Japanese Ophthalmological Society
Board of Directors, Japanese Ophthalmological Society
Board of Directors, Japanese Society of Ophthalmic Surgeons
Board of Directors, Vitreoretinal Society of Japan
Council Member, Japan Diabetes Society
Board of Directors, Japan Contact Lens Society
Secretary General, Closed Eye Surgery Club
Chairman, Mori Award Selection Committee
Yasuo had a great vision for the future of not only Japanese but also international ophthalmology and provided his deep insight into issues that affected it. For about 20 years, he served the board of Japanese Ophthalmological Society. As listed here, he was the president of the Japanese Ophthalmological Society for a total of 4 years over 2 terms. It is obvious that he played the important role as a leader of our society. He was also a council member of the prestigious Science Council of Japan as only one ophthalmologist. Furthermore Yasuo was a board member of many other academic societies in Japan.

6. Official Appointments: International
Treasurer, International Council of Ophthalmology
Advisory Committee, International Council of Ophthalmology
President, Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology
President, The Club Jules Gonin
Council Member, International Society for Eye Research
International Board Member, International Society of Ocular Trauma
Chairman, Alcon Research Institute Scientific Advisory Board
Yasuo’s immense efforts to advance ophthalmology by sharing information and knowledge earned the great respect of not only his Japanese colleagues, but also his colleagues around the world. Yasuo was appointed to many important positions in various international societies as listed here. At the time of his passing, Yasuo was simultaneously Treasurer of the International Council of Ophthalmology, President of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, and President of the Club Jules Gonin.

7. 2002 Jules Gonin Meeting 2004 Jules Gonin Meeting 2004 Vail Meeting
Here are some memorable pictures of Yasuo at various international conferences. Although he had a strict appearance, Yasuo was warm, kind and considerate person. He was a man of great insight and united wisdom with bravery and moreover he had a sense of humor.　I believe that you all remember him this way as well.
2004 Jules Gonin Meeting
2004 Vail Meeting

8. Editorial Board Member for Numerous Peer-Reviewed English Language Journals
・Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology (Executive Editor Emeritus)
・American Journal of Ophthalmology
・Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (International Co-editor)
・Survey of Ophthalmology
・Current Eye Research
・Retina
・Seminars in Ophthalmology
・Current Opinion in Ophthalmology
・Eye Science
・Journal of Eye Trauma ( )
・Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science ( )
Yasuo served as an Executive Editor of the Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology, as well as an editorial board member for 15 other English and Japanese language ophthalmology journals, including the American Journal of Ophthalmology, Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, and Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

9. Selected Honors and Awards
2000 Sir Norman McAllister Gregg Medal, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, Sydney, Australia
2001 The Gertrude Pylon Award for Outstanding Retina Research, Retina Research Foundation, Houston, USA
2002 Patrick Ho Lecture, Shantou University, Shantou, China
2002 LIX Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Orlando, FL, USA
2002 Arthur Gerard DeVoe Lecture, Columbia University, New York, USA
2003 Keynote Lecture, Project Vision & National Telemedicine Educational Symposium, Shantou, China
2003 Special Plenary Lecture, LVII Annual Meeting of Japanese Clinical Ophthalmology, Nagoya, Japan
2004 Mori Award and Lecture, Japan Retina Vitreous Society, Kyoto, Japan
2005 De Ocampo Lecture, 20th APAO Congress, Malaysia
2006 George Theodossiadis Lecture, IV Hippocratic Symposium, Greece
2006 International Gold Medal Award, VI International Symposium of Ophthalmology, Hong Kong, China
Yasuo accomplished many great achievements and had been honored for many domestic and international awards. This is only a partial list, but includes the Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2002.

10. LIX Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture 2002
This is a photograph of Yasuo giving the Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture. He spoke about pathologic myopia, one of the leading causes of blindness in Asia. The lecture focused on recent advances in the understanding of pathogenesis of myopia, as well as surgical treatments for various types of myopic maculopathy, including foveal schisis and macular hole formation.
“Pathologic myopia: where are we now?”

11. Scientific Publications
Original articles (in peer-reviewed English language journals): 345
Original articles (in peer-reviewed Japanese language journals): 288
Proceedings (in English) 16
Textbooks
Authorized translations of English language textbooks: 3
Yasuo will certainly be remembered also for his numerous scientific publications that included 345 original scientific articles in English, 288 original scientific articles in Japanese, and 59 textbooks.

12. Development of Surgical Instruments
Micro-hooked needle
Asymmetric forceps (Tano forceps)
Diamond-dusted membrane scraper
Vitrectomy sutureless lens system
27-gauge vitrectomy system
As you all know, Yasuo was also extremely original and creative in the field of vitreoretinal surgery. Some of the surgical instruments that he helped to develop include the micro-hooked needle and the asymmetric forceps, both in common use throughout the world today. Yasuo was also the inventor of the diamond-dusted membrane scraper and the sutureless lens ring system to support the lens during vitrectomy.

13. 27-Gauge Vitrectomy System
27G Chandelier Endo-illuminator
29 Gauge Fiber
10 mm
13 mm
More recently, Yasuo was involved in the development of a 27-gauge vitrectomy system. This slide shows a few instruments designed mainly by Yasuo for this new small gauge system.
(Courtesy of Yusuke Oshima, M.D.)

14. Clinical Research and Development
Triamcinolone for proliferative vitreoretinopathy
Non-vitrectomizing vitreous surgery
Macular translocation surgery
Artificial vision project
Yasuo’s involvement in clinical research also included many other projects. For example, during his stay in the US with Dr. Machemer, Yasuo showed that triamcinolone acetonide could be safely injected into the eye and reduce the rate of proliferative vitreoretinopathy in rabbit eyes. This knowledge was to later become the basis of the use of triamcinolone acetonide for various vitreoretinal disorders.

15. Non-Vitrectomizing Vitreous Surgery15
Non-Vitrectomizing Vitreous Surgery
Helps to prevent nuclear cataract progression in surgery for idiopathic epiretinal membrane: 　　
Pre-op
1 year post-op
Yasuo also introduced the concept of non-vitrectomizing vitreous surgery to prevent postoperative nuclear sclerotic cataract progression. This idea was quite unique, and led to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of this most frequent complication after vitrectomy in phakic eyes.
Saito Y, Tano Y, et al. Ophthalmology 1999 15

16. Macular Translocation Surgery
50-year-old man with myopic choroidal neovascularization
VA=0.2
VA=1.0
Yasuo was also well-known for his extensive contributions in developing surgical techniques and instruments to facilitate full-macular translocation. As shown in this slide, excellent surgical results were achieved using this surgical procedure, particularly in highly myopic eyes with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.
(Courtesy of Masahito Ohji, M.D.)

17. Japan Artificial Vision Project
Yasuo Tano: Principal Investigator (since 2001)
Most recently, Yasuo also led a large, multi-institutional project in Japan to develop artificial vision. I am pleased to report that a preliminary clinical trial for this project is due to start in Japan within a year or so.

18. Ryoko and Yasuo Tano in St. Moritz, 2008
It is my privilege to have had this great opportunity to know him and learn from him. Yasuo was blessed with his lovely wife: Ryoko, his sons: Ryotaro and Kojiro, and his daughter: Sayaka. He also had five grandchildren.
Yasuo will be missed tremendously. He will be remembered as a great ophthalmologist, a warm-hearted gentleman, and a fabulous friend.
Thank you very much.
Ryoko and Yasuo Tano in St. Moritz, 2008