SPRV History
THE BEGINNING (1975-1981)
Everything started in 1975 in the city of Buenos Aires during a Fluorescein Angiography (AFG) course, held by Dr. Arturo Alezzandrini, pioneer of this exploration in Latin America. There, after several meetings, coffees and dinner, Dr. Alezzandrini though it would be a good idea to form a group with those who, at the time, dedicated themselves to do Fluorescein Angiography. Dr. Dario Fuenmayor and Dr. Alfonso Garmendia from Venezuela, Dr. Pedro Saenz from Peru and Dr. Suel Abujamra from Brazil agreed to form a research group to encourage and exchange knowledge.
They named the group “South American Council of Angiofluoresceinography (COSADA), inspired, at that moment, by the Latin American Council of Strabismus (CLADe). Shortly after a couple of meetings, the name was changed to the “Latin American Association of Angiofluoresceinography (ALADA)”. However, this name did not last long. By then, not only AFG was being performed but they also started using laser in the treatment of diseases of the retina. So, once again it was decided to change the name of the group to the Latin American Group of Ocular Angiography and photocoagulation in ophthalmology (GLADAOF).
THE GLADAOF FORUM (1981-2002)
During the 3rd Venezuelan Congress of Ophthalmology in 1981, Dr. Alezzandrini through that congresses were missing something, there needed to be a place to share and discuss the new advancements in the ophthalmological field. That is why he decided to organize independent meetings, which will be named Forums, and they were going to be held every two years. Right after that, he organized the 1st GLADAOF Forum in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on October 24-26, 1984.
After that year the Group organized eight Forums more: the II GLADAOF Latin American Forum in Belo Horizonte (Brazil) in 1986, the III GLADAOF Latin American Forum in Caracas (Venezuela) in 1988, the IV GLADAOF Latin American Forum in Lima (Peru) in 1991, the V GLADAOF Latin American Forum in Cancun (Mexico) in 1992 under the precidency of Dr. Hugo Quiroz Mercado, the VI GLADAOF Latin American Forum in Santiago (Chile) in 1994, the VII Latin American GLADAOF Forum in Bogotá (Colombia) in 1996, the VIII GLADAOF Latin American Forum in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1999 and the IX GLADAOF Latin American Forum in São Paulo (Brazil) in 2002.
THE PAN-AMERICAN SOCIETY OF RETINA AND VITREOUS MEETINGS (2003-2022)
In 2003, during the Pan-American Congress of Ophthalmology in Puerto Rico (PAAO), the GLADAOF group was renamed again. A group of members of the Latin American Group Angiography, Laser and Vitreoretinal Surgery (GLADAOF) and the PAAO Board of Directors decided to create the Sociedad Panamericana de Retina y Vitreo (GLADAOF SPRV) as a subspecialty affiliated society to PAAO.
In 2004 the I SPRV Congress (X GLADAOF Forum) was organized in Quito (Ecuador), the President was Dr. Gregorio Gabela.
And after that the next Congress was II Congress of the SPRV (XI Forum of GLADAOF) in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), in 2006 under the presidency of Dr. Francisco Rodríguez, the III Congress of the SPRV (XII Forum of the GLADAOF) was in Isla Margarita (Venezuela), in 2008 under the presidency of Dr. Fernando Arévalo, the IV Congress of the SPRV (XIII GLADAOF Forum) was in Lima (Peru), in 2010 under the presidency of Dr. José Antonio Roca, the V Congress of the SPRV (XIV GLADAOF Forum) was in San José (Costa Rica), in 2012 under the presidency of Dr. Lihteh Wu, the VI Congress of the SPRV (15th Forum of the GLADAOF) was in San Juan (Puerto Rico), in 2014 under the presidency of Dra. María H. Berrocal, the VII Congress of the SPRV (XVI Forum of the GLADAOF) was in Natal (Brazil), in 2016 under the presidency of Dr. Michel e. Farah, the VIII Congress of the SPRV (XVII GLADAOF Forum) was in Cancun (Mexico) in 2018 under the presi- dency of Dr. Virgilio Morales Canton and this one the IX Congress of the SPRV (XVIII GLADAOF Forum) is taking place in Buenos Aires (Argentina) from November 15 to November 18, 2022 under the presidency of Dr. Arturo Alezzandrini Jr.
OUR SOCIETYPRESIDENTS
Audina Berrocal, MD
10° SPRV Congress
Arturo Alezzandrini, MD
9° SPRV Congress
Virgilio Morales Cantón, MD
8° SPRV Congress
Michel Farah, MD
7° SPRV Congress
María H. Berrocal, MD
6° SPRV Congress
Lihteh Wu, MD
5° SPRV Congress
José Antonio Roca, MD
4° SPRV Congress
Fernando Arévalo, MD
3° SPRV Congress
Francisco Rodríguez, MD
2° SPRV Congress
Gregorio Gabela, MD
1° SPRV Congress
LATINOUS History
LATINOUS is an organized network of Latin-American ophthalmologists based in the United States. LATINOUS is defined by four main pillars
Educational:
A platform to share scientific knowledge and promote educational opportunities for fellow and aspiring ophthalmologists.
Professional:
Network to expand professional opportunities among Latinos, promote equity and inclusion, and increase representation in academic meetings, research, and industry.
Networking/Social:
Platform for Latinos to bond, share experiences, foster community and learn from one another
Patient-Centered Care:
Connect Latinos and facilitate referral of patients to Spanish speaking ophthalmologists to improve the quality and continuity of patient care.
MISSION, VISION AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
LATINOUS champions the professional and personal goals of Latin Americans in ophthalmology and vision science. We aim to support and encourage the recruitment and retention of Latino ophthalmologists in the United States. We strive to cultivate new opportunities for education, leadership, and collaborative research. Through connecting this important community, we seek to improve ophthalmic care access to the historically underserved Latino communities. In doing so, we will reduce health disparities and improve vision and quality of life for our patients.