Perry Scott Binder, born on September 9, 1942, passed away on November 28, 2025, at the age of 83. He was a resident of San Diego, California.
Dr. Perry S. Binder, MS, MD, was one of those rare people who shaped both a field and the people in it. From the early days of radial keratotomy through the emergence of the excimer laser, and later as a true pioneer of femtosecond LASIK with Intralase and the first flaps, he was always on the front line of refractive surgery, asking hard questions and sharing what he learned.
He helped transform refractive surgery from an experiment into a disciplined, evidence-based specialty. His work on corneal wound healing, flap architecture, residual stromal bed, and ectasia risk changed how we think about biomechanics and why safety margins matter. As ISRS President from 1989 to 1990, and as a senior leader ever since, he pushed our community toward honest outcomes analysis, patient safety, and transparent discussion of complications. He remained engaged with ISRS until his final days, strongly supporting the recent transition of ISRS to become independent from the AAO.
My own relationship with Perry began through my mentor, Dr. Steve Wilson, one of his close friends. From Perry’s talks, papers, and personal communications, I was always learning. In 2010, he helped us introduce the first femtosecond laser technology in Rio de Janeiro, sharing both his experience and his caution. Less than two weeks before his passing, we were still exchanging emails, analyzing his remarkable LASIK database with applied artificial intelligence to refine our understanding of ectasia risk. His curiosity, precision, and generosity were fully present in every message.
In retirement, he reinvented himself without ever abandoning ophthalmology. He moved to Idaho, wrote many books, developed passions for photography, gardening, golf, Spanish with his grandson, and even jazz piano, all while quietly mentoring younger colleagues and updating his databases.
We mourn the loss of a great teacher, researcher, and friend. His work, his data, and his example should be honored and remembered. May we continue to practice refractive surgery with the same curiosity, integrity, creativity, and humanity that defined Perry S. Binder’s life.
Renato Ambrósio Jr, MD, PhD.
Former president of ISRS.
Rio de Janeiro – Brazil
