Corneal experts and researchers from Europe and further afield converged on the dynamic Italian city of Milan for the 3rd EuCornea Congress. Addressing the Opening Ceremony, Beatrice

Cochener MD, secretary of EuCornea, welcomed delegates.“Judging from the numbers registered and those present

here today it was clear that deciding to have a dedicated European corneal society was a very good idea indeed,” she said.

Dr Cochener then introduced Harminder S Dua, one of the pioneers behind EuCornea and current president of the society, for the official welcoming address.

“This is my opportunity to extend a really hearty welcome to all of you,” said Dr Dua. “It is very pleasing and gratifying to see so many of you coming to Milan in such large numbers. We have come a long way in a short space of time,” he said.

Dr Dua said that while still only a young society, EuCornea is well placed for future growth in the years ahead.

“The health of EuCornea is very good. We already have over 600 pre-registrations for the congress in Milan, and we have a packed Scientific Programme, with the introduction this year of five instructional courses which seem to be very well attended, he said.

Dr Dua said that he was particularly heartened to see so much interest from younger colleagues in attending and participating in the EuCornea Congress.

“It is very heartening that they are finding this an appropriate platform to highlight their work and I

commend them for their participation and hope it continues in the future,” he said.

Finally, Dr Dua thanked all his fellow Board members and EuCornea members and delegates for their support

during his term of office and said it had been a “pleasure, privilege and honour” to serve the society’s members over the past two years.

Speaking on behalf of the Italian Ophthalmological Society (SOI), Matteo Piovella, president of SOI, welcomed delegates to Milan and highlighted the joint ESCRS/SOI symposium devoted to the theme of patient access to advanced technologies in ophthalmology and the future of healthcare in Europe.

Donald Tan, president of the Asia Cornea Society and also current president of the Cornea Society, extended his heartiest congratulations on behalf of both societies to EuCornea for their 3rd Congress. He stressed the importance of continued collaboration and cooperation between the various corneal societies and expressed his belief that such mutual support enabled each individual society to perform better in the interests of all their members.

As part of the Opening Ceremony, Dr Dua also delivered the EuCornea Medal Lecture on the topic of “Redefining the Surgical Anatomy of the Cornea”.

Incoming EuCornea president José Güell paid tribute to the tireless work and professionalism of Dr Dua and thanked him for his excellent lecture. Accepting the presidential chain of office from Dr Dua, he expressed optimism for the continued growth and development of the society and said that he would strive to serve the interests of its members during his term.

Close to 1,300 converge for WCPOS meeting

‘The health of EuCornea is very good’

Now is an exciting time in paediatric ophthalmology with many new developments in genetics, strabismus, retina, cataract and refractive surgery, the upbeat Opening

Ceremony of the 2nd World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WCPOS) heard.

The congress, which was sponsored by the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS), was attended by approaching 1,300 paediatric ophthalmologists from across the globe who came together to share their ideas and to debate the latest developments in their fields.

Welcoming delegates, WCPOS co-founders David Granet MD and Ken Nischal MD, said the ethos of the congress is that expertise does not lie in one region, but around the world. Nearly 100 countries participated or were represented at this year’s event.

While pleased at the large number of delegates at the meeting, Dr Nischal maintained that the key message from this is that paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus as a sub-specialty can support international meetings of a high value and high attendance rates.

“And this is important for the industry to know. It doesn’t matter where the meeting is held, if the participation is global then it is a world meeting,” he told the congress.

The two co-founders reminded delegates that they chose to work in the field of paediatric ophthalmology to ensure that every child gets the best vision possible as they develop.

“We are all here for the same reason; to make a difference in the lives of children,” Dr Granet commented, adding that significant work goes into putting together the meeting. He thanked his colleagues and in particular the Scientific Committees.

Dr Nischal also thanked the local Italian ophthalmic community and especially Paolo Nucci MD, chairperson of the local Scientific Committee.

Addressing the opening session, Dr Nucci welcomed WCPOS to the city on behalf of the Italian Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and praised Drs Granet and Nischal for their hard work and vision in organising WCPOS, which he said was an amazing achievement and had been considered an impossible task.

“The meeting has brought together distinguished colleagues from all over the world and this co-operation and collaboration will flourish and inevitably bring tangible benefits to all our community and to our patients who, we should never forget, are our primary interest,” Dr Nucci commented.

Despite just opening the 2nd Congress, Drs Granet and Nischal revealed to delegates that the 3rd WCPOS will take place in Barcelona in 2015. The 2015 event will be the last WCPOS meeting to take place in Europe as the congress will be moving onto another continent for its following meetings.

3rd EuCORNEA CONGRESS

12TH EURETINA Congress2nd WORLD CONGRESS OF PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS

XXX Congress of the ESCRS

3rd EuCORNEA CONGRESS

12TH EURETINA Congress2nd WORLD CONGRESS OF PAEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY AND STRABISMUS

XXX Congress of the ESCRS

Harminder S Dua, current president of EuCornea with José Güell, the incoming president of the society

Ken Nischal and David Granet, co-founders of WCPOS, at the Opening Ceremony