Going Beyond Cataract Camps

ESCRS expanding treatment opportunities in underserved areas.

Last June, three people sat under a tree in a village in a remote region of Mozambique, in southeastern Africa. They spoke with community leaders about the importance of eye care and how it should be accessible to everyone.

Author: Laura Gaspari

Bridging the Gap Between Local and Global

New training programmes seek to reach hard-to-reach areas to meet growing patient needs.

Meeting the burgeoning eye care needs of rapidly ageing populations across diverse locations will require greater collaboration among ophthalmic societies worldwide, according to a panel of society leaders discussing the topic at the ESCRS Annual Congress in Barcelona.

Author: Howard Larkin

2024 Congress Draws Global Audience, Strengthens Ties

Physicians from as far away as Cambodia and Curaçao joined more than 16,000 fellow ophthalmology professionals and industry personnel in Barcelona in September for an event that broke new ground as well as records for attendance and exhibition space. 

Refractive EDOF with the Benefits of Monofocal

PureSee IOL studies indicate high patient satisfaction.

Poor night vision outcomes and reduction in contrast sensitivity are among the greatest concerns regarding the implantation of presbyopia-correcting IOLs. First highlighted by an ESCRS survey, this issue has recently...

Author: Timothy Norris

Making the Right IOL Decisions

Use of presbyopia-correcting lenses in post-corneal refractive surgery patients requires attention to multiple considerations.

Implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens (MFIOL) or an extended depth of focus (EDOF) IOL in cataract surgery patients having a history of a corneal refractive procedure is a controversial topic given the lack of rigorous evidence to inform the decision.

Author: Cheryl Guttman Krader

Training to Target Global Cataract Blindness

Non-profit organisations look to innovative, scalable virtual reality training systems.

Virtual reality (VR) simulation-based training programmes for manual small-incision cataract surgery (MSICS) can help to increase the number of skilled providers in low- and middle-income countries and thereby reduce the personal, economic, and social burdens associated with what remains the leading cause of blindness in the world.

Author: Cheryl Guttman Krader

ESCRS Refractive Surgery Guidelines a Work in Progress

Challenges involve keeping up to date on current treatments.

The ESCRS work to achieve a consensus on guidelines on corneal refractive surgery is ongoing, but there are still many challenges to face.

Author: Laura Gaspari

Stabilising with PACE-CXL

Performed with advanced technologies, PACE-CXL procedure stops ectatic progression and improves vision.

Phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK)-Assisted Customised Epi-on corneal cross-linking (PACE-CXL) in eyes with progressive keratoconus or other keratectasia halts further corneal steepening and rehabilitates vision because it both stabilises and regularises the cornea.

Author: Cheryl Guttman Krader

Closing the Mentorship Distance

Addressing a need in underserved regions, distance surgical mentorship offers a viable strategy with multiple benefits.

Success in reducing the global burden of cataract-related blindness will depend on increasing the supply of skilled cataract surgeons practising in low- and middle-income countries. Live distance surgical mentorship appears to offer a safe, effective, economical, and eco-friendly approach to meeting the latter need.

Author: Cheryl Guttman Krader