A UNIQUE FORUM

The XXXII ESCRS Congress convenes in London, one of the most exciting cities in the world and the birthplace, at St Thomas’ Hospital half a century ago, of the intraocular lens (IOL). As Europe's leading organisation for cataract and refractive surgeons, the ESCRS within its annual meeting endeavours to present and scientifically evaluate innovative developments in anterior segment surgery.

The ESCRS congress is a unique forum for discussion and education, helping to facilitate the sharing of expertise by ophthalmologists not only from Europe but all over the world. For our young colleagues – residents and fellows – the ESCRS continues to offer reduced meeting registration rates and we are proud to support the future leaders and drivers of our profession and their input into the meeting. 

The programme consists of main scientific symposia, free papers, posters, videos, instructional and didactic courses, workshops and a practice management & development weekend. 

Hot topics covered in the main symposia include safety, efficacy and the unexpected in corneal cross-linking (in a combined ESCRS/EuCornea symposium), vitreo-retinal complications of anterior segment surgery (in a combined ESCRS/EURETINA symposium), femtosecond-assisted cataract surgery, corneal refractive surgery, combined surgeries for cataract and glaucoma and the intricacies of targeting emmetropia after cataract surgery. Clinical scientific symposia will address topics such as optimising refractive procedures, new laser technologies, multifocal IOLs and cornea intra-stromal surgery. 
An interactive video symposium on surgical complications will take place on Sunday, organised by ESCRS in conjunction with the United Kingdom and Ireland Society of Cataract and refractive Surgeons (UKISCRS). A highlight of the meeting will be the Opening Ceremony where Prof Günther Grabner will present the Ridley Medal Lecture entitled, “Four Decades of Cataract Surgery – Personal Visions for the Future.”

Education is the main mission of the ESCRS and over the past few years particular focus has been on the development of an educational programme for young ophthalmologists. This year we continue with the full-day Young Ophthalmologists Programme on Saturday and on Sunday morning, the refractive surgery didactic course and the EBO-accredited instructional courses.

We are also delighted to welcome delegates attending the UKISCRS annual meeting, the EuCornea annual meeting, the EURETINA congress, the ESCRS Glaucoma Day and the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (WSPOS) sub-specialty day. 
UKISCRS will hold its 38th Annual meeting on Friday September 12 with the Rayner Medal lecture delivered by Prof Harminder Dua, a lifetime achievement award for Prof John Marshall and symposia on femtosecond lasers and getting involved with ophthalmology in the developing world. 
EuCornea will hold its 5th congress on Friday and Saturday, 12 and 13 September, with a comprehensive programme encompassing the latest developments in corneal research and innovations in corneal surgery. Similarly EURETINA will hold its 14th congress from September 11-14 with an extremely inclusive programme covering the latest developments in the management of retinal pathologies. 

The ESCRS Glaucoma Day will take place immediately preceding the main meeting on September 12 and the WSPOS subspecialty day takes place on Friday September 12.
I wish you a very enjoyable congress and I am sure you will have a wonderful time full of education, science and discussion with your peers from all over the world. 

*David O’Brart is president of the United Kingdom and Ireland Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons and a member of the ESCRS Board.