Complications, confrontations and a dash of inspiration, welcome to Day 2 of APACRS 2025.
Ahmedabad may be known for its dry, dusty climate, but right now the city is drenched in monsoon energy—quite literally. The skies have been generous with their afternoon showers, cooling the heat and painting the surrounding landscape a lush seasonal green. For those attending the 37th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS 2025), the rainy reprieve offered the perfect backdrop to dive into a packed day of science, spirited debate and a few “save it for the history books” moments.
Day 2 carried forward the lively momentum of the meeting. Hallways buzzed with old colleagues reconnecting, young surgeons angling for pearls and a steady stream of innovation flowing from the podium. From masterclasses that lived up to their name to spirited debates where no one quite agreed (and that was the point), the day’s sessions reminded us why APACRS remains a can’t-miss on the global calendar.
READ MORE: APACRS 2025 Day 1: A Quiet Start, A Powerful Kickoff
Lessons from the scientific halls
Surgical saves in the nick of time. Sometimes the difference between a surgical disaster and a standing ovation comes down to quick thinking, clever tools and a whole lot of finesse. Day 2’s morning session served up exactly that: jaw-tightening complications turned into “perfect saves” by some of the biggest names in cataract surgery.
From traumatized capsules to runaway vitreous and even iris reconstructions worthy of applause, the cases reminded us that mastery isn’t about avoiding trouble, it’s knowing how to turn it around. Tap to see how the experts pulled it off: Perfect Surgical Saves and Lessons from the Masters at APACRS 2025
From laser to lens. In his Arthur Lim Lecture, Prof. Thomas Kohnen (Germany) traced the journey of phakic IOLs from fringe fix to frontline option, showing why these lenses are stepping out of the shadows and into mainstream refractive care.
From the global myopia surge to the promise of presbyopia-correcting designs (with AI sizing tools to boot), his message was clear: phakic intraocular lenses aren’t a backup plan anymore. Tap for the full IOL tour, from past to future: Phakic Forward: Evolving the Space Between Laser and Lens
When masters disagree…sparks fly. From bilateral cataract timing to presbyopia fixes and the eternal “toric vs. corneal cuts” question, today’s heavyweights went head-to-head in a rare, unfiltered exchange of data, philosophy and the occasional zinger.
There were no clear winners, but plenty of take-home insights and a reminder that disagreement is where the field sharpens its edge. Tap for the play by play: Showdown! Top Cataract Experts Clash on the Biggest Questions at APACRS 2025
Industry buzz from beyond
ZEISS (Jena, Germany) grabbed headlines with news that its CIRRUS Pathfinder platform has received CE mark approval.
Fully integrated into the company’s CIRRUS OCT ecosystem, PathFinder uses proprietary deep learning to automatically flag abnormal macular OCT B-scans in real-time…no exporting to third-party platforms required. With all its features, ZEISS is pitching PathFinder as both a clinical ally and a time-saver for practices that handle hundreds of scans a day.
Meanwhile, Nicox (Paris, France) delivered encouraging Phase III data from its DENALI trial of NCX 470, a nitric oxide-donating bimatoprost eye drop for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Involving 700 patients across the United States and China, DENALI met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority to latanoprost, while also showing statistically significant IOP reductions at half of the six measured timepoints. Though full statistical superiority was not reached, NCX 470 demonstrated up to 0.8 mmHg greater reduction versus latanoprost, along with a tolerability profile consistent with earlier trials.
Nicox is now preparing regulatory submissions in the U.S. and China, with parallel development programs underway in Japan.
Wrapping up Day 2
From green landscapes outside to green lights on new innovations inside, Day 2 in Ahmedabad proved both refreshing and energizing. Between the debates, lectures and industry breakthroughs, attendees walked away with plenty to ponder (and perhaps a few dinner-table arguments still to finish).
Tomorrow promises yet another full slate of discussions, announcements and insights—so keep your umbrellas handy and your schedules clear. APACRS 2025 is just hitting its stride.
READ MORE: APACRS 2025 Spotlights Breakthroughs in Cataract and Refractive Surgery
Editor’s Note: The 37th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS 2025) is being held from 21-23 August in Ahmedabad, India. 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.