- Co-Founder & President: RSII,OFPHIL
- Associate Clinical Professor: Dept. of Ophthalmology - Harvard Medical
School
- Ophthalmic Surgeon: Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
- Senior Scientist Emeritus: Schepens Eye Research Institute
- Founding Member: Retina Specialists of Boston, Inc.
A graduate of the Medical School of the University of the Philippines,
Dr.Tolentino built his professional reputation as a distinguished member
of the Boston medical establishment. He joined the Schepens Eye Research
Institute in 1962 as a clinical and research fellow in vitreo-retinal
diseases and soon after became a trailblazer in the field. In 1976 he
coauthored (with Drs. Schepens and Freeman) a pioneering book, "Vitreoretinal
Disorders, Diagnosis and Management", which elucidates the role of the
vitreous in retinal diseases. He has co-authored altogether three books
on ocular diseases and surgery, written hundreds of original journal articles,
dozens of invited book chapters, and delivered hundreds of invited lectures.
Dr.Tolentino has also actively collaborated in the development of many
inventions for vitreoretinal surgery such as: the automation and computerization
of vitrectomy machines for the removal of opaque vitreous and retinal
tissues, the development of new scleral buckling materials and vitreous
substitutes for the restoration of blindness brought about by retinal
detachment, the formulation of antiproliferative agents dissolved in silicone
oil to prevent the destructive proliferation of scar tissue on the retina,
and the development of a glue made from human protein material used to
seal retinal tears and patch damaged ocular tissue.
Not one to sit on his laurels, Dr. Tolentino has reached out through
the years to the poor of his native Philippines, establishing eye care
programs for those suffering from various forms of blindness and eye diseases.
In1989, with the help of civic-spirited friends and associates from the
Philippines, Japan and the USA, he founded the Ophthalmological Foundation
of the Philippines (OFPHIL) and in December 1996, he co-founded Restoring
Sight International, Inc., two pioneering organizations through which
he hopes to carry out his tradition of sharing and compassion well into
the next century.
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