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Ophthalmic community grieves Cesare Forlini, brilliant and tireless innovator of ocular surgery

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Cesare Forlini, MD, an internationally acclaimed vitreoretinal surgeon, passed away Feb. 9, ending what he himself defined as “a fierce fight in the mouth of the dragon.”

The former head of the trauma unit and ophthalmology department of Ravenna City Hospital, Italy, Forlini trained at the school of Prof. Egidio Dal Fiume, one of the pioneers of Italian ophthalmology, carrying forward his master’s vocation for complex and combined surgeries. His pole-to-pole “global strategy” and “multidistrict” approach to eye injuries, in which the surgeon moves between the anterior and posterior segment “like a dancer,” has become a paradigm in ocular traumatology and won him the 2013 Helen Keller Lecture at the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.

Cesare Forlini

On that occasion, Ferenc P. Kuhn, MD, PhD, presented him to the audience as “an exceptional person ... one of the most, if not the most, innovative surgeons in the world,” and now remembers him as “a great friend, a colleague with a larger-than-life personality, a surgeon bursting with great ideas and energy, a trauma enthusiast.”

“He was fearless, even ferocious, in the operating room in his undertaking and repairing the most difficult cases imaginable,” Donald J. D’Amico, MD, said. “While his surgical genius alone would place him forever in our pantheon, it does not even begin to measure this remarkable man. Cesare was the most creative, most generous and most energetic specialist in our field, a brilliant and tireless artist whose magnificent artistry included his surgery, his educational offerings, and most of all, his life and loved ones.”

Marcello Bonci, MD, a close friend and colleague in Ravenna, remembers him as “a dreamer fighter, who had the courage to never give in, because always something else could be tried to relieve other people’s suffering.”

“He was the knight who lead us, but always galloped faster and was the first to arrive. A forerunner, driven by never extinguished faith and enthusiasm,” he said.

Co-founder of the European VitreoRetinal Society (EVRS), Forlini had a special creative vein that, together with his sociability and strong belief in teamwork, led him to set up several subspecialty “clubs,” such as the POPEYE – Pole-to-Pole Eye Surgeons Club, the Mediterretina club, the Italians of America in Ophthalmology club and the Italian Artistic Videos in Ophthalmology club.

He had a talent for producing prize-winning videos in which he conjugated science and philosophy in his very personal humorous vein.

“Everybody looked forward to seeing his next movie,” Sengul Ozdek, MD, said.

“He beautifully expressed his desire for freedom of independent thought and freedom of innovation in his movie ‘Innovators or Heretics,’ where Casanova flees the Inquisition to the Prague ‘My Way’ meeting. I show this movie to the participants of the EVRS training school every year in the hope that maybe in a few of them it will install a seed of desire to be truly exceptional,” Klaus Lucke, MD, said.

Being a teacher himself at the EVRS training school, at the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) and in his city, Forlini was keen to pass on competence and passion to the younger generations of ophthalmologists.

A kindhearted man full of profound generosity and benevolence toward his fellow human beings, he left an everlasting legacy of friendship and love.

“He used to tell me that the EVRS was his family in ophthalmology, and indeed I felt, and told him, I was his brother,” Didier Ducournau, MD, said.

“He made his patients happy, his colleagues happy, he had many friends and no enemies. Our lives will be poorer without him, a loss I do not yet know how to cope with. We had so many unforgettable moments together, it is impossible to accept that the list of memories has now come to an end,” Kuhn said. – by Michela Cimberle

Tributes to Cesare Forlini, MD

I first met Cesarone, as I devotedly named him, at the very beginning of my professional career in the ’90s. At that time, Dr. Forlini was already more than a rising star in the field of complex ophthalmic surgery. Later on he coined the term pole-to-pole surgery to describe his approach to difficult trauma cases.

Paolo Lanzetta

I was immediately hit by his energy and compendium of personal qualities: humility and irony, profound knowledge and high surgical skills, ability to teach, friendship with both the youngsters and the biggies. Since then, Cesare accomplished numerous professional targets. He trained a multitude of surgeons in the operating theater and through newer teaching methods such as wet labs and videos. He brought his skills and knowledge to the most remote parts of the planet, and I have met Cesare and his incessant smile in countless international meetings where he was beloved and respected. We will miss Cesarone both professionally and personally.

Paolo Lanzetta, MD, OSN Europe Edition Chairperson of the Editorial Board

Painful sadness and sorrow, this is what I feel now. However, if I think about you, a smile comes up to my face. You have been a teacher and friend to me. I think that one of your greatest merits was sharing thoughts, ideas and techniques, And you did with the enthusiasm of a passionate pioneer and the humility of the true greats.Today we are Cesare. And since you never really liked the English version: "Ciao Cesare. Resti nei nostri cuori di amici e nelle nostre mani e pensieri di chirurghi. Un abbraccio."

Barbara Parolini, MD

Cesare's death is a tragic loss in many regards. His singular personality did combine extraordinary features: great intelligence, free spirit and hard-working capacities dedicated to creativity. Cesare's optimism was sustained by an enduring belief in innovation and ultimately, progress. His relentless fantasy and humor undercovered his profound kindness and mansuetude towards his fellow human beings.

Claude Boscher, MD

I am afraid I shall not sleep tonight. The day we knew was coming has come. You have left us. I do not feel like writing, but I owe it to you. I cannot find the words to tell you just how much we will miss you. We shared so many of life’s unforgettable moments together. Yes, you were an outstanding surgeon, an innovator in many ways and a true entertainer, but above all, you were and are my friend. Honest, loyal and true as few are. Was I able to make you understand how much you meant to me? Many things remain unsaid. Perhaps we will share them again someday.

Giampaolo Gini, MD

It is only the material Cesare that we all will miss at our surgical meetings because your philosophy, your fantastic films and your smile always will be with us. You always were a big guru of retinal surgery, a visionary and a pioneer. You always walked your way, generously allowing us to follow your steps. With deep sorrow I have to mention that now you are doing the same again. You are walking in front of us again along an unexplored path. Ave, Cesare, morituri te salutant.

Ivan Fiser, MD

We have lost a fantastic friend, surgeon and probably the best film producer in ophthalmology ever — because of his surgical skills, humor and perfection in both surgery and film editing. Cesare will be remembered as a founder member of European VitreoRetinal Society who stayed actively involved in the society and who enjoyed a fantastic professional career with respect and acceptance from everybody in many societies around the world. With love and deepest sympathy.

Jerzy Nawrocki, MD

This is such sad news. Cesare was an outstanding friend, a superb surgeon and a dedicated teacher. He was a phenomenal human being with a dedication to excellence. He has taught a generation of retina specialists how to improve their surgeries and have better outcome. He has a lasting impact not only in Italy, but throughout the world.

Ron Adelman, MD

We will remember Cesare as a unique personality in every respect: his positive attitude, his attentiveness and great heart for all people, his generosity, his never ending creativity, his passion for all tasks he made a start on and his contributions to the field of ophthalmology. This has deeply impressed us and thoughts of him stay alive. Thank you so much, Cesare!

Sylvia Bopp, MD