International Congress of Ophthalmology:
World Ophthalmology Congress
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Congress News Headlines:
- Registration tops 7200 for 2008 WOC
- Scientific program for Hong Kong
- Details in WOC 2008 E-Xpress
- ICO asks societies to promote 2008 WOC
- 2012 WOC proposed for Dubai
- 2010 World Congress in Berlin
- Tokyo selected for 2014 WOC
- 2016 WOC will be decided in 2010
- 2006 World Congress exceeds expectations
Registration tops 7200 for 2008 WOC
More than 7200 ophthalmologists, including 2800 from Mainland China, have registered for the 2008 World Ophthalmology Congress®, June 28 - July 2 in Hong Kong.
The deadline for online registration is May 31.
This will be the 31st International Congress of Ophthalmology, the 23rd Congress of Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, the 13th Congress of Chinese Ophthalmological Society and the 20th Hong Kong Ophthalmological Symposium. We are expecting at least 10,000 ophthalmologists to participate.
For more, see www.woc2008hongkong.org.
Scientific program for Hong Kong
Under the leadership of Steve Ryan, MD, and Clement Tham, MD, the invited scientific program for the 2008 World Ophthalmology Congress® (WOC) in Hong Kong is nearly final, with sessions organized by 28 subspecialty societies, as well as national and supranational organizations,
"The program will offer ophthalmologists an exceptional opportunity to learn about the latest advances in ophthalmology from around the world," according to WOC 2008 President Dennis Lam, MD.
Highlights of the invited scientific program include:
- More than 1000 prominent international speakers in 224 scientific sessions
- A subspecialty day (June 28), with full-day programs on retina, glaucoma and cataract and refractive surgery
- A World Ophthalmology Education Colloquium (also June 28) organized by ICO Director of Education Mark Tso, MD, with 137 speakers in 18 symposia on initiatives to enhance ophthalmic education
Details in WOC 2008 E-Xpress
The highlights of the scientific sessions in each subspecialty area at the 2008 World Ophthamology Congress® are being featured in the monthly e-mail WOC 2008 E-Xpress.
You can subscribe at www.woc2008hongkong.org/subscribep.html and review past issues at www.woc2008hongkong.org/woc_eblast_past.html.
ICO asks societies to promote 2008 WOC
The ICO has asked the leaders of ophthalmologic societies and educational institutions to help inform members and others about the World Ophthalmology Congress®, June 28 - July 2, 2008 in Hong Kong.
"We would appreciate your including a link to the Congress on your Web site and ads and other notices in your newsletters and journals," wrote ICO Secretary General Jean-Jacques De Laey, MD.
Copies of the WOC 2008 logo, ads and a PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded from www.woc2008hongkong.org/downloads.html.
2012 WOC proposed for Dubai
In 2004, the ICO agreed to hold the 2012 International Congress of Ophthalmology in conjunction with the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting in Chicago. Since that time, the Congress has evolved into a much more substantial meeting, now called the World Ophthalmology Congress® (WOC).
Recognizing that it would be impossible for the WOC to fit within the framework of the AAO Annual Meeting or for the Academy to fit within a WOC, ICO Officers met with Academy leaders on several occasions in 2007. The Academy has agreed to support the ICO’s desire to hold the 2012 WOC in another location that does not compete with the Academy’s Annual Meeting in Chicago.
The Council has invited the Middle East African Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) to host the 2012 WOC, and they have proposed a World Congress in Dubai in February or March 2012.
"We are working on defining an agreement with MEACO, and I hope to ask the Council for approval soon," commented ICO President Bruce E. Spivey, MD. "We are excited by that prospect: Dubai is an attractive venue with excellent facilities, and it would be the first WOC in the Middle East/Africa."
"I would like to express my personal appreciation to the American Academy leadership for their understanding and to MEACO for taking the initiative in hosting such an important event," Dr. Spivey said.
2010 World Congress in Berlin
The 2010 World Ophthalmology Congress® and XXXII International Congress of Ophthalmology is scheduled June 5 - 9, 2010 in Berlin, hosted by the German Ophthalmological Society.
See the preliminary Congress Web site at www.woc2010.de.
Tokyo selected for 2014 WOC
In March 2007, the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) selected the Japanese Ophthalmological Society as the host for the 2014 World Ophthalmology Congress®, which will be in Tokyo. The 2014 WOC has been tentatively scheduled for March 30 to April 3, during cherry blossom time.
The Council selected a bid from Japan over proposals from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists of Thailand (for Bangkok) and All-India Ophthalmological Society (Delhi). “There were three compelling proposals, which made it very hard to choose,” said ICO President Bruce E. Spivey, MD. “Sincere thanks to all three societies, which put a lot of effort and heart into their bids.”
2016 WOC will be decided in 2010
The ICO decided at its meeting in 2007 that bids for future WOCs would be considered six years ahead of time. So the host for the 2016 World Congress will be approved when the Council meets in the 2010.
When considering potential sites for the World Congress in the future, Council members suggested that an important criterion should be the extent to which the Congress will stimulate the development of ophthalmology in the region, particularly in developing countries.
The ICO's Strategic Planning Commitee has recommended that the Congress rotate in the future among four regions: the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East/Africa. In the current rotation, Europe, the Middle East and Africa are combined in one region.
The Council will consider a proposed revised policy for selection of World Ophthalmology Congresses when it meets in June in Hong Kong.
2006 World Congress exceeds expectations
The 2006 World Ophthalmology Congress®, on February 19 – 24 in São Paulo, Brazil exceeded all expectations, with more than 12,000 registrants from 120 countries.
The Congress was also the 30th International Congress of Ophthalmology, 26th Pan-American Congress of Ophthalmology and 17th Brazilian Congress of Prevention of Blindness.
"This was the best International Congress since 1857," commented ICO President Fritz Naumann, MD. The first International Congress of Ophthalmology was in 1857 in Brussels, and the Congress is the longest continuing international meeting in all of medicine.
Highlights of the 2006 World Congress included:
- the first-ever World Forum of Non-Profit Organizations on Vision and Prevention of Blindness
- four "Subspecialty Days," one-day immersion programs led by top ophthalmologists on glaucoma, retina, cataract and cornea and refractive surgery
- 2,500 speakers from all ophthalmic subspecialties and all regions of the world
- 400 scientific sessions with 4000 presentations
- Opening Ceremonies, a WOCarnival Ball and other social events that introduced registrants to the music and flavors of Brazil.
It was the first International Congress of Ophthalmology held in South America.
Next: More News of World Ophthalmology Congresses
Also see: XXIX Congress in Sydney, 2002
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