Possible, but not proven coat of arms Op den Graeff as descendants of Herman op den Graeff (Heraldic representation by Matthias Laurenz Gräff based on the Krefeld Op den Graeff stained glass window from 1630, which may depict the “Lohengrin swan” of the Kleve coat of arms in one window)
Stephen Updegraff graduated from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was exposed to the medical treatment of eyes at an early age by his father, ophthalmologist Ambrose Updegraff, M.D., whom he accompanied on hospital rounds to visit patients who had undergone eye surgeries.[4]
Updegraff completed a six-month internship and his ophthalmic residency at the Louisiana State University Eye Center in New Orleans, where he performed research on excimer lasers, focusing specifically on procedures such as keratomileusis.[7] During a fellowship at the University of Texas-Houston's Hermann Eye Center, Updegraff worked for Stephen G. Slade, M.D.,[8] then one of only two surgeons in the United States performing keratomileusis,[9] and was a member of the team chaired by Slade and Luis A. Ruiz, M.D., that developed LASIK.[8]
During its 1994 FDAclinical trials, Updegraff performed the third LASIK surgery in the United States. He then became the first surgeon to perform LASIK in Asia, where he demonstrated it and taught its techniques to hundreds of doctors in China.[10] Updegraff currently has seven patents on technologies for LASIK and microsurgery of the eye,[11][12] and he frequently lectures and publishes on issues and advancements in refractive surgery.
Patents
Apparatus and method for mechanically dilating the pupil of an eye (1994)[13]
Method of radial keratotomy employing a vibrating cutting blade (1995)[14]
Corneal surface marker and marking method for reducing irregular astigmatism during lamellar (LASIK) corneal surgery (1997)[15]
Corneal surface marker and marking method for improving laser centration (1998)[16]
Corneal irrigation cannula and method of using (1998)[17]
1995-97 Advisory Panel, Ethicon Surgery[12]
1996-00 Skills Transfer Advisory Board Member, American Academy of Ophthalmology[12]
1997-00 USA Representative, International Society of Refractive Surgery Global Council[12]
1998-00 VISX Star Surgeon, Top 50 Excimer Laser Surgeons, United States[12]
1999 Outstanding Career Achievement Award, Eckerd College[12]
2000 Best Presentation, International Society of Refractive Surgery[12]
2001 Achievement Award, American Academy of Ophthalmology[12]
2003 Outstanding Business of the Year Award, St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce[12]
2003 Performed first Crystalens lens implant surgery in Florida[20]
2003-05 Board of Trustees Member, Prevent Blindness[12]
2007 Kritzinger Memorial Award, International Society of Refractive Surgery & South African Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery[12]
2008 Center of Excellence Award, Crystalens[12]
2009 Best Paper of Session, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery[12]
2009-11 Dean's Council on Science member, Eckerd College[12]
2009 Distinguished Citizen Award, West Central Florida Council Boy Scouts of America[21]
2010-12 Best Doctors in America list[12]
2010-11 Leading Innovators in Premium IOL implant surgery list, Premier Surgeon[12]
2011 Top Doctors list, U.S. News & World Report[22]
^ abSlade, Stephen G., Stephen A. Updegraff, and Stephen F. Brint. (1995) In Salz, James. "Excimer Laser Myopic Keratomileusis: United States Experience," Corneal Laser Surgery. St. Louis: Mosby. 195-6.
^"On the Run with Larry Ericksmoen," National Dragster Magazine, September 3, 1998.
^Updegraff, Stephen A. (2003) "The Moria M2 Microkeratome and LASIK Technique." Brint, Stephen, and Lucio Buratto. Custom LASIK: Surgical Techniques and Complications. Thorofare, NJ: Slack. 611-620.
