Day 3 at APAO-AIOC 2025 featured discussions on the latest developments in AMD treatment, surgical strategies for cataract complications and managing ophthalmic trauma.
People build monuments to honor those they cherish—lasting symbols of love and legacy.
Like the Taj Mahal.*
In the world of ophthalmology, and within societies like the APAO and AIOC, your peers create a different kind of monument: one built not of stone, but of recognition, respect and enduring impact. These tributes, such as the name Lecture at APAO every year, are given to deserving awardees to recognize their contributions not only to vision science, but more importantly to the lives of their patients.
Over the past four days, inside the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi, India, delegates bore witness to a modern-day “raising of monuments”—not of stone and mortar, but of knowledge, legacy and skill. Here, the torch of wisdom was passed from masters to mentees, in a living continuum of excellence.
To attend as a delegate was not merely to observe, but to be part of something greater: to learn, to absorb and to rise, by standing on the shoulders of giants. Congresses like the APAO-AIOC 2015 are an opportunity to watch and learn from the masters themselves who have shaped the field of ophthalmology.
Here are some of Day 3 highlights…
It’s all about the retina
It’s been quite the year for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) management, and our first highlight session shed light on this evolving landscape in managing the disease—from the expanding role of advanced imaging modalities like OCT and OCT-A in detecting geographic atrophy (GA) and neovascularization, to the cautious optimism surrounding newly approved complement inhibitors for GA—and the emerging potential (and controversies) in home OCT monitoring. While these innovations signal promising advancements, the session also underscored current limitations, particularly regarding clinical efficacy and diagnostic accuracy. Read the full article on modern AMD management here.
Joint symposium highlights
In an ESCRS-APAO 2025 joint symposium, leading luminaries from Europe and Asia shared advanced strategies for managing posterior capsule tears (PCTs). ESCRS President-Elect Burkhard Dick, Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery Europe Editor Thomas Kohnen and more drove home the value of anatomical knowledge and gave demonstrations of the surgical techniques needed for effectively managing PCTs. Read how Europe and India’s best surgeons manage posterior capsule tears here.
Meanwhile, a special Asia Pacific Ophthalmic Trauma Society (APOTS) symposium tackled more tips in managing ophthalmic trauma. Dr. Fasika Woreta (USA) emphasized the use of temporary keratoprostheses for retinal access in corneal injuries, while Dr. Rajiv Raman discussed imaging techniques, highlighting the roles of ultrasound B-scans, CT scans, and UBM in diagnosing closed and open globe injuries. Dr. Donny W. Suh examined surprisingly common shuttlecock-related eye injuries and lessons to learn for other types of trauma, revealing through finite element modeling how impact forces can damage ocular structures and potentially lead to optic neuropathy, especially in older patients. Read more about elite ocular trauma strategies here.
Editor’s Note: Reporting for this story took place during the 40th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO 2025), being held in conjunction with the 83rd Annual Conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOC 2025) from 3-6 April in New Delhi, India.
*(From Wikipedia) Lest we forget, the Taj Mahal is not merely a monument—it is a timeless mausoleum carved in gleaming ivory-white marble, resting serenely on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Commissioned in 1631 by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658), this architectural marvel was born from grief and love, built to enshrine the memory of his cherished wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Within its heart lie both their tombs, eternally united in marble and myth. The mausoleum is the radiant centerpiece of a sprawling 17-hectare (42-acre) complex, adorned with a mosque and a guest house, all nestled within meticulously designed Mughal gardens. The entire ensemble is enclosed by a red sandstone crenellated wall, standing as both protector and frame to one of the world’s most enduring testaments to love.