Michael T. Trese, MD, Fund
Image credit: Kevin Caldwell Photography
Michael T. Trese, MD, FASRS, is widely considered the father of modern pediatric vitreoretinal surgery. During his more than 40-year career, Dr. Trese made numerous, significant breakthroughs in the field of retina and mentored many of today’s leading pediatric retina specialists.
In the 1980s, he revolutionized pediatric vitreoretinal surgery with his concept of lens-sparing vitrectomy for the treatment of complex pediatric retinal detachment due to advanced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). His techniques have also been applied to diseases such as familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, juvenile X-linked retinoschisis and Coats disease. He led the way to the first FDA-approved drug for pharmacologic vitreolysis.
Early on, Dr. Trese recognized the critical importance of timely screening of babies for ROP and the need to educate ophthalmologists about the disease. He developed photographic screening protocols with telemedicine and an educational program called FocusROP that is now used throughout the world.
Over the years, Dr. Trese shared his extraordinary knowledge, insight and skills with innumerable colleagues and fellows, and his innovative techniques continue to have had a profound impact on the lives of grateful patients and families around the world.
Two funding opportunities:
Physician Support
Foundation of the American Society of Retina Specialists
In 2026, the Michael T. Trese, MD, Fund at the ASRS Foundation was established with a generous donation from Michael Lai, MD, PhD, FASRS, and Stephanie Lai. The fund honors the legacy of Dr. Michael Trese by providing funding to pediatric retina specialists focused on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Support will help advance educational programming, physician training, and domestic and global initiatives focused on ROP and preventing blindness in children worldwide.
Donate to the Michael T. Trese, MD, Fund
Research and Discovery
Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation
The Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation is also honoring Dr. Michael Trese through a fund that supports the recruitment of a senior scientist and the establishment of a named professorship in Dr. Trese's honor at Oakland University’s Eye Research Institute in Rochester, Michigan, where he served as a Clinical Professor of Biomedical Sciences.