successfully treat and cure a viral infection. Research and Discoveries First Anti-Viral Medication: 5-iododeoxyuridine (IDU) 5-iododeoxyuridine (IDU) had been synthesized 8 years earlier by William Prusoff as an anticancer medication. Kaufman tested IDU as a possible agent to disrupt viral replication in active Herpes Simplex Virus infections of the eye. IDU was proven effective and resulted in the discovery of the first antiviral agent used in humans to treat an active viral infection. This agent was subsequently used to effectively treat Herpes Simplex keratitis, the primary cause of corneal blindness in the Western world at that time. Kaufman also developed the use of topical steroids in the treatment course of some corneal infections that were made worse by the host reaction to the infection. [Steroids and ISU Ref] The use of steroids reduced the damage produced by the host reaction and lessened the tissue damage that occurred as part of the infection. Glaucoma Medication: Timolol Yale researcher Marvin Sears, observed that timolol, a beta-adrenergic agent, had an intraocular pressure lowering effect in rabbit eyes when used to dissolve lens zonules. There was reluctance among industry to investigate this drug further in trials because of the absence of a large market. Kaufman identified timolol as a possible therapeutic agent to treat glaucoma and with Thomas Zimmerman, conduct basic science and clinical trials with timolol, at the University of Florida. This introduced an entirely new class of drugs to treat glaucoma; it was ultimately marketed by Merck, Sharp and Dohme. Fungal Corneal Infection Medication: Prymaricin (Natamycin) While at the University of Florida, fungal infections of the eye were common and Kaufman sought to find an effective treatment for use on the eye. He read that a Dutch company used Prymaricin to prevent cheese from getting moldy. He designed an animal model of a fungal infection with which he and his colleague, Emanuel Newman, proved that the substance was efficacious for treating human infection. They provided Prymaricin to clinicians at no cost for a number of years. The medication ultimately received FDA approval without a clinical trial or a manufacturer. Alcon Laboratories later manufactured the drug as Natamycin. Prymaricin (natamycin) is still commonly used today. Bandage Contact Lens With Tony Gasset, Kaufman studied therapeutic soft contact lens (SCL) use to promote corneal healing and reduce pain. They also pioneered the use SCL and collagen shields as a sustained release mechanism for medication to