The eye has fascinated scientists from the earliest days of biological investigation. The diversity of its parts and the precision of their interac­ tion make it a favorite model system for a variety of developmental studies. The eye is a particularly valuable experimental system not only because its tissues provide examples of fundamental processes, but also because it is a prominent and easily accessible structure at very early embryonic ages. In order to provide an open forum for investigators working on all aspects of ocular development, a series of symposia on ocular and visual de­ velopment was initiated in 1973. A second purpose has been to foster communication between the basic research worker and the clinical community. It is our feeling that much can be learned on both sides from this interaction. The idea for an informal meeting allowing a maximum exchange of ideas originated with Dr. Leon Candeub, who supplied the necessary driving force that made the series a reality.