Reflections on the Origins of EURETINA
By Prof. Ingrid Kreissig
In the Beginning: Seeds of Inspiration
To understand how EURETINA became the thriving international congress it is today, we must travel back to a time of slide projectors, scholarly handshakes, and boundless enthusiasm for retinal science.
Between 1969 and 1972, I trained at New York Hospital–Cornell University with Dr. Harvey Lincoff, later working also with Dr. Jackson Coleman and Dr. Stanley Chang. From 1982 onward, I served as Adjunct Professor at the same institution.
These years gave me my first taste of the intellectual excitement and collaborative spirit of the American Retina Society Meetings — vibrant gatherings where clinicians and researchers from across the globe debated, shared, and inspired one another.
From National Beginnings to a Pan-European Vision
In 1987/1988, alongside Professors Heimann, Laqua, and Wessing, I co-founded the German Retina Society — a milestone for Germany’s retina specialists. Yet, something was missing: the international dimension I had valued so deeply in the U.S.
To bridge that gap, I proposed a bold change — to switch the Society’s official language from German to English, inviting colleagues from across Europe to participate. The aim: to create a truly Pan-European Retina Society. The reaction? Not exactly a standing ovation — the proposal was voted down.
A Vote, a Veto, and a Vision
Undeterred, I discussed this vision with my colleague Dr. Gisbert Richard, then working with me at the University of Tuebingen/Germany, where he later achieved his Habilitation. We both believed a more international, European Retina Society was urgently needed.
When Prof. Richard moved to Hamburg to chair the department, he pursued this idea of a European Retina Society. Together with an enthusiastic network of colleagues from across Europe, the foundation of EURETINA had begun.
Brains, Borders, and Bridges
Many of the founding members had already connected through my Teaching Courses on Retinal Detachment, launched in 1991 across East and West Europe. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, these courses became a bridge between East and West in ophthalmology.
The first EURETINA Board, as shown on early stationery, comprised:
- President: Prof. August Deutman
- Vice-President: Prof. Rosario Brancato
- General Secretary: Prof. Gisbert Richard
- Representative for Eastern Europe: Myself (Prof. Ingrid Kreissig)
Inclusivity was a cornerstone from the outset: colleagues from Eastern Europe and Russia were invited to attend without registration fees or membership.
Teaching Takes Off
In 2003, my retinal detachment teaching courses were formally integrated into the EURETINA programme, debuting in Hamburg. What began as small, regional gatherings soon evolved into major international events.
In Barcelona 2024, for example, our course Minimal Segmental Buckling without Drainage attracted over 400 participants — a testament to how far the programme had come.
Honouring Excellence: The Kreissig Award
Parallel to EURETINA’s growth, a meaningful collaboration developed between the University of Tuebingen and the EURETINA Board, especially with Prof. Richard.
In 2001, thanks to generous donations from former colleagues across various countries, a Foundation was established at the University of Tuebingen to fund the annual Kreissig Award. The award honours significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of retinal diseases and is presented during the EURETINA Congress by a selected expert.
Key traditions:
- The recipient is chosen by a formally designated Selection Committee.
- Awardees alternate annually between female and male retina experts — a rule upheld since inception.
The Selection Committee now includes six members: four from the EURETINA Board, Assistant Prof. Thorsten Boeker, and myself. Over time, we have actively looked beyond Europe, selecting awardees from Asia, Africa, North America, Central America, and beyond.
The first recipient in 2004 was Prof. Rosangela Lattanzio (Italy). In 2025, the award will go to Prof. Maria Berrocal (Puerto Rico). Recipients receive prize funding and a diploma jointly signed by the EURETINA Board and the University of Tuebingen.
EURETINA Today: From Europe to Everywhere
Looking back over 25 years, the growth of EURETINA has been extraordinary — expanding in attendance, academic quality, and breadth of topics.
Today, EURETINA is more than its European name: it is a truly Global Conference, providing a platform for scientific exchange, collaboration, and friendships among retina specialists worldwide.
And Yet — This is Not the End of the Story
The EURETINA experience is far from over. Each year, new chapters are written by its remarkable community. With participants from every corner of the globe, it has transcended its European origins to become a global meeting of minds, united by a shared passion for advancing retinal science.
Here’s to the next chapter — one that continues with energy, ambition, and the same spirited élan that has guided us from the very start.
