Volume 15_Issue 7-8_Supplement

Berlin celebrates WOC® 2010 in spectacular style

Drawing inspiration from the past, present and future of ophthalmology, delegates from all over the world gathered for the spectacular Opening Ceremony of the World Ophthalmology Congress® (WOC®) 2010 in June.

Welcoming delegates in his role as WOC® 2010 president, Prof Gerhard K Lang said that he was honoured and delighted that the prestigious WOC® 2010 was taking place in Berlin.

“It is wonderful and rewarding to see so many ophthalmologists from all over the world make their way to Berlin for WOC® 2010. May I take this as an expression of your sympathy to share the different challenges we are all facing as ophthalmologists. For instance, in some countries, one single ophthalmologist covers the eye care of a million or more people with more or less adequate equipment,” he said.

Prof Lang said that whatever the difficulties faced by the ophthalmological profession in the future, those involved in eye care should never forget that a major source of strength and inspiration lies in the common bond that united all ophthalmologists.

“Among the eye doctors present at this meeting and coming from over 140 countries, there are many of us practising with different methods, on different levels with different equipment and with different training. However, although there may be many challenges in the life and work of ophthalmologists around the world, there is one thing that we should always keep in mind and that is the wonderful profession of ophthalmology and its community which always brings us together,” he said.

Albrecht von Graefe A novel feature of the Opening Ceremony was a special tribute to Albrecht von Graefe, Berlin’s pioneering son of ophthalmology. As first president of the world’s oldest ophthalmological society, the German Society of Ophthalmology (DOG), von Graefe not only contributed to uniting eye professionals for the first time, but is also credited with separating ophthalmology into its own surgical field.

Stepping onto the stage and seemingly straight out of our medical books, an actor playing the part of von Graefe praised WOC delegates for continuing on in his spirit of scientific discovery and innovation, by doing such outstanding and progressive work in this exciting field.

The message was clear: ophthalmologists have opened borders, and helped advance technology and progress, improving health and lifestyle for us all. High-tech developments in ophthalmology have sky rocketed and led to great advances in many sub-specialty fields, bringing sight to patients. Seemingly inspired by the new technological advances of this modern age, von Graefe invited the current WOC and DOG president, Prof Lang, onto the stage by iPhone.

Prof Lang spoke of von Graefe as a role model for us all, as someone who tirelessly pursued science and advancement. He said that young ophthalmologists stand on the shoulders of exemplary predecessors such as him.

Fighting blindness Bruce E Spivey MD, current president of the ICO, also welcomed delegates to Berlin for what he said should prove to be

the most stimulating and rewarding WOC Congress to date.

“It is an honour to be here with you in Berlin, a truly international city of history, sophistication, beauty and charm. Berlin provides all the scientific and social sustenance to this 32nd International Congress of Ophthalmology meeting, the World Ophthalmology Congress® of 2010.

This congress promises to be a marvellous experience for us all,” he said.

Dr Spivey paid special tribute to the individuals who had put together a firstclass Scientific Program for the WOC® 2010.

“The world is shrinking and ophthalmology is an international family that brings us together closer than ever before. On behalf of the over 150,000 ophthalmologists in the world, I want to congratulate Dr Stephen Ryan and Dr Gabriele E Lang on the excellent Scientific Program they have developed for this meeting. We owe them both a debt of gratitude for their work,” he said.

Dr Spivey also reminded delegates of the ophthalmologists’ noble goal to reduce the burden of blindness worldwide and called for greater solidarity in delivering eye care to those areas in the world where it was needed most. He said that the challenge of fighting against avoidable blindness was huge, and the opportunity immense. He praised VISION 2020 for its achievements since 1999, and encouraged its further success for the completion of its bold endeavour.

ICO medal winners In the spirit of achievement and excellence at WOC 2010, Dr Spivey awarded five ophthalmologists with medals for their outstanding work.

The prestigious Gonin Medal went to Dr Alan Charles Bird. The International Duke Elder Medal was awarded to Dr Mohammad Daud Khan. The Jules Francois Golden Medal went to Dr Gisele Soubrane, the first woman to ever receive a medal from the ICO. The ICO Ophthalmic Pathology Award went to Dr Ursula Schlotzer-Schrehardt.

Finally, Prof Peter G Watson, the current Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI) president gave the Bernardo Streiff Gold Medal to Dr Gullapalli N Rao. Prof Watson encouraged delegates to defend their academic research departments in these days of recession and cutbacks, to preserve the progress we so enjoy in ophthalmology. He said it was these very advancements that set us apart and allowed for the enormous progress we have made.

WOC Abu Dhabi 2012 Looking to the future of ophthalmology and future WOC meetings, Dr Abdulaziz AlRajhi, president of the Middle-East Africa Council of Ophthalmology, invited delegates to Abu Dhabi in 2012 (see page 4). The Opening Ceremony wound down on a high note of drum beats and choir music with the Berliner Rundfunk-Kinderchor singing Heal the World by Michael Jackson.

The motto was, our children are the future, and it is their future we are securing through science, progress, programs like VISION 2020, and in reminding ourselves of role models like Albrecht von Graefe. Taking the stage with a live Nefertiti (now on exhibit at the Neues Museum) Prof Lang reminded delegates to enjoy Berlin in all it had to offer, the old, the new, and the science.

Opening Ceremony & Welcome Reception

Different countries, different needs Speakers from Brazil, India and Rwanda met at the WOC® in Berlin to discuss and educate one another on VISION 2020 issues.

Trachoma was a disease that seemed to have disappeared from the scope of childhood diseases during the 1970s in certain areas of Brazil, due to an interruption of surveillance activities in the region.

A recent survey, however, reveals that trachoma is not only quite prevalent among pre-school and school children, but it constitutes a definite public health problem.

Dr Maria de Fatima Lopes reported on the nationwide school survey performed with children from grades one to four. The survey discovered 8275 cases of active trachoma, which corresponds to five per cent of the sample surveyed. Of these, 7200 students had follicular trachoma. Rural areas had a higher prevalence than urban areas.

Prevalence in some areas reached up to 10 per cent. A trachoma elimination program is planned using the guidelines of the VISION 2020 program, to keep blindness under control in rural areas of Brazil.

In Bangalore, India, researchers have found a simple, effective and inexpensive option to detect childhood blindness with the use of compact digital cameras to elicit red reflexes. Dr Alefia Merchant told listeners that direct ophthalmoscopes were not available to all ophthalmologists in India.

Using AAO guidelines which recommend screening at birth for abnormalities, she found that a digital camera, used at a four metre distance, with maximal optical zoom,

Volker Klauss (left) and Robert P Finger (right), who chaired the VISION 2020 - Prevention of Blindness 1 session

was effective to elicit the red reflex in all children, including both blue and browneyed children.

The photos were taken by trained personnel and interpreted by a paediatric ophthalmologist. A symmetrical red reflex was considered normal, and everything else abnormal. Of the 186 children that met the

criteria of the study, 152 had abnormalities according to the digital camera photos.

Photos taken by direct ophthalmoscope, by contrast, detected abnormalities in only 88 children.

Dr Merchant revealed that of the abnormal cases, 75 per cent were in fact vision threatening, associated with

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refractive errors or strabismus. The other 25 per cent (false positives) were associated with a white reflex and likely to be caused by differences in the Indian population and the child looking away from the camera, she explained. Digital camera use for blindness screening seems to be a feasible and effective option.

Reaching rural Africans with eye care services appears to be one of the greatest challenges in fighting blindness. Dr Andreas Mueller shared his experiences in Rwanda, in providing primary eye care to outlying villages.

He said that getting villagers to take up services at all was a major factor. In the Rubavu district of Western Rwanda, the primary healthcare provider serves the local communities, constituting about 30,000 people. Individuals are trained for five days in primary eye care in order to examine villagers and refer them if necessary to Gisenyi (district level) where they can be examined in hospital by an ophthalmologist.

In 2007-8, nurses screened 4000 people and ophthalmic officers screened another 2500 for cataract. Of these there were 350 referrals and 150 cataracts that were actually operated.

He noted an inconsistency in both screening and referrals over the two-year period, which he relates in part to gender preferences. Unlike Asian studies that show a preference for treatment by female healthcare givers, the Rwandan group showed a preference for male care takers.

People did not go for screening or referrals by a female. In addition to this factor, nonpayment was also an issue, which, unlike regional malaria programs, receives no remuneration. Measures need to be taken to improve these conditions for the program to be sustainable, he said.

Abu Dhabi begins countdown in earnest for WOC® 2012 Sao Paulo in 2006, Hong Kong in 2008, and Berlin in 2010 – the World Ophthalmology Congress (WOC®) is a global roadshow that barely catches its breath from the last outing before the wagons are already moving on to the next destination.

South America, Asia and Europe have all had their moment in the spotlight in the past decade. Now, the focus shifts firmly to a new city and region – Abu Dhabi, one of the cultural jewels of the Middle East and Africa region, and the proud host of the WOC® in 2012.

Given that this is the first time that the WOC will be held in the region, Abu Dhabi is pulling out all the stops to make the 2012 congress an unforgettable experience for the 10,000-plus delegates who are expected to make the trip in two year’s time.

“I am happy to say that Abu Dhabi is ready and waiting to welcome the world’s ophthalmologists in 2012. This wonderful city will provide them with an outstanding mixture of excellent science and a highly memorable and entertaining social program which will reflect the rich cultural traditions of the region,” said Dr Abdulaziz AlRajhi, president of the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO), organisers of the WOC in 2012 which is sponsored by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO).

The WOC® 2012 will be held in Abu Dhabi from 16-20 February 2012 in the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center, one of the bestequipped and modern convention centres in the world.

“We are very lucky to have one of the most modern, best-designed and well-equipped convention centres at our disposal. The facilities are first-class and we are sure that delegates will have a very positive experience when they come to see what Abu Dhabi has to offer in 2012,” said Dr AlRajhi.

Indeed, Dr AlRajhi is quick to stress that the delights of Abu Dhabi stretch well beyond the confines of the convention centre.

“Abu Dhabi has some unique attractions to entice delegates. First of all, the city really serves as an international hub, linking the east and the west globally, with excellent airline connections, so getting here should be no

Abdulaziz AlRajhi

problem for most people. Also, it is a very modern, clean, safe and pleasant city with a lot of cultural history and very friendly people.

It really is an ideal family destination and we would strongly encourage delegates to bring their families along to experience the unique flavour that this city has to offer,” he said.

Certainly visitors to Abu Dhabi will not be short of potential excursions when they visit the region in 2012. Later this year, the world’s largest indoor theme park, Ferrari World, will be opening its doors to the public. Among the highlights of this vast adventure playground is the Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster capable of reaching speeds up to 240 kmh/h.

Those who prefer the more sedate relaxation offered by greens and fairways will also have the opportunity to try out the spectacular new Saadiyat Island Ocean golf course, designed by Gary Player. The city also offers a variety of other attractions to keep visitors occupied: mosques (eg, the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque. The 22,412 square metre mosque site is equivalent to around the size of five football fields, and can accommodate 40,960 worshippers. The main prayer hall features the world’s largest

chandelier under the main dome – being 10 metres in diameter, 15 metres in height and weighing over nine tonnes. The mosque’s seven gold-coloured chandeliers from Germany feature thousands of Swarovski crystals from Austria and some glasswork from Italy, and cost about US$8.2m [AED 30 million]), parks, beaches, museums, markets and a bewildering array of shopping malls make Abu Dhabi a truly cosmopolitan experience.

To cater for the expected influx of visitors to the city, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has increased the number of available hotel rooms from 12,000 to over 17,200, with over 21,600 rooms promised by the end of 2011.

Such a large number of visitors will provide a welcome boost for the local economy and bring a considerable financial spin-off for the wider region, believes Dr AlRajhi.

“Based on a conservative estimate of 10,000 delegates staying on average five nights in a hotel, we believe that the direct financial impact will be somewhere in the region of $37m, and that does not include other revenue generated from restaurants, shopping, leisure activities and so forth. So it’s a big boost for the region and it will help to showcase the development of the city, the United Arab Emirates and the quality of its infrastructure and services,” he said.

A less tangible but no less important impact of the WOC® coming to Abu Dhabi will be the chance to dispel some stereotypes about the region, suggests Dr AlRajhi.

“It is probably fair to say that there is a distorted vision of the Middle East and Africa in the eyes of some of our international colleagues, partly because of various political issues that often surround discussion of the region. I believe that it is very important that participants come and experience the reality and see for themselves that our countries are quite developed and that our educational and medical standards are of a high calibre. Our hope is that interaction with the local culture will help to dispel some of these stereotypes,” he said.

Another positive spin-off for the region

will be the scientific impact of playing host to some of the world’s finest ophthalmologists.

“This is an excellent opportunity for ophthalmologists in our region to attend WOC®, an experience which can only enhance their knowledge and training, and which will ultimately benefit patients in the region too,” said Dr AlRajhi.

In this regard, Dr AlRajhi acknowledged the generous support of the Abu Dhabi government which has pledged to sponsor 200 participants from less developed countries in the MEACO region to attend the congress.

Dr AlRajhi also promised a Scientific Program in Abu Dhabi that will be “as strong if not stronger” than previous congresses, but with greater emphasis on the educational needs of the region.

The ICO has named Peter Wiedemann MD, of Leipzig, Germany, to lead the development of the Scientific Program for future World Ophthalmology Congresses.

Dr Wiedemann succeeds Steven Ryan MD, of Los Angeles, California, who has chaired the Scientific Program committee since Sao Paulo, Brazil (2006).

We are working with Dr Wiedemann to identify Scientific Program coordinators from the various subspecialties of ophthalmology and related interests, who will be asked to help with the development of the program for Abu Dhabi. We will also invite ICO member subspecialty societies and other major ophthalmologic organisations to develop symposia for the WOC® 2012.

“Education is vital, whether in the form of hands-on surgical courses or scientific presentations. Our rationale is that there is quite a strong need for basic knowledge in some of the countries in the region and we will try to provide that to our participants. We will also have a number of planning, practice management and business-oriented sessions in which we will concentrate on issues such as education, subspecialty training, development of eye bank facilities, increased support for women in ophthalmology and also ethics and ethical guidelines for the practice of ophthalmology in the region,” he said.