Foulks honored by Cornea Society

A UofL faculty member's attention to diseases of the surface of the eye has earned him special recognition by The Cornea Society, an international society of ophthalmologists.

Gary Foulks, M.D., was awarded the Castroviejo Medal in October at the joint annual scientific meeting of The Cornea Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

According to Foulks, UofL's Arthur and Virginia Keeney Professor of Ophthalmology, the proteins and lipids in tears interact rather than function separately, which can create instability. This instability can then lead to the formation of "tear film" that results in significant visual impairment.

A graduate of the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Foulks completed residency training at the Duke University Eye Center and fellowship training in cornea and external eye disease at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

The Castroviejo Medal, named after the founder of The Cornea Society, is awarded yearly to a member who has made outstanding contributions to the field of cornea and the advancement of The Cornea Society's goals.

Foulks is a past president and long-time member of the organization.