Luz Saúde : Hospital da Luz Ophthalmology in European Congress of Refractive Surgery

Hospital da Luz Ophthalmology in European Congress of Refractive Surgery

The 35th congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) - one of the most renowned and relevant international meetings of specialists in the area - took place in Lisbon, between 7 and 11 October, the organization involving a strong participation from the Ophthalmology Service of Hospital da Luz Lisboa, directed by Filomena Ribeiro.

Refractive surgery is the surgical procedure to correct refractive defaults, such as myopia, hypermetropy and astigmatism.

This ESCRS congress gathered 9,879 participants from 116 countries, who had the opportunity to share experiences and knowledge on the best actual practice in refractive surgery and cataract surgery. Over 3,000 scientific communications were presented, the greatest participation ever.

Filomena Ribeiro - which integrates the ESCRS scientific committee and is also coordinator of the Portuguese Group of Implant and Refractive Surgery - welcomed the participants of the congress in the opening ceremony and made several interventions.

But many other ophthalmologists from Hospital da Luz network participated actively in this international meeting, presenting communications, organizing symposiums and moderating debates - namely, António Marinho (Arrábida), Bernardo Feijó (Lisboa), Isabel Prieto (Lisboa), Leyre Zabala Llano (Lisboa, Amadora and Oeiras), Mara Ferreira (Lisboa and Oeiras), Ramiro Manuel Salgado (Arrábida), Rita Dinis da Gama (Lisboa) and Tiago Bravo Ferreira (Lisboa, Amadora and Oeiras).

It is worth mentioning that, during the congress, a symposium was held between specialists of Portugal, Brazil and Spain, on the treatment of presbyopia, allowing a fruitful exchange of experiences. It was organized by Filomena Ribeiro and had the participation of António Marinho and Tiago Bravo Ferreira. The later was, furthermore, one of the 15 selected (among 80 candidates) for the title of Fellow by the European Board in cataract and refractive surgery.

Hospital da Luz was also involved in Physician Exchange Program, that allows an ophthalmologist intern in training in the United States the opportunity to accompany the clinical activity of an European hospital in the city hosting the ESCRS congress. Edmund Tsui was the young intern from New York selected, who was in Hospital da Luz Lisboa Ophthalmology Service.

Recent publications resulting from the research activity developed in this service were also referred in communications presented by foreign participants.

It is also worth mentioning that the team of nurses and technicians from Hospital da Luz Lisboa Ophthalmology Service similarly organized a session on the quality and safety of procedures in refractive surgery.

In the site of the congress there is a video available where Filomena Ribeiro approaches the topic of calculation formulas for intraocular lenses.

In the end, the participation and collaboration of Grupo Luz Saúde professionals was highly acknowledged by the congress organization.