ESCRS innovation in research, education and training

David Spalton addressing delegates at the opening ceremony of the XXXIV Congress New initiatives and consolidation of existing projects in key areas of research, education and training will continue to drive the society forward in its mission to provide the highest quality service to its members, ESCRS President David J Spalton said yesterday’s Opening Ceremony of the XXXIV Congress in Copenhagen. “The ESCRS is a charity and our charitable objectives are focused on education, research, and training, as well as direct donations. Last year our budget for this was €1.7million, making us one of the largest ophthalmic charities in Europe,” he said. Prof Spalton told assembled delegates that this year’s congress rounds off an exceptional year for the ESCRS. “Our last congress in Barcelona attracted over 8,500 delegates from 127 countries and at the winter meeting in Athens we had 2,232 delegates from 73 countries. This means that the ESCRS annual congress is now the second largest ophthalmic meeting in the world outside the US,” he said. The ESCRS will continue to support and promote research activities such as the European Registry of Quality Outcomes for Cataract and Refractive Surgery (EUREQUO) and the recently-launched European Cornea and Cell Transplantation Registry (ECCTR), said Prof Spalton. As well as the ongoing PREvention of Macular Edema after cataract surgery (PREMED) study, the first results of which are expected next year, three new projects are being financed by the ESCRS: one on virtual refractive optics using high-resolution imaging of the anatomy of the eye for prevention of negative dysphotopsia, another looking at the influence of posterior vitreous detachment on retinal detachment in myopic eyes, and a final project on functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study cortical neuroadaption. “Our budget for research this year is €750,000 and we have 43 applications for new research grants which we are currently assessing,” added Prof Spalton. Speaking on behalf of the host country, Dr Thomas Olsen said that he was honoured that the prestigious congress was taking place in Copenhagen, a city that offered many attractions to delegates once the serious business of the event was accomplished.