WOC Newsmaker interview: Zdenek J. Gregor, FRCS, FRCOphth

OSN speaks with the European Society of Ophthalmology president about the WOC.

As a service to our readers, Ocular Surgery News presents the latest installment of our ongoing interview series with organizing leaders of the upcoming World Ophthalmology Congress in Hong Kong. The following is excerpted from the transcript of the original podcast interview series, all of which are available at www.OSNSuperSite.com/podcast.asp.

Ocular Surgery News: As president of the European Society of Ophthalmology and having experienced organizing a large-scale conference like the SOE, how would you say the 2008 WOC preparations are progressing?

Zdenek J. Gregor

Zdenek J. Gregor, FRCS, FRCOphth: Well, in April of last year we held a joint congress between the European Society of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Vienna. I had the honor, as well as the responsibility, of chairing both the congress organizing committee, as well as the scientific program committee. And although our meeting went off remarkably well, I’m greatly impressed by the efforts of the organizing machinery behind the World Congress in Hong Kong. We had some 4,500 participants, but Dr. Lam and his colleagues are expecting over 6,000 delegates, including some 1,600 invited speakers. So that’s a very large number indeed. That takes a great deal of effort and organization, and I think they’re spot on at this stage. Dr. Stephen Ryan, who chairs the scientific program committee, keeps us all on a pretty short rein, but we all are very happy to contribute our part.

OSN: In serving as the international subspecialty coordinator for retina, can you tell us how this portion of the WOC is being handled?

Dr. Gregor: As in all subspecialties, the retinal section is coordinated by two international coordinators, and in our case it’s Dr. Yasuo Tano from Japan, myself and one Hong Kong coordinator. Now I’m sure that our section is no different from all the other sections in as much as the greatest burden of the work rests on the shoulders of our Hong Kong colleague, and in our case it’s Dr. Wai-Man Chan. Without his commitment and that of his colleagues, he would still be struggling reining in all the speakers. But the retinal program is now complete and looks very exciting indeed with the world leaders in retinal surgery and retinal science committed to coming over and sharing their expertise with the rest of the world.

OSN: Tell us a little bit more about the international and local dynamic in regards to the three chairs for each subspecialty.

Dr. Gregor:This is similar in as much as each symposium will have three chairmen or co-moderators. These are often the presidents or senior board members of the ophthalmic societies that are putting on the sessions, such as in our case, that is the European Society of Ophthalmology, we’re putting on ocular oncology and a cornea symposium. In the case of the Club Jules Gonin, we’re dong the retinal detachment symposium. There will be an international, as well as an Asia-Pacific chairman, and a Chinese moderator to complete the three leaders of each symposium. This format I think is very much in the spirit of the global collaboration that has gone into the preparation of the Congress.

OSN: What specifically should attendees look forward to when it comes to the retina portion of the WOC?

Dr. Gregor: Well, that is something that we made sure that the retinal program covers most of the aspects of medical, as well as surgical retina, ocular oncology, as well as uveitis. Since the last World Congress in São Paulo, there have been many exciting developments, for example, intraocular treatment of age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. And every year our surgical instruments are becoming smaller and more refined. Although lasers have been around for decades, laser photocoagulators are getting more sophisticated. In particular, I think that retinal imaging has undergone a true revolution, and specifically, high-definition OCT 1 and wide-angle angiography have just made our diagnosis so much more precise and more accurate.

For more information:

Zdenek J. Gregor, FRCS, FRCOphth, can be reached at Moorfields Eye Hospital, City Road, London EC1V 2PD U.K.; +44-207-566-2022; fax: +44-207-566-2048; e-mail: zdenek.gregor@moorfields.nhs.uk.