Ashley Zhou, MD and Charlie Zhang, MD
The 2026 ASRS Awards Ceremony celebrated leaders whose innovations in research, surgery, education, and mentorship have shaped the field of retina while highlighting the next generation of retinal specialists.
Dr. Glenn Jaffe received the 2026 Pyron Award for his contributions to retinal research, clinical trials, and drug delivery systems. He presented a lecture focused on the development of automated image segmentation tools to facilitate clinical trials for gyrate atrophy. Gyrate atrophy is a rare condition that requires natural history data from studies such as the GYROS study to lay the groundwork for interventional trials. Manual grading of retinal images is inefficient, time-consuming, and lacks the accuracy required for clinical endpoints that would allow for high quality clinical trial design. Image quality is often compromised by cataracts, lash artifacts, and media opacities. Dr. Jaffe’s study focused on an automated segmentation method that uses a deep learning algorithm as well as a combination of autofluorescence and color fundus photography to overcome modality-specific limitations. Deformable image registration was employed to account for the curvature of the retina in ultra-widefield images. Algorithm training involved labeling intact versus non-intact retina using coordinate-based mapping. The model generated a segmentation mask to quantify intact retinal area. Metrics derived include central subfield area, contiguous region size, and area-to-perimeter ratios. Using this methodology, Dr Jaffe demonstrated how this deep learning algorithm can allow for high quality, reproducible grading of retinal images in a complex disease and serve as a proof of concept that can be applied broadly across other retinal diseases.
Dr. Carl Awh received the 2026 Founders Award for his leadership, research contributions, and numerous technological innovations in vitreoretinal surgery. He presented a lecture detailing the progression of surgical light sources and the advantages of laser-based endoillumination. He reviewed the evolution of vitrectomy illumination beginning with Dr. Robert Machemer originally using slit lamp illumination with a hand-held vitrector. This then transitioned to bundled fiber optics along a 20G vitrectomy cutter shaft using a Tungsten light. However, once vitrectomy shifted towards small-gauge systems, xenon and halogen light sources, through a separate dedicated endoillumination probe, became the new norm. Recently, vitrectomy systems have transitioned to laser-based illumination technology that offers several potential benefits to surgeons. Laser illumination technology utilizes combined blue, green and red lasers to create white light or light of many different colors. Another key advantage is the microfiber capability that allows for high light delivery through much smaller fibers. For comparison, Xenon sources can deliver approximately 20 lumens through a 250-micron fiber whereas a laser can deliver 38 lumens through a 100-micron fiber. The clinical application would be a return to illuminated vitrectomy cutters on the 25G system. This allows for direct illumination of the vitreous at the tip of the cutter and can improve visualization during complex procedures, allowing surgeons to perform a depressed shave without an assistant.
Dr. Yoshihiro Yonekawa received the 2026 Young Investigator Award, which recognizes an ASRS member under the age of 50 who has made significant academic contributions to the field. Dr. Yonekawa reflected on his academic accolades, which include over 450 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals. He presented a lecture detailing his academic philosophy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining diverse research interests rather than specializing narrowly, which he described as the “retina mosaic.” He highlighted how case reports could help others identify unique clinical phenomena, while surgical studies often use internal practice data to test hypotheses for common procedures, but could be done in collaboration with other institutions for studies that require large sample sizes. He described the importance of collaborative research across multiple institutions to identify patterns and trends in rare diseases. He also described his projects leveraging big databases like the IRIS registry, Medicare, and the CDC to address large-scale problems within ophthalmology. He outlined the important lessons he learned while writing these papers including focusing on research that genuinely excites and interests the investigator and using research as a method to assist in the development and elevation of trainees and fellows.
Beyond celebrating scientific achievement, many of this year’s awards recognized the mentorship, education, and sense of community that define the ASRS. Upon receiving the Packo Award, Dr. Geoffrey Emerson remarked that “ASRS is like a giant family to me.” Reflecting this spirit, Dr. H. Culver Boldt received the Crystal Apple Award in recognition of his dedication to teaching and mentorship, having trained more than 80 vitreoretinal fellows. Dr. Lejla Vajzovic received the Women in Retina Champion Award for her efforts to expand opportunities for women in retina and for her commitment to mentoring the next generation of vitreoretinal surgeons. This year also marked the introduction of two new ASRS Foundation Named Awards recognizing outstanding trainees. The inaugural M. Gilbert Grand ASRS Vitreoretinal Fellowship Award was presented to second-year fellows Dr. Sean Berkowitz and Dr. Angela Li, while Dr. Jordan Deaner received the Jeffrey S. Heier, M.D. Scholar Award. Additional honorees included Dr. Joseph O. Boss and Korey Starkey, OCT-C, who received the Retina Image Bank Image of the Year Award for their striking image of a retinal detachment with a macular hole. Dr. Nita Valikodath and Dr. Iman Barre received the Retina Atlas Chapter of the Year Award for their contribution, “Pediatric Retina Surgery: Retinopathy of Prematurity and Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy.” Finally, Dr. Harry W. Flynn, Jr. was inducted into the Retina Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his extraordinary career and lasting contributions to the field of vitreoretinal surgery.
Together, the 2026 ASRS award recipients showcased the innovation, collaboration, and commitment to mentorship that continue to drive advances in retina, inspiring both established physicians and the next generation of vitreoretinal specialists.
