Research and development must be supported

In 1851, Hermann von Helmholtz presented the first ophthalmoscope, and opened the door on a new world, ie, to being able to observe the posterior part of the eye. Based on this fundamental development  the “Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft†was established just a few years later in 1857 in Heidelberg.

At times this society comprised more international than German members and was only later renamed the German Society of Ophthalmology (“Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaftâ€) – the oldest ophthalmological, and some say the oldest medical society of the world. It provided the impetus for the great development of our discipline, the foundation of eye clinics all around the world and the successful systematic treatment of eye diseases.

Innovation was part of the start up. The vision of the founders has been to take up ideas and hand them over. Therefore it is a necessity to consequent further development of research. We have to make sure that research and development are supported in the future. Based on this, we have to translate new developments into pragmatic guidelines. Retinology is not the past, it is the present and the future. I would like to invite my colleagues to look forward, think constructively and positively and act according to the motto: “Use the chances, realise the potential, shape the near futureâ€.
Let us take a brief look into enormous advances in medicine over the last few decades. Life expectancy is continually increasing worldwide and today most people of 65 years and older are healthier, more active and with regard to mental and cognitive fitness, better off than earlier generations. Currently, the highest life expectancy in Japan and Sweden is already 85 years for women and 77 years for men. It is expected that the life expectancy will also increase in the future, and that by 2050 it could have reached 94 years. This will result in an enormous challenge for ophthalmology. We are a field that particularly deals with diseases associated with ageing, so we will be affected by the longevity revolution.

Great opportunities

What does age actually mean? Goethe finished writing Faust when he was 82 years of age. Michelangelo designed the dome of St Peter’s Basilica when he was 90. Seen in this light, one could think that at 65 the best of one’s life is still to come. There are some essential aspects that are prerequisites for this, and these could be combined in a motto: 'age healthily'.

The blessing of our field is that in a certain way, more than any other area, we are increasingly better able to treat geriatric diseases. Previously it was just cataracts, today it is also the “wet†form of macular degeneration. The challenges are great.

The opportunities in scientific ophthalmology are much better than generally assumed. There are still important positions in the whole of ophthalmology, including industry, available for people who are scientifically qualified. This is due to the fact that scientists have to delve deeply into topics and so are compelled to approach the core of the problem. It is also partly due to the fact that new discoveries in pharmacology, molecular and cellular biology, neurophysiology and immunology have a wide range of applications, which are on the verge of being clinically implemented.

Because of the special situation in the subretinal area, new possibilities for transplantation have been opened up. For this reason gene therapy approaches for hereditary, degenerative retinal diseases will be available very much earlier than diseases of other less reachable organs. Because blindness or severe visual defects create a heavy burden on the social budget, financial support of research in all these areas is both economically interesting and meaningful.

We need to urge the political decision makers to orientate strongly on what is feasible and worthwhile in research. With regard to rewarding scientific projects, ophthalmology stands at the top.

Naturally we have to provide the highest performance in patient care. Nevertheless, to achieve successful, internationally competitive scientific research, we have to succeed in establishing the necessary framework conditions for gifted and enthusiastic scientists. The growth in the clinic will in future be based on advances in research and the implementation of these findings in clinical practice.

Finally, I would like to wish you all a successful winter meeting of EURETINA which  takes place in Rome, Italy, on January 28, 2012

* Gisbert Richard is president of EURETINA