What is the ESCRS?

EuroTimes: For people who may not know ESCRS, how would you describe what the Society does and the role it plays in ophthalmology today? 

ESCRS exists to advance the science and practice of ophthalmology by connecting people, knowledge, and innovation to improve outcomes for patients worldwide. Many people know us for our Annual Congress, but that’s only one part of what we do. We are a member-led scientific society and registered charity, committed to supporting the ophthalmic community through world-class education, scientific research, clinical registries, publications, fellowships, and year-round professional development.

What makes ESCRS unique is that it is shaped by the profession itself. More than 200 Board members, committee members, and faculty volunteer their time, expertise, and leadership to develop our educational programmes, guide our scientific direction, and help shape the future of the Society. Their commitment ensures our priorities are driven by the needs of ophthalmologists and, ultimately, the patients they care for.

Our role is to bring the global ophthalmic community together to share knowledge, encourage collaboration, support innovation, and generate the evidence that advances clinical practice. Whether it’s a trainee attending their first Congress, an experienced surgeon adopting a new technique, or a researcher collaborating across borders, ESCRS provides a community where people can learn, contribute, and grow.

You’ve been part of ESCRS through a period of significant growth. How has the Society changed during your time here, and how has its role evolved alongside the profession? 

The biggest change has been our evolution from being recognised primarily for one outstanding annual event to becoming a year-round professional community. The way ophthalmologists learn has changed dramatically. Knowledge moves faster, innovation happens continuously, and people expect access to education whenever they need it, not just when they attend a conference.

We’ve responded by investing in digital education, expanding our research programmes, strengthening our clinical registries, developing the ESCRS Learning Hub, and creating more opportunities for members to engage throughout the year.

At the same time, we’ve grown internationally. Today, ESCRS is a truly global community—bringing together ophthalmologists from across Europe and around the world to learn from one another, collaborate, and advance the profession.

ESCRS often talks about ‘shaping the future of ophthalmology.’ What does that mean in practice, and where do you see the Society having the greatest impact? 

For me, shaping the future isn’t about predicting what comes next. It’s about creating the conditions that allow the profession to keep improving. That means investing in education so surgeons can adopt new techniques safely and confidently. It means supporting research that answers clinically important questions. It means building registries that generate real-world evidence. It means creating opportunities for collaboration between clinicians, researchers, and educators from different countries and different stages of their careers.

Perhaps most importantly, it means ensuring that knowledge doesn’t stay within individual institutions or borders but is shared for the benefit of patients everywhere. If we continue helping ophthalmologists make better-informed decisions and improve patient care, then we’re fulfilling our purpose.

There are many professional societies and educational resources available today. What do you think makes ESCRS different, particularly for someone early in their career?

I think there are two things that really set ESCRS apart: First, we’re a charitable, member-led organisation. Every surplus we generate is reinvested into education, research, fellowships, grants, and initiatives that directly benefit the profession. We’re not driven by shareholders or commercial objectives—we’re driven by our mission.

Second, everything we do is shaped by practising ophthalmologists. More than 200 volunteers contribute their time and expertise through our Board, committees, and faculty because they believe in advancing the profession. That collective commitment is one of our greatest strengths.

For someone early in their career, ESCRS is much more than discounted Congress registration. It’s access to world-class education, the Learning Hub, surgical videos, scientific publications, mentorship, research opportunities, and a global network of colleagues who can support their development for years to come.