RETINA ACADEMY

The ESASO Retina Academy will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, 14-15 November 2014, and will offer new and additional interactive clinically relevant sessions led by world-leading ophthalmologists. The two-day meeting will be run by a faculty of more than 40 experts with main plenary sessions on specific topics of the retina. These sessions will include presentations, prestigious Lectio Magistralis keynote lectures, debates between experts and two Retinamor interactive case study discussions. The main sessions will focus on diabetic macular edema, vascular pathologies, macular edema in retinal vein occlusions and the management of retinal ischaemia.

The meeting will host a unique set of ESASO MasterClasses on topics including paediatric retinal diseases, vitreolysis and central serous chorioretinopathy. These sessions are limited to small groups to provide the opportunity for direct discussion with global experts. The ESASO Retina Academy accepts abstract submissions on eight categories of topics relating to the retina. Accepted abstracts can be offered as posters, with winning abstracts presented within the main programme, and as rapid-fire presentations – a new interactive format within the meeting. All accepted abstracts will be published in Ophthalmologica, the journal of the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA). The abstract submission deadline is 23 June 2014.

Delegates may also submit case studies for presentation and discussion in the Retinamor sessions. The winner of the annual humanitarian Excellence in Ophthalmology Award (XOVA) will be presented at the meeting. This award, sponsored by Novartis corporation, is for an initiative that is expected to have significant impact on unmet needs in ophthalmology. Other awards will be made to those graduating from the ESASO fellowship programme and the ESASO graduation scheme.

This year's scientific programme is developed by the Scientific Committee chaired by Francesco Bandello, professor and chairman, Department of Ophthalmology Scientific University Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. Prof Bandello says: "The meeting has been re-focussed this year to prioritise and align with the objectives of the ESASO school. Our meeting will offer clinically relevant education led by the best experts from around the globe with a new name, the ESASO Retina Academy. This reflects the high level of education we offer to ultimately improve the clinical and surgical practice of specialists in ophthalmology."

* http://www.esaso.org/14th-esaso-retina-academy-2014