George L. Spaeth

Director Emeritus, Glaucoma Service, Wills Eye Hospital Sidney Kimmel Medical College and Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Profile

Despite his father establishing an internationally recognized department of ophthalmology at Water Reed, George Spaeth only became interested in ophthalmology during a rotating internship at the University of Michigan. Finding it to be a rewarding and “clean” specialty, Spaeth decided to venture into the field, becoming a resident at Wills Eye Hospital in 1961. It was here, whilst working alongside G. Winston Barber, that he discovered a previously unknown disease – homocystinuria – and identified a partially effective treatment in Vitamin B6, pyridoxine. That same year, Spaeth became the first person to use the antiparasitic drug, thiabendazole, to treat a patient with severe trichinosis. It was also during this time that Spaeth began to appreciate the importance of listening to patients and asking relevant questions to identify the best cause of action. More than 60 years later, this ethos still remains particularly important for Spaeth.

Since being assigned to the field of glaucoma in 1963 at the National Institutes of Health, Spaeth has gone on to establish his place as an internationally recognized figure in ophthalmology. Culminating in over 400 papers published in refereed journals, 200 editorials, and 23 books, Spaeth’s huge influence over the field is unequivocal. Alongside his publications, Spaeth has presented over 30 named lectureships, has famously set up a practice specializing in glaucoma at Wills Eye Hospital, and is one of the founders – and first president – of the American Glaucoma Society.

It is humbling to note that, amidst all of these groundbreaking accomplishments, Spaeth stresses: “The most important thing is not our career by any stretch – it’s what kind of people we are.” 

We are delighted to induct George Spaeth into The Ophthalmologist Power List Hall of Fame not only for his many achievements – but also for his inspirational attitude to medicine and life.

Awards & Honors

1995 – Herbert Neufeld Award, Lawyers Alliance for Nuclear Arms Control
2000 – Lifetime Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
2008 – Goldmann Medal, International Glaucoma Research Society
2011 – Albert Schweitzer Leadership Award
2012 – Mildred Weisenfeld Award, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)
2017 – Lucian Howe Medal, American Ophthalmological Society
2021 – Laureate Award, World Glaucoma Association
2022 – Surgical Hall of Fame, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)
2022 – EnergEYES Aware, Young Ophthalmologists of the AAO
2023 – The Ophthalmologist Power List Hall of Fame