Dr. Robert Laughlin, 81, Eye Surgeon For 50 Years

Dr. Robert Clark Laughlin loved being an ophthalmologist. He worked as an eye surgeon for 50 years. And last Tuesday, he even scheduled eight patients for appointments.

He was forced to cancel his eight Tuesday appointments after becoming gravely ill, however, and he died last Wednesday of lung cancer. He was 81.

A memorial service took place Saturday at the Seattle Golf Club.

Of humble, rural roots, Dr. Laughlin became the first head of ophthalmology at the University of Washington Medical School, and he rose to leadership positions in professional ophthalmology organizations.

He served as director of ophthalmology at Children's Hospital from 1942 to 1967, and served as co-chief of the program there until 1986. He also donated a half-day each week for surgery and services at the hospital.

Born May 5, 1909, in Belle Center, Ohio, he was an excellent student at the community's one-room school and made his way during the Depression to Harvard University.

He later attended medical school at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

``When he was a medical student, he was absolutely intrigued with the whole concept of how cells could interpret vision,'' said his son, Christopher Laughlin.

He traveled west to Seattle in 1940 to put together the state's first residency program in ophthalmology at Harborview Medical Center.

But war called. So, he moved back to Baltimore and became the

head of Eye Research for the Chemical Warfare Service. One of his jobs was to help develop antidotes for Allied troops who might fall victim to chemical weapons.

He returned to Seattle after the war and in 1949 was a member of a committee that founded the Division of Ophthalmology at the University of Washington's Medical School.

When the division began enrolling students in 1953, he was chosen as its first director, as a volunteer. He served as volunteer director until 1966, but continued as a professor until 1986.

He retained the title of emeritus professor, an unusual honor that he was bestowed ``because he was one of the most senior people and he was one of the most respected,'' said Dr. Robert Kalina, chairman of ophthalmology at the UW.

Dr. Laughlin continued to attend monthly meetings at the university until a couple of years ago, said Kalina.

For about 30 years, Dr. Laughlin had his office in the stately Campion-Dearborn mansion at 1117 Minor Ave. It was made a national landmark while he owned it. His sons remembered playing there as children, amidst the fine furniture that had come from the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel when it was remodeled.

During his career, he served as president of Washington State Ophthalmological Society and the Washington Society for the Prevention of Blindness. Dr. Laughlin once told one of his sons that he had performed 5,000 operations to correct crossed eyes.

He was a member of the Seattle Tennis Club and the Seattle Golf Club. Ever-active, Dr. Laughlin last played golf Sept. 23, and would have played more if weather had permitted, said his son, Peter Laughlin.

He is survived by his wife Betty, a daughter, Alston Laughlin of Portland; sons Robert C. Laughlin Jr. of Kennewick, Peter L. Laughlin of Lexington, Ky., and Christopher L. Laughlin of Seattle; two stepchildren, LeRoy and Thomas Backus of Portland, and two grandchildren.

Remembrances are suggested to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center or to the Washington Society for the Prevention of Blindness.