Arthur Henry Havens Sinclair

The emergence of ophthalmology as a specialty in its own right in the later years of the 19th century saw significant contribution from a series of ophthalmologists in Edinburgh. Wardrop, Wishart, the Argyll Robertsons, father and son, all made contributions described elsewhere in this volume. Sinclair followed in this tradition and introduced quantitative perimetry into British ophthalmic practice. His technique of intracapsular lens extraction became popular throughout the world.

Born in Kenmore, Perthshire, at the eastern end of Loch Tay, Arthur Sinclair was the son of the local Free Church Minister. He graduated in medicine from Edinburgh in 1893 going on to obtain his MD and the Fellowship of the College in 1899. Having decided on a career in ophthalmology, he studied in London and Utrecht and travelled widely visiting clinics throughout Europe. He became Clinical Assistant to Sir George Andreas Berry in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and ,through the latter’s family connection (his uncle, Professor Grut, was a distinguished ophthalmologist in Copenhagen) travelled to Scandinavia to study with the doctors who were the pioneers in the investigation of the visual fields. The resulting researches led to Sinclair’s introduction of quantitative perimetry into British surgical practice. After his appointment as Ophthalmic Surgeon in the Royal Infirmary, he developed numerous surgical techniques. That which is always associated with his name is the technique of intra capsular extraction of the lens. He appreciated the disadvantages of extra capsular extraction and developed a novel technique performed using instruments which he had designed himself. He demonstrated the safety and efficacy of this new technique which became widely accepted into British surgical practice.

Sinclair went on to become Surgeon Oculist to the King in Scotland from 1928, President of the Royal Ophthalmological Society , and in 1933 was elected President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and a member of the Royal Company of Archers.

In his later years he was instrumental in establishing the W H Ross Foundation for the study of the prevention of blindness. He had suggested to Ross that his generous endowment should be devoted to ophthalmic research and for many years acted as Director of the institution.

Having become the doyen of lens extraction, he received visitors from all over the world, whom he entertained in his elegant Adam house in Charlotte Square. In leisure moments he enjoyed escaping to his boyhood haunts in Perthshire to fish for salmon.