A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE

31 years ago I was among a small group of 160 ophthalmologists in The Hague, The Netherlands, who came together for the first meeting of the European Intraocular Implantlens Council (EIIC), the association that eventually became the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. I have just returned from the XXX I ESCRS Congress in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, which was attended by more than 7,000 delegates with a packed audience of 3,000 for each day’s major symposium. So much has changed since 1982. We have gone from being a small European group interested in developing the concept of IOL implantation to an organisation that promotes and discusses developments in cataract and refractive surgery not just in Europe but all over the world. The annual congress and the ESCRS publications ensure the dissemination of new and validated developments ensuring clinical standards are ever rising, for the benefit of all our patients. 

This year’s congress was a wonderful experience for me for two reasons. Firstly, after years of discussing the publication of a history of the ESCRS, I was finally able to hold a copy in my hands of European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons – A History. This book tells the story of the society from the early years to the present day and is a wonderful account of the work of the people who have helped make our society so special. We are still a young society in many ways but the history is timely as some of those who were responsible for our foundation are no longer with us. It is important that we recognise the contribution of those who were with us in the early days and who are still active in the society and the book is a testimony to their achievements. It is important to point out that the history looks back on the society’s distinguished past but also looks forward to the challengeof the future. This brings me to my second reason for looking back on the XXXI Congress with particular fondness. 

When we came together in 1982, our group was made up of key opinion leaders in ophthalmology. Most of us were well-established in our profession and there were very few young ophthalmologists at our meeting in The Hague. As the society has developed over the last 31 years, we have done our best to encourage young ophthalmologists to get involved in ESCRS. I was particularly proud at our meeting in Amsterdam to see so many trainees and residents taking part in our scientific sessions and also in the Young Ophthalmologists Programme and the Young Ophthalmologists Session. Under the presidency of Peter Barry, we have worked very hard to ensure that not only do young 
ophthalmologists attend our meetings, they are also encouraged to help us decide how the Scientific Programme needs to be developed to meet their needs. I have been very fortunate to work with Peter for almost 25 years. He is a great ophthalmologist and also a great friend and he deserves great credit for the success of this year’s congress and much more. Peter has been an outstanding and imaginative president popularising the E SCR S throughout the globe but is approaching the end of his two-year presidency and in January 2014, Roberto Bellucci will succeed him. I look forward to Roberto’s presidency but I am also happy in the knowledge that Peter will continue after his presidency to be a key figure in ESCRS. I also hope he enjoys his retirement and look forward to joining him at some time in the future in his holiday retreat in the beautiful town of Dingle, Co Kerry in Ireland.