I. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHEPENS RETINA ASSOCIATES

Founded in 1951, Schepens Retina Associates were a group of ophthalmologists specializing in diseases of the retina and vitreous, particularly retinal detachment. The same year, the same group established the Retina Foundation. It later became the Schepens Eye Research Institute (SERI). In 1991, a new President of the Institute was appointed, Dr. Wayne Streilein. At that time, there were about eleven faculty members carrying out clinical retina research. Clinical research produces results that help the patient within five or seven years. Basic research addresses larger problems that hopefully give results that help the patient within twenty to thirty years or more. The major effort of the SERI, since its inception, was in basic research. Gradually, during the 1990's the clinical eye researchers at the SERI withdrew to the point that, in 2004, there were only two clinical retina researches left. Faced with this change, the Schepens Retina Associates withdrew their clinical research activities from the SERI to another location, and created the Schepens Retina Associates Foundation (SRA Foundation) for clinical eye research. This occured in 1998. The Retina Associates gave all their equipment to the new foundation, in order to be authorized to raise funds for clinical eye research. They remain faculty members of the Schepens Eye Research Institute.

For 56 years, a combination of innovation and experience has created an unbroken history of excellence in eye care by the Retina Associates and later by the Faculty of the SRA Foundation. The Associates keep up to date by remaining associated with the SERI, a Harvard-affiliated institution which particularly carries on basic research on the eye.

For retina trouble of any kind, evaluation by a Faculty member of the SRA Foundation may salvage your future vision.