World Ophthalmology Congress :

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Additional Congress news headlines:

• 2008 World Ophthalmology Congress® attracts 13,000
  
  
• Highlights of the 2008 WOC
  
  
• ICO offers selected WOC presentations online
  
  
• Other WOC reports and photos available
  
  
• 2006 World Congress exceeds expectations
  
  
• Previous International Congresses of Ophthalmology and Congresses of the Societas Ophthalmologica Europea (SOE)

(Also see: the latest news of International Congresses)

2008 World Ophthalmology Congress® attracts 13,000

With 10,500 ophthalmologists and 2,500 exhibitors and other participants from 105 countries and territories, the 2008 World Ophthalmology Congress®, June 28 – July 2 in Hong Kong, was the largest ever.

Based on feedback from registrants, it was also one of the best, even though Typhoon Feizen brushed Hong Kong as many were arriving and left behind days of rain. The Congress was praised for the breadth and depth of the scientific program, excellent organization and staffing and unforgettable social events.

Sponsored by the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO), the Congress was hosted by the College of Ophthalmologist of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society and co-hosted by the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology and Chinese Ophthalmological Society.

The 2008 WOC incorporated the XXXI World Ophthalmology Congress , XXII Congress of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology, XIII Congress of the Chinese Ophthalmological Society and XX Hong Kong Ophthalmological Symposium.

Congress President Dennis Lam, MD, called it the “Olympics of ophthalmology.”

Highlights of the 2008 WOC

Among the highlights of the World Ophthalmology Congress® in Hong Kong:

• More than 1100 internationally recognized speakers in 319 scientific sessions, many organized by more than 40 international, supranational, national and subspecialty ophthalmologic societies
  
  
• 200 submitted free papers and more than 3600 posters
  
  
• 34 symposia sponsored by industry with seven live surgery sessions
  
  
• A Subspecialty Day focused on cataract and refractive surgery, glaucoma, and retina
  
  
• More than 3000 registrants from Mainland China, with 70 sessions, 500 presentations and 1600 posters in the Chinese Ophthalmological Society program
  
  
• The first World Ophthalmic Education Colloquium (WOEC), with more than 100 speakers on educational initiatives in 18 symposia
  
  
• The second World Forum of Non-Profit Organizations in Vision and Blindness Prevention and 19 sessions related to VISION 2020
  
  
• Dazzling social events that featured Chinese cuisine and culture, including a fluorescent dragon dance and traditional Bian Lian or “face changing” performance at the Opening Ceremonies.

ICO offers selected WOC presentations online

Supported by a grant from Genentech, the ICO has made 26 selected presentations from the World Ophthalmology Congress in Hong Kong available at:

ico.scientificabstracts.org.

These presentations combine slides with audio. You will need to advance the slides manually to match the words of the speaker.

Also available are all of the slide presentations from the World Ophthalmic Education Colloquium. The welcome page for the site describes how to select and view the various presentations.

Other WOC reports and photos available

Ocular Surgery News published the WOC Daily in Hong Kong, with sections of each issue in Chinese. Copies can be downloaded at: www.osnsupersite.com/view.asp?rID=29552

OSN also offers reports on many presentations from the Congress at: www.osnsupersite.com/setContent.asp?setID=405

To view or download photos and videos from the WOC, visit the Congress Web site at: www.woc2008hongkong.org/woc/index09_3.shtml

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 World Ophthalmology Congress, 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 World Ophthalmology Congress 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 World Ophthalmology Congress held in South America.

Previous International Congresses of Ophthalmology and Congresses of the Societas Ophthalmologica Europea (SOE)

A list of past meetings of the World Ophthalmology Congress and the Congresses of the Societas Ophthalmologica Europea (SOE) are available on the ICO Eye Site.

There's also information on future Congresses and other educational meetings.

Next: Contact Information for World Ophthalmology Congresses