From synthetic corneas and IOL classifications to genomic Vikings and surgical equity, the day balanced bold innovation with human perspective.
Velkommen back to the Bella Center, where Day 2 of ESCRS 2025 kept the momentum going with the precision of a Danish architect and the charm of a Copenhagen café. While some delegates hunted for second coffee and fresh croissants, others were elbow-deep in live surgeries, debate-worthy guidelines and IOL data that actually mattered in the clinic. This wasn’t just a day for protocols and PowerPoints. It was a celebration of progress and the people behind it.
READ MORE: ESCRS 2025: Big Ideas, Bright Lights and a Touch of Hygge in Copenhagen
Session highlights
The Danes are famously understated, but Day 2 began with pomp and circumstance at the Opening Ceremony, culminating in the Binkhorst Medal Lecture. With Chair Prof. Filomena Ribeiro (Portugal) at the helm, the Opening Ceremony braided science, storytelling and soul into a single thread. Delegates were treated to a history of Denmark’s role in cataract surgery (starting with a goose, no less) and a myth-busting genomic tour of Viking culture by evolutionary geneticist Dr. Eske Willerslev. Spoiler: not all Vikings were blond.
The centerpiece of the morning came with the Binkhorst Medal Lecture, delivered by Prof. Thomas Kohnen (Germany). Titled The Short-Sighted World, it tackled the global rise of myopia and what the field can do about it, looking at low-dose atropine and DIMS lenses to better patient selection for refractive and phakic IOL surgeries.
His parting message was a call to think long-term and whole-system: “Treat the whole eye, not just a refractive error.”
It wouldn’t be a Scandinavian meeting without rules, but in this case, they’re the good kind. The midday symposium unveiled the new ESCRS Guidelines for cataract and refractive surgery, offering not just a checklist, but a well-calibrated clinical framework grounded in GRADE and PICO methodologies.
Dr. Jos Kleijnen (United Kingdom) and Dr. Joukje Wanten (The Netherlands) presented guideline highlights across the cataract journey, including recommendations for NSAIDs, intracameral antibiotics and immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS). They emphasized transparency and patient-centered care.
Prof. Oliver Findl (Austria) spotlighted the “grey zones” or areas where clinical decisions rely on low-level evidence or expert consensus. These included toric thresholds, Fuchs management and target refraction.
Refractive guideline contributors Dr. Victoria Till (Austria) and Prof. Béatrice Cochener-Lamard (France) focused on surgical safety parameters, patient selection and the importance of individualized care in borderline cases.
Dr. David Chang (USA) wrapped with a global perspective, contrasting international adoption patterns and advocating for environmentally responsible surgical practices.
Industry updates
While most were still brushing flaky pastry crumbs off their lanyards, Alcon got down to business at its packed breakfast symposium, Beyond Expectations in PC IOLs: The Clareon® Edge, where international experts explored presbyopia-correcting IOLs designed to align with the way surgeons think: intuitive, precise and reproducible.
Dr. Dagny Zhu (United States) opened with classification insights, emphasizing how Clareon monofocal, Vivity and PanOptix lenses align with global standards for functional vision outcomes.
Prof. Kazuno Negishi (Japan) shared real-world data on Clareon Toric’s rotational stability and praised the AutonoMe® injector system for reproducibility across teams. Dr. Jiwon Jeong (South Korea) highlighted Vivity’s consistent performance and monofocal-like disturbance profile, while Dr. Mercè Guarro (Spain) and Prof. Giacomo Savini (Italy) discussed combining Vivity and PanOptix in dominant/non-dominant eyes, a technique dubbed “Clareon Custom Match.”
Dr. Andrzej Dmitriew (Poland) summed it up simply:, “These lenses, and especially Vivity, are our absolute implantation leader.”
One of the day’s most compelling cornea moments came courtesy of EyeYon Medical’s near-live surgery, where Prof. Luis Fernández-Vega (Spain) demonstrated implantation of the EndoArt® device, a synthetic, ultrathin implant designed to manage chronic corneal edema, especially in complex eyes with glaucoma or synechiae.
“We could have several surgical approaches,” he explained, “but we decided to do an EndoArt implant and release the inferior synechiae.” The patient, a 74-year-old man with bilateral pseudoexfoliative glaucoma and anterior synechiae, would have been a poor candidate for traditional endothelial keratoplasty.
EndoArt creates a fluid-impermeable barrier that helps restore corneal homeostasis, with no donor tissue required. “It enables immediate visual assessment and avoids the delays or rejection risks of DMEK or DSAEK,” said Prof. Fernández-Vega. The device was inserted using a 2.2 mm incision, aligned via intraoperative OCT and adhered with gas tamponade.
“The cornea is much clearer than at the beginning,” he noted. “Pachymetry confirms that it is also significantly thinner.”
During Q&A, he addressed concerns around thinning and suture timing. “We had two cases of corneal thinning in PKs, but both responded well to patching,” he said. On suture removal, he advised, “Now the suggestion is to leave it at least six months. We had a small detachment when we removed it too early.”
EndoArt, he emphasized, is not a replacement for human tissue, but a new option for difficult cases. “It extends the indications and gives hope to patients who had few choices before.”
Vi ses i morgen: clarity, culture and community
As twilight settled over Copenhagen’s canals and delegates spilled into nearby cafés for smørrebrød and schnapps, the spirit of Day 2 still glowed. This wasn’t just a day of procedures and protocols, it was a celebration of people and the kind of perspective you can’t always see through a slit lamp. From simulation bootcamps to Binkhorst reflections, from live surgeries to hallway conversations, one thing came into focus: progress in ophthalmology depends not just on innovation, but on connection.
The diversity of the day spoke volumes. Young ophthalmologists stood shoulder-to-shoulder with global pioneers. Women led from the podium and the OR. Behind every session were the technicians, nurses, volunteers and researchers whose work gives the congress its pulse.
Day 2 delivered rigor and real-world readiness. And if the practical guidelines, sharp data and human stories are any indication, Day 3 promises even more food for thought, ideally served with rye bread, remoulade and just the right amount of herring.
READ MORE: Gettin’ Hygge With It: ESCRS 2025, Day 1 Highlights
Editor’s Note: The 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS 2025) is being held from 12-16 September in Copenhagen, Denmark. Reporting for this story took place during the event. This content is intended exclusively for healthcare professionals. It is not intended for the general public. Products or therapies discussed may not be registered or approved in all jurisdictions, including Singapore.