Alfredo A. Sadun, MD, PhD, Vice-Chair Ophthalmology, Doheny Eye Institute/UCLA
Jean-Louis Selam, MD, President, University Clinical Investigators, Irvine, CA
Howard Slavin, Esq.
Gregory C. Beck, CPA
J. Sebag, MD, FACS, FRCOphth, FARVO – Chair
ACHIEVEMENTS 2022
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since inception, the VMR Research Foundation (VMRR) has built upon vitreous R&D begun by Dr. Sebag in 1978 at the College of Physicians & Surgeon, Columbia University and continued at Harvard Medical School from 1980 to 1986. This work has since produced over 250 academic publications in peer-reviewed publications top journals, as well as chapters, books, editorials, reviews, and letters. Dr. Sebag has delivered 253 lectures and presentations throughout the world. In addition to defining the roles of vitreous in ocular health and vitreo-retinal diseases, VMRR has focused on the problem of Vision Degrading Myodesopsia (clinically significant vitreous floaters). To address the unmet need for better understanding and new treatments, VMRR is undertaking several ambitious projects.
II. SUMMARY OF WORK PRODUCT/ACHIEVEMENTS
A. VDM Project (www.VDMresearch.org)
Educating the public and raising awareness (as well as funds) have been prime objectives of the VDM Project. A scientific advisory board was assembled consisting of Professor Taiji Sakamoto (Japan), Professor Alfredo Sadun (Los Angeles), Professor Paulo Stanga (London), Professor Susanne Binder (Vienna), and Dr. Felix Sauvage (Belgium). Quarterly meetings have been held with the leadership of the VDM Project. Public awareness and education are cornerstones of this endeavor.
B. Publications
1. PEER-REVIEWED ORIGINAL REPORTS
Sauvage F, Nguyen VP, Li Y, Harizaj A, Sebag J, Roles D, Van Havere VV, Peynshaert K, Fraire JC, Tassignon M-J, Remaut K, Paulus YM, Braeckman K, Stefaan C. De Smedt SC: Laser-induced nanobubbles safely ablate vitreous opacities in vivo. Nature Nanotechnology 2022 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01086-4
Nguyen JH, Yee KMP, Nguyen-Cuu J, Mamou J, Sebag J: Vitrectomy improves contrast sensitivity in multifocal pseudophakia with vision degrading myodesopsia. Am J Ophthalmol 244:196-204, 2022 doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2022.05.003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2022.05.003
2. CHAPTERS
Huang S, Friedman J, Sebag J: Vitreous. In: ASRS Retina Atlas and Image Bank, 2020 updated 2022. American Society of Retinal Specialists https://atlas.asrs.org/article/vitreous-122
Sebag J: Vitreous & Vitreo-Retinal Interface. In: Ryan’s Retina 7th ed (Sadda, ed.) Elsevier, 2022
Chew L, Sebag J: Vitreous. In: Adler’s Physiology of the Eye. 12th Ed, 2022. Elsevier, Philadelphia (in press)
3. LETTERS, EDITORIALS, CASE REPORTS, REVIEWS, MISCELLANEOUS
Gui W, Sebag J: Correspondence. Retina. 2022 Jan 1;42(1):e5-e7. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000003334
Sebag J: Coronal plane OCT imaging and vision in macular pucker. Graefe’s Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 260:2379-80, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-021-05439-y
Gui W, Silverman RH, Sebag J: Etiology and diagnosis of vision degrading myodesopsia.Retinal Physician 19:30-33, 2022 https://www.relinalphysician.com/issues/2022/june-2022/etiology-and-diagnosis-of-vision-degrading-myodeso
Sebag J: Letter to the Editor. Ophthalmology Retina 6(7):644-5, 2022
Gui W, Sebag J: Surgical management of vision degrading myodesopsia. Retinal Phys 19:E1-E4, 2022
AAO SCOPE Interview: The Way We Were. August, 2022
https://www.aao.org/senior-ophthalmologists/scope/article/way-we-were-j-sebag-md
Gui W, Silverman RH, Sebag J: Non-surgical management of vision degrading myodesopsia. Retinal Physician Volume 19, Issue: Special Edition 2022, page(s): E1-E5
Wieghofer P, Engelbert M, Chui TC, Rosen RB, Sakamoto T, Sebag J: Hyalocyte origin, structure, & imaging.
Exp Rev Ophthalmol 2022
https://doi.org/10.1080/17469899.2022.2100762
Boneva S, Wolf J, Wieghofer P, Sebag J, Lange C: Hyalocyte function & immunology.
Exp Rev Ophthalmol 2022
https://doi.org/10.1080/17469899.2022.2100762
Jones C, Gui W, Schumann RG, Boneva S, Lange C, van Overdam K, Chui TC, Rosen RB, Sebag J: Hyalocytes in proliferative vitreo-retinal diseases.
Exp Rev Ophthalmol 2022
https://doi.org/10.1080/17469899.2022.2100764
C. Lectures and Presentations 2022
Sebag J: Vitreous & Vision Degrading Myodesopsia.
8th Annual Meeting, Pacific Retina Club, UCLA, April 2, 2022 (by invitation)
Sebag J: Vitrectomy improves contrast sensitivity function in multifocal pseudophakia.
American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Washington DC, April 25, 2022
Sebag J: Vitrectomy improves contrast sensitivity in multifocal pseudophakia with vision degrading myodesopsia. American Ophthalmological Society, Colorado Springs, May 21, 2022
Sebag J: Keynote Lecture: See the Invisible – The Quest of Imaging Vitreous. Nicolaus Copernicus University, Poland. September 30, 2022 (by invitation)
Sebag J: Vitrectomy for Vision Degrading Myodesopsia, American Academy of Ophthalmology,
Chicago, October 3, 2022 (by invitation)
Sebag J: Limited Vitrectomy Improves Visual Function in Multi-Focal Pseudophakia with Vision Degrading Myodesopsia. The Retina Society, Pasadena, California November 5, 2022 https://www.vmrinstitute.com/limited-vitrectomy-improves-visual-function-in-multi-focal-pseudophakia-with-vision-degrading-myodesopsia/
Sebag J: Vitrectomy Cures Vision Degrading Myodesopsia. International Ocular Floaters Society. December 2, 2022 (by invitation)
D. Awards & Honors
2022 Physician of Excellence, Orange County Medical Association
2022 Super Doctor of Southern California, Los Angeles Magazine
2022 International Retina Hall of Fame
2022 Best Paper Presentation, Annual Meeting of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Washington D.C.
Promoting research today for a better tomorrow
