EDUCATION

Talented young ophthalmologists are invited to take part in ESASO’s international postgraduate modules. The ESASO community encourages prestigious universities and hospitals to team up and develop a higher curriculum and enable young ophthalmologists to advance their career paths. It provides an intercontinental network of alliances and friendships, of life-long professional and personal bonds. While the majority of participants come from diverse European countries, attendees also originate from Asia, South America, the Middle East and Africa, among others. ESASO promotes and supports internationalism by providing courses in different countries (Switzerland, Malta, Spain, Turkey, Russia, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and China). “We receive enthusiastic feedback not only from participants but also from faculty who enjoy working with their young colleagues from different backgrounds in a supportive, friendly and inspiring atmosphere,” says Borja Corcóstegui, the President of the Foundation. 2015 PROGRAMME A broad range of cutting-edge modules cover the entire field of ophthalmology. In densely packed five-day training programmes participants profit from shared knowledge with leading faculty and exchange with aspiring colleagues from all over the world. Facilities include wet labs equipped with state-of-the-art and innovative technology, which are provided and professionally maintained. OCULOPLASTIC SURGERY The first module of 2015 was held in January and was dedicated to oculoplastic surgery in La Valletta, Malta. The programme directors Ramón Medel and Luz María Vásquez from Spain together with faculty from Belgium, Germany and the UK provided insights into orbital, lacrimal and ophthalmic plastic surgery. Theoretical and practical training covered a broad spectrum of anatomical and physiological, diagnostic and therapeutic subjects: from facial nerve palsy to eyelid and orbital tumours, from upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty to trauma and fractures management. A recently published ESASO Course Series book on that topic can be ordered online at http://www.esaso.org/esaso-course-series/. MEDICAL RETINA The second module on Medical Retina was organised in early February. The programme directors Borja Corcóstegui and Bruno Falcomatà compiled an exciting programme on DME, neovascular maculopathies, macular dystrophies, ME in RVO, and micropulse laser. Colleagues from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Israel came to Lugano, Switzerland to teach state-of-the-art expertise to help diagnose and treat pathologies in this speciality. The ESASO educational programme is open to all young ophthalmologists who have completed residency training and work in ophthalmic hospital departments or clinics. Visit the website at www.esaso.org to find out more and take your ophthalmological expertise to the next level!