The 41st Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS 2023) takes place in Vienna, Austria, from September 8 to 12 at the Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Centre.
From new scientific sessions and content to a traditional Viennese ball, ESCRS 2023 offers attendees a conference experience unlike any other. In addition to the impressive scientific program, prestigious award lectures and ample networking opportunities, this Congress also marks an important step in ESCRS’s overall journey toward sustainability.
Scientific program highlights
This year’s program features the latest updates in anterior segment surgery and practice, new specialty sessions and workshops — as well as industry sponsored satellite sessions, where experts offer the latest data on the newest tech.
Make sure to mark your calendar for some of these informative events.
Day 1: Friday, Sept. 8
Delegates can attend subspecialty sessions during Focused Friday. Co- organized with ESCRS and other groups, these presentations feature deep-dives into key subject matter at an additional cost. Check out Cornea Day by ESCRS and EUCornea, Glaucoma Day by ESCRS and EGS, and WSPOS Day by the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus.
There’s also the Who Owns Ophthalmology? main symposium from 17:00 to 19:00, which is sure to be an interesting talk. Plus, the industry exhibition opens at 12:00. Head to the hall to experience the newest technology and innovations from ophthalmology’s leading companies.
Day 2: Saturday, Sept. 9
The second day of ESCRS 2023 packs a powerhouse of must-view content. Begin your day at the Opening Ceremony with the Binkhorst Medal Lecture on Corneal Regeneration: The Future of Corneal Surgery by Dr. Jorge L. Alió. Here, Dr. Alió will share his insight and involvement in the emerging topic of corneal regeneration. As a thought leader in this arena, he has conducted the first worldwide clinical trial for the treatment of corneal dystrophies with autologous mesenchymal stem cells and has published a series of key scientific papers on this innovative type of corneal surgery.
On Day 2, the Congress is also excited to share a new format: The ESCRS Near-Live Surgery Programme from 14:00 to 16:00. To produce this program, the ESCRS video team visited operating theaters and filmed surgeons during procedures. Each video focuses on critical surgical steps to allow for discussion — plus a selection of more challenging cases.
Other highlights include the day-long Refractive Surgery Didactic Course and the Young Ophthalmologists Programme.
Day 3: Sunday, Sept. 10
As ophthalmology strives for more sustainability across the board, you can learn more about greener surgical practices yourself during the main symposium on Day 3: Making our Surgery Greener from 11:00 to 13:00. There will also be a Young Ophthalmologists For Sustainability (YOFS) event from 14:30 to 15:30.
ESCRS embarked on a journey to become more sustainable in 2022 — and in 2023, these efforts continue. According to ESCRS President Prof. Oliver Findl, “We [ESCRS] are increasing our momentum and investment in this area to achieve the very lofty goal of having a congress with zero waste to landfills, zero net carbon emissions, and placing ESCRS as a role model for social responsibility.”
Other highlights include the IME session on refractive surgery lenticule extraction, workshops on visual optics, as well as instructional courses and satellite symposia.
Day 4: Monday, Sept. 11
Rightfully dubbed Smart & @ctive Monday, Day 4 features a plethora of can’t-miss content — so much so, that you’ll likely wish you could be in two spots at once! So, double-check the program. Many of these sessions take place concurrently, so plan in advance.
Start your day off with the CSCRS symposium Continents Going Digital, followed later by the main symposium Automating Eye Surgery — or head over to one of the day’s workshops on presbyopia or dry eye.
However, you’ll want to make time from 10:30 to 11:00 to attend the Heritage Lecture on The Enigma of the Anterior Interface by Dr. Marie-José Tassignon. She is the emeritus head and chief of the Department of Ophthalmology of the Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, and a past president of the ESCRS.
Alternatively, you might also want to check out Brush-Ups: What An Anterior Segment Surgeon Needs To Know, featuring topics on retina (by Euretina), glaucoma (by EGS), and oculoplastics (by ESOPRS).
What’s more, there’s a host of other new content you might be interested in, such as the Medical Writing Workshop for Researchers and the Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Symposium. (It is important to note that the four-hour medical writing workshop is limited to 40 attendees, so register early to secure your seat.)
Day 5: Tuesday, Sept. 12
Last but not least, Day 5 offers attendees a final bit of crucial content — and tough decision-making. Kick off your day with one of these three presentations: The Austrian Symposium (8:30-10:00), the IOL Exchange Workshop (8:00-10:00), or Orbis Symposium (8:00-10:00).
The final main symposium of ESCRS 2023 also promises to be a good one: Taking Care of Postoperative Complications, happening from 10:30 to 12:30.
Waltz the night away
We love a good networking opportunity, and ESCRS has really outdone itself with this one: A first-of-its-kind, traditional Viennese Ball. Taking place in the iconic Hofburg Imperial Palace on Saturday, Sept. 9, this is a truly unique opportunity to connect with peers and colleagues. This event comes at an additional cost and registration is available online. (Note: Dinner is not included and make sure to mind the dress code. It will be strictly enforced.)
For a less formal affair, check out Networking in the Exhibition Hall on Sunday, Sept. 10, from 18:15 to 19:30. This is the perfect opportunity for casual networking with industry partners and ESCRS faculty. Plus, there’s no additional cost for this event.
On Sunday, there’s also the ESCRS Charity Concert for Light for the World held at Porgy & Bess, Jazz & Musical Club. The headliner is JAZZMED 4 Life, a group of dedicated physicians who perform for charity. Proceeds of this benefit concert will be donated to Light for the World, an international organization that saves sight and empowers people with disabilities in Africa. (Note: For more info, visit www. jazzmed.at. Tickets are priced at €28,00 and are available at www.porgy.at.)
Plan accordingly and enjoy
ESCRS 2023 promises to be a spectacular anterior segment congress — so, take advantage of the numerous sessions (and variety of events!) to elevate and enhance your own personal practice.
There’s so much more than we could cover here, so check out the program online and ensure you’re registered for any key events. We’ll see you there!
Editor’s Note: A version of this article was first published in CAKE Magazine Issue 19.
