Turner D. Wibbelsman, MD
Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
15th Annual J. Arch McNamara Memorial Lecture: Lessons Learned in a Long-Term Cohort of Patients with Susac Syndrome
Dr. Sunil K. Srivastava gave the Annual J. Arch McNamara Memorial Lecture at the Atlantic Coast Retina Conference on January 10, 2026. Dr. Srivastava joins a storied group of past lecturers including doctors Paul Chan, Darius Moshfeghi, Audina Berrocal, Aaron Nagiel, among other distinguished speakers. The annual lecture (hosted each year by the Retina Service of Wills Eye Hospital and Mid Atlantic Retina) honors J. Arch McNamara, MD, a visionary leader in retinopathy of prematurity treatment. Dr. McNamara was known for his sincere dedication to his trainees, colleagues, friends, family and patients. His legacy lives on at Wills through the annual lectureship and the J. Arch McNamara, MD Ophthalmic Education Center at Wills Eye Hospital.
Dr. Srivastava was introduced by Dr. Arunan Sivalingam, Co-Director of the Wills Retina Service, who highlighted Dr. Srivastava’s leadership in growing the Uveitis Service at Cleveland’s Cole Eye Institute to international standing. The lecture reviewed Dr. Srivastava’s experience treating a long-term cohort of Susac patients at Cole. Susac syndrome is an autoimmune vasculitis that affects branch retinal arteries, cochlear arterioles, and cerebral arterioles. The disease manifests with a triad of vision loss (scotomas), sensorineural hearing loss, and encephalopathy. Dr. Srivastava reported that patients often experience these symptoms in an asynchronous manner; as such, a careful history of past symptoms is key to making the diagnosis.
From the ophthalmic standpoint, a patient with multiple branch retinal artery occlusions (BRAO) raises suspicion for the condition. Dr. Srivastava presented the heterogenous manifestations of Susac syndrome on fluorescein angiography, including segmental hyperfluorescence and leakage in active disease. He noted the importance of differentiating active disease from residual retinal capillary damage; the distinction is critical for determining the need for immunosuppression. Serial IVFA is a mainstay in the clinical monitoring of patients with this condition. Patients also need MRIs and audiograms for evaluation of the remaining aspects of the clinical triad.
Dr. Srivastava emphasized the collaborative efforts between ophthalmology, neurology, and rheumatology disciplines required to care for patients with this rare syndrome. His multidisciplinary work has culminated in updated guidelines1 for the treatment of the condition, which will continue to extend the reach of his efforts to patients around the world.
Special Guest Lecture: Intraocular Worms
Dr. Lawrence Yannuzzi was honored as a special guest at this year’s Atlantic Coast Retina Conference on January 10, 2026. He was introduced by Dr. Allen Ho (Director of Retina Research at Wills Eye Hospital) and Dr. Carol Shields (Director of the Ocular Oncology Service of Wills Eye Hospital). As a pioneer in the retina field, Dr. Yannuzzi co-founded the Atlantic Coast Retina Conference with Dr. Jerry Shields, among others. Drs. Ho and Carol Shields highlighted Dr. Yannuzzi’s wit, intellect, and dedication to the classification and discovery of macular disease. Dr. Yannuzzi’s titanic impact on the vitreoretinal specialty is evidenced by the presence of his textbook, The Retinal Atlas, on the shelves of retina specialists and ophthalmologists around the world. A copy of the text was given to Dr. Collin Richards (Retina Fellow, Wills Eye Hospital) as a Trainee Case Presentation Award at this year’s conference.
Dr. Yannuzzi presented a lecture on intraocular warms. He highlighted how dynamic populations, increasing international travel and climate change will make knowledge about this intraocular pathology increasingly relevant for practitioners. Dr. Yannuzzi showed in-vivo video imaging of parasites moving through the retina. He noted how subtle pigmentary changes on fundus photography may correlate with striking, tract-like patterns on fundus autofluorescence. Dr. Yannuzzi remarked that “a good lens” is critical to the identification and treatment of intraocular worms with laser photocoagulation, highlighting the need for careful clinical examination in patients suspected of harboring this condition.
The Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle2 noted “Experience is the best of schoolmasters, only the school-fees are heavy.” Dr. Yannuzzi has paid the tuition and continues to share his hard-earned insights with generations of trainees and colleagues. His impact at the Atlantic Coast Retina Conference and the virtual Yannuzzi Rounds will continue to advance the field’s understanding of macular disease.
References
1. Rennebohm RM, Asdaghi N, Srivastava S, Gertner E. Guidelines for treatment of Susac syndrome – An update. Int J Stroke. 2020;15(5):484-494.
2. Carlyle T. Critical and Miscellaneous Essays. London: Chapman and Hall; 1887.
