"Dr. Edelhauser is a dear friend, colleague, and mentor to many of us," says Timothy W. Olsen, director of Emory Eye Center. "He had many unique talents. Not only was he a brilliant physiologist, he also understood clinical ophthalmology, especially ophthalmic surgery. His role in the development of irrigating solutions for ophthalmic surgery combined with his landmark work on the corneal endothelium has helped millions of people see better and avoid blindness. His lists of academic accomplishments are too numerous to list. Hank was so well known in clinical ophthalmology that people confused his PhD for an MD. Most importantly, Dr. Edelhauser’s character was impeccable. He was knowledgeable, also wise, yet always humble. His spirit was kind, gentle and approachable. Combined with an eternal optimism and genuine curiosity, these characteristics attracted us to Hank as a friend, colleague and mentor. Hank was very proud of his family: Barbara, Scott, and Jill. He will be dearly missed." "Dr. Edelhauser was the best translational research scientist in ophthalmology. His discoveries helped countless patients regain and retain sight," says Hans E. Grossniklaus, MD, MBA. "He was an irreplaceable colleague and friend. He will be sorely missed." In a fitting tribute to Dr. Edelhauser in 2012, former student Tracy Kangas, MD, PhD, wrote "All I Need to Know I Learned in Hank’s Lab." She remarked that he taught his students many things in addition to science. Among what she gleaned from Dr. Edelhauser’s teachings are: "Be on time, because Hank will be early ... Be honest and direct in all areas of your life… period ... Build bridges, and then look for new bridges to build ...never burn them." Kangas well understood his character sharing, remarking "Hank practiced humility like his dear friend Dr. Tom Aaberg." Dr. Edelhaser won nearly every national award in vision research, including the prestigious Castroviejo and Proctor medals, the highest honors in his field. At the presentation of the Proctor Award, he was cited for "elegant translational research from basic science to clinical applications." In 2010 he presented the Charles D. Kelman Innovators Lecture at ASCRS. Dr. Edelhauser was past president of ARVO and was honored in 2012 by the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) for his lifetime of work. Throughout his career he spoke at major conferences on many continents, having been regarded as a consummate expert on innovative vision research, as well as being an accomplished speaker.