Audina Berrocal, MD, FASRS, is one of the world’s leading experts in the surgical management of retinopathy of prematurity and pediatric vitreoretinal disorders. She is also the youngest daughter of Jose Berrocal, MD, who was the first retina fellow at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in 1963 and went on to be the first retina surgeon in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. In this Leaders & Legends segment, Dr. Berrocal shares details about her extraordinary upbringing during which she and her sister Maria, also an internationally recognized retina surgeon, mingled with a who’s who of retina giants. She discusses her early pursuit of a career in politics before finding her true calling in retina where she has served as a powerful role model and mentor for women and minorities. Hear the story behind how she became the first retina specialist to treat a pediatric patient with anti-VEGF and the first to treat the youngest pediatric patient with the first FDA-approved gene therapy.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

Since vision issues and blindness were first diagnosed and documented, scientists have sought a cure. In this video, ASRS Foundation President Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA, FASRS, talks with Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhD, an internationally recognized pioneer in vision restoration who assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts to develop the first FDA-approved artificial retina, Argus II, for sight restoration. Drs. Murray and Humayun discuss what inspired the invention of the artificial retina, the obstacles overcome in developing the prosthesis and what other sight-restoring breakthroughs may be on the horizon.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

History of Retina Co-director Kirk H. Packo, MD, FASRS, hosts an all-star panel of retina giants, who recount the coming of age of vitrectomy surgery. Listen in as Drs. Thomas Aaberg, Sr., Gary Abrams, Steve Charles, Gene de Juan, and Wayne Fung share their compelling first-hand accounts of vitrectomy from the early days of open sky and the Vail Vitrectomy Course through the monumental advances of the ‘Roaring 80’s’ to today’s era of advanced visualization and micro-incisional surgery.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

In this interview with one of retina’s true giants, Mike Trese, MD, details his remarkable 45-year career spearheading revolutionary developments in both pediatric and adult retina. He shares the challenges of navigating blinding diseases with the youngest and most vulnerable patients and the amazing advances that have increased the success rate for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) from 50% to 90%. He also touches on his strong desire to make a contribution to the field and to his patients that has spawned the development of key innovations in retinal instrumentation and surgery.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

An extraordinary conversation with Thomas Aaberg Sr., MD, FASRS, and son Thomas Aaberg Jr., MD, who share a rare look inside the early years in retina. Tom Aaberg Sr., discusses his remarkable career, early innovations that moved the needle, and his friendship and collaborations with Robert Machemer, MD. Tom Aaberg Jr., MD, adds his recollections from growing up with a ring-side seat during the early evolution of vitrectomy and the development of his own remarkable career in retina.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

Invention of the vitreous infusion suction cutter (VISC) for vitrectomy surgery revolutionized the field of retina in the 1970s. Now, more than 50 years later, the VISC remains central to every retinal surgeons armamentarium and no one is more surprised than the man behind its development -- Jean-Marie Parel, Ing.ETS-G, PhD, FARVO. In this extraordinary conversation, Dr. Parel traces his journey to the United States, discusses his introduction to Edward Norton, MD, his pivotal partnership with Robert Machemer, MD, and the development of numerous advances in instrumentation during a remarkable era of creativity and innovation at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. 

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

Few stories in our field are as unique as that of the Berrocal’s, a multigenerational retina tour de force. In this Leaders & Legends segment, Maria Berrocal, MD, FASRS, daughter of the late Jose Berrocal, MD, an internationally renowned retina pioneer who was the first retina surgeon in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, shares stories about her extraordinary upbringing during which she and her sister Audina, an internationally recognized retina surgeon in her own right, mingled with a who’s who of retina giants and witnessed the evolution of the field from scleral buckling to OCT and microincision surgery. She discusses her educational journey in the United States and her decisions to return to Puerto Rico to work alongside her father. Dr. Berrocal discusses her passion for innovating new techniques and surgical approaches to managing complex ocular disease. A highly respected researcher and educator, she has performed live surgery in more than 25 countries and has blazed a trail for women and minorities in ophthalmology.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

It would be hard to imagine retina surgery today without the contributions of Steve Charles, MD, FACS, FICS, FASRS . Over the course of his amazing career, he has amassed over 100 patents, introducing among other things, scissor segmentation, the linear vacuum, disposable cutters, retinectomy, the Ocutome 8000, and ‘medium term PFO.’ Listen as he discusses his love of engineering and medicine, his insatiable appetite for learning and passion for innovation that have revolutionized retina instrumentation and techniques.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

Julia Haller, MD, FASRS is a world-renowned retina surgeon and scientist who has innovated significant translational advances against blindness. She discusses her remarkable journey in academic and organized medicine, including being among the first to administer gene therapy and to inject anti-VEGF in a human eye. A trailblazer for women in retina, she reflects on her experiences in practice and as the first female president of the Vitreous Society (now ASRS) at the dawn of the anti-VEGF era.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.

A truly fascinating discussion with Kirk H. Packo, MD, FACS, FASRS, an internationally renowned vitreoretinal surgeon whose unique creativity, intellect and story-telling abilities have made him a legendary teacher of retina. Listen as Dr. Packo reflects on his mentors, and his experience coming of age in retina during the ‘heyday’ of instrument development. He discusses his inventions and his pivotal role in the commercialization of intraocular gas. A past president and 18-year Board member of the ASRS, Dr. Packo is credited with transforming the small, meeting-based Vitreous Society into the ASRS of today, encompassing all things retina. He describes his deep commitment to the ASRS and offers his perspective on the most impactful developments in the field.

Learn more at www.retinahistory.asrs.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.