The inaugural day of ESCRS 2025 served up strategies, stents and Scandinavian vibes.
Day 1 of the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS 2025) in Copenhagen, Denmark, began with a little Scandinavian hygge—my own, personally engineered version. A brisk bike ride through Amager Nature Park to the Bella Center had me swaddled in sun, wind and the occasional audacious chirp of a bird with zero regard for punctuality. Gravel crunched under tires, tall grasses swayed in the breeze and the brisk Danish air felt like a Nordic-style coffee…invigorating, a little shocking, but exactly the wake-up I needed before the day’s sessions.
Inside the Bella Center, the atmosphere was equally refreshing, if slightly less breezy. Ophthalmologists from across Europe (and beyond) congregated, buzzing with energy, curiosity and the sort of caffeine-fueled camaraderie only a conference can deliver. The halls were a mix of familiar faces, innovative gadgets and spirited debate—truly hygge for the eye care soul.
Scientific highlights
From inverted ICLs to clever intraoperative saves, one morning session unpacked hard-won lessons in phakic lens surgery. Experts shared pearls on patient selection, vault mastery and inventive “oops” recoveries, turning potential disasters into manageable (even elegant) outcomes. Tap to see the full playbook: [LINK]
Fast-forward to the evening, where the Main Symposium decoded the trickiest refractive complications—corneal haze, wobbly suction, surprise black spots and the dreaded ectasia. Senior surgeons shared hands-on strategies, diagnostic hacks and surgical saves to keep even the quirkiest corneas under control. Tap for the full rundown on the session: [LINK]
Industry updates
Haag-Streit (Booth #E.158) has come into ESCRS 2025 marking the beginning of a new era in the company’s rich history, with recently-appointed CEO Thomas Lenzen helming a banner year of innovation.
“Now is the right time in the market, and we’re leveraging the momentum from our product launches to accelerate our innovation cycles,” said Mr. Lenzen in an exclusive interview.
Speaking of product launches, Haag-Streit was just getting warmed up with their METIS 900 ophthalmic microscope launch earlier this year.
The Swiss firm is at it again at the ESCRS in Copenhagen, launching the Elara 900, a slit lamp that combines their premium optical heritage with must-have digital features in the modern ophthalmology landscape.
“We’re building on over 165 years of heritage, with modern precision and quality—and we collaborated with the world’s best ophthalmologists to create the Elara 900,” said Mr. Lenzen.
“It’s about superior visualization, streamlined workflow, and optimized ergonomics in a world where efficiency and usability are more important than ever,” he said.
“The Elara 900 is the slit lamp of the 21st century. And as a premium name in ophthalmology, we’re moving forward hand-in-hand with ophthalmologists around the world into this new era.”
Discover Elara 900 at the Haag-Streit website.
Alcon (Booth #C2.033) was, once again, turning heads with the cataract edition of its UNITY VCS/CS launch. Post-exhibition, the crowd surged to Copenhagen’s iconic DR Koncerthuset to catch the UNITY Europe launch, where early users raved about the platform’s safety, efficiency and ability to handle even the trickiest cases, saying:
- “This isn’t just a new machine for cataract and vitrectomy combination cases. This is a suite of novel technologies that can make both surgeries safer and provide better outcomes for our patients.” – Prof. Gabor Scharioth
- “I’m seeing improved safety not only in regular cases, but in some very complicated ones. It’s native at physiologic IOPs. And it truly unifies [some of] the best in retina and cataract in one platform.” – Dr. Ivo Ferreira
- “At the end of the day, what surgeons want is safety and efficiency in the OR. And that’s what Unity does.” – Mr. David Lockington
If you want to know more about UNITY, opportunities are selling out, but still out there. Stop by their booth or head to their symposium, Achieving Superior Efficiency in Vitreoretinal and Cataract Surgery from 13:00 – 14:00 CEST later today in Room D1 at the Bella Center. We might even see you there!
READ MORE: Alcon Rolls Out UNITY VCS and CS Systems for Cataract and Vitreoretinal Surgery
Glaukos (Booth #E.154) brought the micro magic with its iStent technologies. From the trusty iStent inject® W to the next-gen iStent infinite®, the focus was on safer, tissue-sparing glaucoma care that bridges clinical evidence with real-world practice. Want to know how these tiny stents make a big difference? Catch one of Glaukos’ sessions: [LINK]
Meanwhile, during an iNovation symposium, ViaLase (Teleon Booth #E.237 & E.145) introduced FLIGHT, the first incision-free, femtosecond laser image-guided high-precision trabeculotomy for glaucoma. (No, that wasn’t a typo. Yes, it’s for glaucoma.) Think scalpel-free precision, clinic-based convenience and results designed to last. Sneak a peek at the full story if you want to see glaucoma care take flight: [LINK]
Day 1 wrapped with that warm glow only a mix of good science, satisfied curiosity and the faint scent of Danish pastries can provide. As the final symposium concluded, the Copenhagen sky rewarded the day’s efforts with a spectacular double rainbow, shimmering just outside the Bella Center.
Tomorrow promises even more sessions and more deep dives into emerging techniques. For now, hygge achieved. Copenhagen, we’re just getting started.
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.