About Us

Preserving the history and heritage of retina for generations to come

Welcome to the History of Retina

Welcome to the History of Retina, a continuously unfolding story of the specialty’s dynamic evolution. Trace the journey 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.

Become a part of history 

The History of Retina is a living initiative that will continue to grow through participation and contributions from the retina community and beyond.

If you would like to donate an historic retina image or artifact to the History of Retina collection, please first send a description to the Artifacts Review Committee at retina.history@asrs.org. 

To make a tax-deductible monetary donation to the History of Retina visit asrs.org/foundation/donate-now.

Thank you to our contributors

Individuals

  • Thomas M. Aaberg, Sr., MD, FASRS 
  • Thomas M. Aaberg, Jr., MD
  • Gary W. Abrams, MD 
  • Anita Agarwal, MD
  • Sophie J. Bakri, MD, FASRS
  • Jean Bennett, MD, PhD
  • Audina M. Berrocal, MD, FASRS
  • Maria H. Berrocal, MD, FASRS
  • Barbara Blankenship 
  • Mark Blumenkranz, MD 
  • Marie Carole Boucher, MD
  • Dirk Buettner
  • Stanley Chang, MD 
  • Steve T. Charles, MD, FACS, FICS, FASRS
  • Royce Chen, MD
  • Daniel J. Oh, MD
  • Donald D'Amico, MD, FASRS 
  • Charles M.T. DeBoer, MD, PhD
  • Gilles Desroches, MD, FRCS(c)
  • Jay Duker, MD, FASRS 
  • Jerome P. Fisher, MD
  • Stuart L. Fine, MD 
  • Wayne Fung, MD
  • Harry W. Flynn, Jr., MD, FASRS
  • Howard Gilbert, MD
  • Morton F. Goldberg, MD 
  • Julia A. Haller, MD, FASRS 
  • Anne Hanneken, MD
  • Dennis Han, MD 
  • Tatsuo Hirose, MD
  • Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhD, FASRS
  • Eugene de Juan Jr., MD, FASRS
  • J. Michael Jumper, MD, FASRS
  • Leo Kim, MD, FASRS 
  • Richard Katschke 
  • Richard Keeler
  • Judy E. Kim, MD, FASRS
  • Gregg Kokame, MD 
  • Allan (Buzz) Kreiger, MD
  • Ingrid Kreissig, MD
  • Rohit R. Lakhanpat, MD, FACS, FASRS
  • H. Michael Lambert, MD
  • Tamara Lee Lenis, MD, PhD
  • Mary Lou Lewis, MD
  • Michelle C. Liang, MD, FASRS
  • Norah Lincoff, MD
  • Mark Madlecorn, MD, FRCSC
  • Albert Maguire, MD
  • Alice R. McPherson, MD 
  • Charles G. Miller, MD, PhD
  • Joan Miller, MD 
  • Rajeev H. Muni, MD, MSC, FRCS(C), FASRS
  • Tavish Nanda, MD
  • Anton Orlin, MD 
  • Jean-Marie Parel, Ing.ETS-G, PhD, FARVO
  • Nimesh Patel, MD 
  • Samir N. Patel, MD
  • Gholam A. Peyman, MD
  • Michael Saad, MD (cand)
  • Felix N. Sabates Sr, MD, FACS
  • Adrienne W. Scott, MD, FASRS
  • Carol L. Shields, MD
  • Jerry A. Shields, MD
  • Stephen Smith, MD 
  • Michael T. Trese, MD 
  • James F. Vander, MD
  • Thierry Verstraeten, MD
  • Christina Weng, MD, MBA, FASRS 
  • Charles P. Wilkinson, MD, MA
  • George A. Williams, MD, FASRS
  • Lawrence A. Yannuzzi, MD

Institutions and Corporations

  • Alcon
  • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute 
  • Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Club Jules Gonin
  • Emory Eye Center
  • Kevin Caldwell Photography
  • Kresge Eye Institute
  • The Macula Society
  • Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
  • Medical College of Wisconsin 
  • National Eye Institute 
  • National Institutes of Health, Office of NIH History and Stetten Museum
  • Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation
  • Retina Research Foundation 
  • The Retina Society
  • The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK)
  • Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, 314016. 
  • The Macula Foundation
  • University of Southern California 
  • Wills Eye Hospital
  • Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins
  • Zeiss Archives 

History of Retina Committee

Co-directors

  • Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA, FASRS
  • John S. Pollack, MD, FASRS (Emeritus)
  • Kirk H. Packo, MD, FACS, FASRS (Emeritus)

Leaders & Legends

Co-chairs, Oral History Interviews

  • Timothy G. Murray, MD, MBA, FASRS
  • Christina Y. Weng, MD, MBA, FASRS

Chair, Written Vignettes

  • Pradeepa Yoganathan, MD, MSc, FRCS(c), FASRS

Milestones in Retina

Co-chairs, Written Vignettes

  • Mrinali Gupta, MD, FASRS
  • Yoshihiro Yonekawa, MD, FASRS

About the American Society of Retina Specialists

The American Society of Retina Specialists is the largest organization of retina specialists in the world, representing over 3,000 physicians in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 63 countries. The Society serves as a national advocate and primary source of clinical and scientific information and education for its members.

About the Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists

The Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists works to raise awareness about retina health and educate the public, patients and their caretakers about how to safeguard their retina health to assure a lifetime of independence and activity. The Foundation also works to enhance education for young retina specialists and serves as a resource for information on game-changing research and emerging treatments that will dramatically enhance the lives of retina patients in the years ahead.