2024 Congress Draws Global Audience, Strengthens Ties

Physicians from as far away as Cambodia and Curaçao joined more than 16,000 fellow ophthalmology professionals and industry personnel in Barcelona in September for an event that broke new ground as well as records for attendance and exhibition space. 

The 2024 ESCRS Annual Congress, the Society’s 42nd such meeting, drew ophthalmologists from every continent except Antarctica as well as 300-plus exhibitors and more than 1,300 ophthalmic nurses, technicians, and allied professionals. They were treated to a display of scientific research, hands-on training, lively debates, new technologies, and in-depth discussions that encompassed issues ranging from whether femto-LASIK is the standard procedure in corneal refractive surgery to implementing electronic instructions for use (eIFU) with IOLs.

The Congress continued its tradition of offering strong programming for eye surgeons at all career levels, including 80 wet labs, 111 instructional courses, 12 ‘getting it wrong’ videos, and 4 research symposia. New this year were dry labs, which used model eyes instead of animal material to simulate ocular surgery, and a surgical training lab with more than a dozen training devices from Haag-Streit, Alcon, and HelpMeSee. Attendees could register for up to three sessions in the lab, and each session was guided by a trainer using a curriculum developed by the manufacturer.

Highlights of the Congress included the following:

ESCRS Tablao. Taking centre stage at the Congress was the Tablao, a concept built on the successful launch of the ESCRS Arena at the 2023 Annual Congress in Vienna. Tablao is a colloquial term for the Spanish word tablado (‘floorboard’) and is also a place where flamenco shows are performed; tablao is also the term for the platform floor on which a flamenco dancer dances. The ESCRS Tablao hosted debates between teams of ophthalmologists on several topics:

• My first option: EDOF IOLs
• What doctors want to know from industry and what industry wants to know from doctors
• Femto-LASIK is the standard procedure in corneal refractive surgery
• How should I start refractive surgery
• A simulated curriculum should be mandatory in cataract surgery training

IOL anniversary museum. Another star attraction at the Congress was a tunnel museum celebrating the 75th anniversary of the first intraocular lens implantation, performed by Sir Harold Ridley. Complete with selected period museum pieces, the tunnel allowed visitors to walk through Ridley’s office and operating theatre and learn how the idea of implanting a lens came to him, how the IOL was designed and implanted, and how the wider profession reacted to this unprecedented innovation in the field of cataract surgery.

Leadership and business innovation. The Congress featured a day-long lineup of sessions on leadership and business innovation, including an instructional course on becoming an entrepreneur, a session on shared decision making, and a presentation about low-cost marketing tactics. A joint luncheon workshop with ESONT examined how to successfully implement innovative technology in a practice.

Global Refractive Summit. As part of ESCRS President Filomena Ribeiro’s goal to build a more inclusive Society and profession, the Congress featured a first-ever Global Refractive Summit that addressed topics ranging from refractive surgery and endothelial disease to new phakic IOL sizing parameters and prediction models. Joining ESCRS in the day-long event were representatives of several national societies, including the Brazilian Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (BRASCRS), the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS), and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

“The Barcelona Congress was not only a significant milestone with over 16,735 participants, but it also continued our commitment to inclusivity,” said Ribeiro. “With delegates from 126 countries, we strengthened connections with ophthalmological societies worldwide, creating a collaborative environment that benefits all.”