Michael D. Sanders: 1935-2022

In Memoriam Michael D. Sanders—1935–2022 M ichael Sanders who has died at age 86 years founded neuro ophthalmology as an ophthalmic subspecialty in England. He was born and spent his early years in Sri Lanka where his father was a tea planter with a happy childhood of “various stages of bicycles, ponies, and pleasant nannies.” In 1942, he travelled with his mother and brother to refuge in South Africa returning to Sri Lanka after the war before coming to England to Prep school at Perrott Hill, a new school in Somerset, where he was elected Victor Ludorum but because there were just 13 pupils and 2 girls, he felt this was more related to the number of pupils rather than athletic ability. From there, he moved to Tonbridge school. He joined Guy’s Hospital as a medical student just after his 18th birthday and after Guys, where his interest in ophthalmology was sparked by winning the Charles Oldham Eyes prize; he began his house jobs. In 1959, he joined The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company a British shipping company as Assistant Surgeon on SS Strathmore, which enabled him to drink a substantial amount of gin and to visit his parents in Sri Lanka on the Graham and Spalton: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2023; 43: e87-e88 way to and from Australia. This voyage introduced him to surgery because he repaired 3 tendons in the hand of a sailor who had met a fracas. On return to London, he deviated from the standard surgical ophthalmology training to experience neurosurgery at the Maudsley Hospital and spent 1 year learning general medicine at Balham Hospital where he acquired the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). After 3 years at the High Holborn Branch of Moorfields Eye Hospital, where he worked for 3 leaders in ophthalmology, Sir Stephen Miller, James Hudson, and Patrick Trevor Roper, he obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS). Very few doctors of this generation had the double qualification of MRCP and FRCS, but these were essential to his success as a pioneering neuro-ophthalmologist. In 1967, he won a Medical Research Council Fellowship to go to San Francisco to study under Professor William F. Hoyt, the leading world neuro-ophthalmologist of the day. This year proved pivotal in the accumulation of knowledge and the forging of lifelong friendships with other neuro-ophthalmologists all of whom became leading experts. Professor Hoyt had a very strict routine—ward rounds began at 7:30 and patients were seen in the morning and afternoon. The evening was spent in the library with a final discussion with the boss at 10 PM before the presentation next morning. Intellectual standards were rigorous, and ward rounds were tough. He published 8 research articles during the year. Michael remained in close contact with the other fellows including Joel Glaser, Robert Daroff, Martin Lubow, Myles Behrens, and Bjorn Tengroth all his life much to the benefit of Mike’s trainees in this country as they would frequently visit him in London and teach the students. On return from the United States, he was appointed Consultant Neuro-ophthalmologist to the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, and a year later, on the retirement of Sir Harold Ridley, the pioneer of lens implant cataract surgery, joined John Winstanley at St Thomas’ Hospital. In 1973, St Thomas’ Hospital acquired the Royal Eye Hospital and, within this, a unique Medical Eye Unit specializing in the management of patients whose eye conditions reflected general medical disease. Here, he was joined by his friend and colleague the neurologist Ralph Ross Russell (known as R3) which enabled Sanders to widen his neuroophthalmology expertise to include inflammatory, infective, and vascular disease of the eye. He quickly established a first-class training unit with visiting fellows from North and South America, Australia, and Europe, who sowed the seeds for future networks of e87 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. In Memoriam neuro-ophthalmologists all over the world, still in place today. He spent the next 30 years seeing cases, teaching students, and running lectures and conferences with a prodigious research output. Consequently, he gave 7 prestigious named lectures and wrote over 180 peerreviewed articles embracing new knowledge and techniques. These included one of the first articles (with Mr Timothy ffytche)1—on the use of fluorescein angiography for investigating diseases of the blood vessels in the retina and optic nerve and how computerized tomography scans (CT scans) and MRI would help transform the diagnosis of brain disease. He wrote the first book on Computerized Scanning in Neuro-ophthalmology with Dr Ivan Mosely. He had the ability to recognize new developments in technology and how they could be used to facilitate diagnosis. He was a wonderful teacher and gifted lecturer, so much so that he changed the perception of what was deemed to be one of the less exciting and more complicated areas of ophthalmology, to be simple and even quite fun. Sanders strongly believed in a very disciplined work ethic and exceptionally exacting standards, which he had experienced with Professor Hoyt, but he never forgot the importance of making sure those that worked with him could relax and have fun. His generosity of spirit extended far beyond the clinic, and he and his wife Thalia hosted frequent convivial gatherings to celebrate any achievement e88 or the arrival of a new member of the team. Thalia survives him with their 2 children. He was a trustee of the Iris Fund for Prevention of Blindness and the Frost Foundation, and he established the Frost Professorship of Ophthalmology at Kings College Hospital. After retirement, he continued his charitable work. He was on the committee of the Gift of Sight, which supports work at Southampton Eye Hospital. Michael Sanders remained curious after his retirement when he channeled his energies into Chawton Church and Jane Austen as well as golf, fishing, and gardening. His final article was on the cause of Jane Austen’s premature death,2—and it is very apt that this was published in the Daily Telegraph a few days before he died peacefully with the satisfaction of knowing his CV was completed. Elizabeth M. Graham David J. Spalton REFERENCES 1. Sanders MD, Ffytche TJ. Fluorescein angiography in the diagnosis of drusen of the disc. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K (1962). 1967;87:457–468. 2. Sanders MD, Graham EM. ’Black and white and every wrong colour’: the medical history of Jane Austen and the possibility of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus. 2021;30:549–553. Graham and Spalton: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2023; 43: e87-e88 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.