If there is one discovery that constituted a quantum leap in the evolution of the field of retina and ophthalmology, optical coherence tomography (OCT) is undoubtedly on the short list. Today’s retina specialists can’t imagine practicing without OCT imaging. It’s one of the first diagnostic tests obtained for the vast majority of patients, and is essential for the diagnosis and management of the most common retinal diseases, as well as the most rare. Join host Dr. Christina Weng as she traces this remarkable story of innovation with first-hand accounts from leading pioneers Drs. James G. Fujimoto, David Huang, Jay S. Duker and David Sarraf.

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina
The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Cynthia A. Toth, MD, FASRS, has always been ahead of the curve, from being the first female surgeon to join the faculty at Duke to becoming one of the earliest researchers to use OCT to study retinal injuries. She was also one of the first to use a handheld OCT system to examine infants, and she pioneered the first intraoperative OCT-guided surgical system. Dr. Toth has helped revolutionize how doctors see and treat the retina, not only in adults, but also in our youngest and most vulnerable patients. 

Interestingly, despite an early inclination toward engineering, Dr. Toth chose medicine, and in this truly inspiring Leaders & Legends interview, you’ll hear how she found ways to weave threads of engineering into the tapestry of her illustrious medical career. 

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina

The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

The History of Retina is pleased to welcome one of retina’s most highly esteemed ambassadors to Leaders & Legends. 

 Dr. William F. Mieler has channeled his passion and impressive background into an illustrious career as a clinician, educator, researcher, and international leader in ophthalmology. He has served in countless leadership positions in organized ophthalmology, including president of ARVO and the Macula Society. He also founded the Advanced Vitreoretinal Technology and Techniques (AVTT) and Fellows Course, one of the most popular courses for 2nd year surgical retina fellows.  

Listen in as he recounts coming of age under the tutelage of revered retina giants Don Gass, MD, at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Thomas Aaberg, Sr., MD, at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Jerry Shields, MD, at the Wills Eye Hospital. He discusses their unique styles of practice and leadership, their profound impact on the field as well as his own professional journey. 

 Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina

The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

The History of Retina is pleased to welcome revered educator, surgeon, and clinician Dr. Lee Jampol to Leaders & Legends. Dr. Jampol’s remarkable career has largely centered around research trials, studying retinal diseases like diabetic retinopathy and central serous retinopathy. He has been a key player in some of the field's most pivotal trials, including the Macular Photocoagulation Study, SCORE studies, and Submacular Surgery Trials. He has also been extremely involved with the DRCR Retina Network since its inception over two decades ago. Listen in as he shares details of his extraordinary professional journey and insights on the field of retina past, present and future.  

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina

The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Join us for an extraordinary Milestones in Retina expert panel discussion detailing the discovery and evolution of a treatment that truly revolutionized the field of retina and the lives of patients around the world – virtually overnight. That therapy is, of course, anti-VEGF.

It goes without saying that there is an army of researchers, clinicians, patients and industry representatives who contributed mightily to the success of this pivotal therapy. This new Milestones segment celebrates and shares the amazing story of innovation by tracking anti-VEGF’s miraculous discovery and the extraordinary therapeutic development that followed through the compelling first-hand accounts of a few highly notable experts, Drs. Joan Miller, Julia Haller, Jeffrey Heier and Jay Duker.

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina
The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

The History of Retina is pleased to share this Leaders & Legends interview featuring the extraordinary life and career of Mark Blumenkranz, MD.  Dr. Blumenkranz is the HU Smead Professor Emeritus and co-director of the Ophthalmic Innovation Program at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University School of Medicine. In addition, he serves as manager director of Lagunita Biosciences and is co-founder and president of the Collaborative Community on Ophthalmic Imaging Foundation.

Mark has been an innovator of vitrectomy surgery techniques and clinical drug studies that have helped usher in the modern era of intravitreal surgical and drug therapy. He has published more than 175 papers in peer reviewed journals and multiple book chapters and patents.

Mark started his retina career as a fellow and then faculty at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute until 1985 when he was recruited away to Associated Retina Consultants in Royal Oak, Michigan. There he served as Chief of the Vitreoretinal Surgery Service at the Kresge Eye Institute and was founder and director of the Retina Fellowship Program at William Beaumont Hospital. In 1992, Mark transitioned to Stanford University where he served in a variety of positions, culminating in his being named chair of the Department of Ophthalmology in 1997. And almost immediately he began working on the planning, funding, and construction of the Byers Eye Institute of which he would become director.

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina

The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Emily Y. Chew, MD, is director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications and deputy clinical director of the National Eye Institute (NEI). She is also a senior investigator and Chief of the NEI’s Clinical Trials Branch. In this Leaders & Legends interview Dr. Chew shares fascinating experiences and perspectives from her extraordinary life and career.

Born in Canton, China, Dr. Chew is a first-generation American, who has blazed a trail for women in the field while building a stellar career at one of the world’s leading health agencies. She  has worked on some of retina’s most pivotal multi-centered clinical trials, including the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study. In addition, she chaired the Age-Related Eye Disease Studies – (AREDS 1 and 2), and she directs the clinical portion of the international Macular Telangiectasia Project. She works with renowned experts across the globe and her groundbreaking research has changed the treatment paradigm and improved the lives of patients around the world.

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina

The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Today, when we talk about pivotal innovators in retina, Dr. de Juan’s name is certainly always at the top of the list. He is the inventor or co-inventor of nearly 100 products, and holds nearly 450 US patents and patents pending. Among his many discoveries is what we know as the transconjunctival approach to 25-gauge vitrectomy, a discovery that revolutionized retinal surgery. 

In 2005, Dr. de Juan established ForSight Labs, a serial ophthalmic company incubator that has helped develop more than a dozen companies. Listen in as he shares fascinating stories and insights from his truly remarkable career. 

Leaders & Legends is pleased to share an interview with a true dynamic duo in retina: Drs. Susan and Neil Bressler. 

 Susan and Neil’s personal and professional partnership started in their early days at John Hopkins medical school and, with thoughtful intention, they set out to build their life and careers together. 

They both pursued ophthalmology residency and medical retina fellowships at Harvard Medical School’s Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, followed by duo surgical fellowships at Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins. They joined the faculty at Wilmer in 1988 where they remain today. 

Both Susan and Neil share a deep interest in clinical trials. He has authored over 470 peer-reviewed publications and chaired multiple NIH-sponsored multicentered clinical trials. Susan has published over 250 peer-reviewed articles and 61 book chapters

Theirs is a truly a remarkable story of two stellar careers that make up one powerhouse partnership that has made an indelible mark on the field through enormous contributions to research, education and patient care.

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina
The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.

Dr. Yale Fisher has had an undeniable impact on the field of retina. He led the way in the development of new techniques and instruments in the field, particularly in ultrasonography and vitreoretinal surgery. His pioneering work in ocular endoscopy has expanded the boundaries of what is possible in the field and he has shared his expertise extensively with audiences both nationally and internationally. Listen in as Dr. Fisher recalls the early 1970s, a time of extraordinary innovation in retina, and his important collaborations with world-renowned vitreoretinal surgeon and innovator Dr. Steve Charles. He shares details about his remarkable friendship with Victor Curtin, MD, as well as an unintentional encounter with a New York Times reporter in 1979 that raised the visibility of the extraordinary work of retinal surgeons.

Learn more at www.HistoryofRetina.org.

About the History of Retina
The History of Retina is brought to you by the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) in an effort to preserve the history and heritage of retina for generations to come. Trace the journey of the specialty's dynamic evolution by exploring milestones in technology, instrumentation, and techniques and hearing first-hand accounts from retina pioneers whose innovative spirit and pivotal contributions laid the framework for the advanced sight-saving retinal care of today and the enormously promising treatments of tomorrow.