2000
The new century began with Ian Collins handing over the baton to Donald J. Munro as the new Managing Director. Ian Collins moved to be the Company Chairman, succeeding Arthur Swain who had taken over from Jim Hobson in the mid 90‘s.
Under Ian and Donnie’s management and with the effective drive and youthful energies of Mike Ring (Operations Director) and Mark Mullaney (QA & Regulatory Affairs Director) the Board of the company focused on the two main goals of growing the business through renewing Rayner’s R&D status and the commitment to re-enter the US market with a truly innovative lens product.
But history-making was ever-present even as the company looked forward. At Buckingham Palace in the 9th February, 2000, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Harold Ridley became Sir Harold Ridley.
In September 2000, Sir Harold’s official biographer, Professor David J. Apple MD of Charleston, South Carolina USA presented the Rayner Millennium Medal Lecture at the annual Congress of UKISCRS in Chester.
2001
On 25th May, 2001, Sir Harold died. His obituary was published in the British newspapers, The Daily Telegraph (28th May),The Times (29th May) and also The Guardian (29th May). The tributes recalled how, in the face of great opposition to his invention, he had contined to develop this treatment for cataract which, to date, has restored the sight of more than 200 million people worldwide.
Sir Harold was survived by his widow, Lady Elizabeth Ridley, his daughter and two sons.
In March 2001, Rayner hosted the IOL symposium, “Update on Foldable Intraocular Lenses” in Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK.
2002
Rayner introduced quarter powers to the Centerflex® power range and hosted the second “Update on Foldable Intraocular Lenses” at Buxted Park, Uckfield, East Sussex UK.
2003
No fewer than four new products were launched this year, including the first Rayner injectable Toric Lens, which was based on the hugely successful Centerflex® IOL design platform.
This year also saw the launch of the Rayner “flagship” IOLs, C-flex® and Superflex®, both of which have now become the lenses of choice for many ophthalmologists from around the world. 2003 also saw the introduction of the first Rayner single-use, disposable IOL injector.
2004
This was a year of consolidation for Rayner, as sales of C-flex® and Superflex® grew from strength to strength. The company gained regulatory approvals in a number of important markets including South Korea, China and Australia for C-flex®. In Chester at the annual meeting of the UKISCRS, the 25th anniversary of The Rayner Medal Lecture was also celebrated with a special symposium meeting.
2005
Rayner’s R&D team remained actively engaged in the development of further new and innovative products and early 2006 saw the fruit of their labours with the launch of the new Rayner “soft-tipped” single use, disposable IOL injector.
2006
Rayner introduced the Rayner T-flex® Toric IOL and the M-flex® Multifocal IOL, both lenses being unique in having the benefit of AVH Technology® for stability and the Amon-Apple Enhanced Square Edge for low PCO.
