Richard Keates, 77, ophthalmologist

Richard H. Keates, 77, of Center City, a professor of ophthalmology, died of an embolism Tuesday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He formerly lived in the New Hope area.

Dr. Keates grew up in Elkins Park and graduated from Germantown Friends School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Jefferson Medical College.

For 24 years he was on the faculty of the Ohio State University Medical Center. While there, he developed a laser to be used in cataract surgery, said his brother, Edwin, also an ophthalmologist. After retiring from Ohio State in 1990, Dr. Keates was chairman of the department of ophthalmology at the University of California Medical School for several years.

In 1996, he moved to Bucks County to be near family and for a decade he commuted to New York City, where he was a professor of ophthalmology at New York Medical College.

From 2007 to 2009, he was professor emeritus at the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Dr. Keates completed an internship at Albert Einstein Medical Center and did residencies at the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He was awarded fellowships to study corneal surgery in London and New York and became a pioneer in developing laser techniques for cataract surgery,  his brother said.

He was an officer with several ophthalmologic societies and a past president of the New York Keratorefractive Society and the New York Intraocular Lens Society. He published more than 100 articles and wrote or cowrote six medical books. He was founding partner of Intelligent Biocides, a developer of antimicrobial products.

Dr. Keates was a consultant to Ciba Vision on a research project to develop a laser used on the lens of the eye to correct presbyopia, a condition in which the eye loses its ability to focus.

He enjoyed teaching and mentoring young physicians and lectured all over the world, his family said. Last month, he was researching new procedures and exchanging information with an ophthalmologist in the Philippines.

An accomplished golfer, Dr. Keates was a member of the Philmont Country Club in Huntingdon Valley.

He and his wife, Mary Taylor Keates, moved to Center City last year.

In addition to his wife of 21 years and brother, Dr. Keates is survived by a son, Eric; a daughter, Hilary; stepsons David and Daniel Gutin; a stepdaughter, Sarah Beaty; a granddaughter; and his former wife, Celeste. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Congregation Kesher Israel, 412 Lombard St.