Q&A: Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology delves into current ophthalmic debates
Key takeaways:
- The congress is devoted to ongoing debates in ophthalmology.
- Retina, AI and glaucoma are just some of the topics that will be addressed.
The Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology will be held April 4-5 in Seville, Spain.
As the name implies, the unique characteristic of this meeting is that it is fully devoted to ongoing debates in ophthalmology that stem from conflicting or insufficient evidence, ethical challenges, geographic variations in standards, policies and practices, or competing treatment options. These discussions are crucial for advancing the field as they challenge existing practices and drive innovation, according to Anat Loewenstein, MD, MHA, who co-chairs the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology (COPHy) along with Baruch D. Kuppermann, MD, PhD. In this interview with Healio, Loewenstein explains how the meeting was conceived, how it is structured and what topics will be discussed this year.
Healio: COPHy has quite a long story. How did this story start, and what were the ideas and objectives that inspired the meeting?
Loewenstein: I was personally inspired by a meeting that started more than 3 decades ago based on controversies in obstetrics and gynecology. When I heard about it, I thought that it would be an interesting new approach for ophthalmology, and so the first COPHy meeting was established and held in Prague in 2010. We address the controversial topics for which there are no definitive evidence-based data. Take anti-VEGF therapy: We have plenty of data but no good comparison between agents, so the standard of care is still subject to interpretation. In our meeting, we discuss these matters in depth, help our attendees weigh options and make informed decisions.
Geographically, we mainly focus on Europe, and most of our speakers are Europeans. The country where the meeting is held changes from year to year, and this gives us the opportunity to liaise with the national societies as well as their leaders and gives them a special space in our sessions. In this way, we learn about the policies, orientation and practices of individual countries, and it offers an international platform for education and debate.
Healio: How is the meeting structured?
Loewenstein: Each session is built upon three debates of 30 minutes each: 10 minutes in favor, 10 minutes against and 10 minutes for discussion. As opposed to other meetings, where the talks are usually 5 minutes and then there is 5 to 10 minutes of discussion for maybe 10 talks, here we delve into both sides of a controversy and then give ample time for interaction between the audience and speakers. Of course, for most of the topics that we propose, there is no absolute right or wrong, but we assign the two speakers the task to present all arguments in favor of or all arguments against the topic. This may not reflect what they really think, but it is a good framework for clarity and a good starting point for discussion. In addition to the main sessions, which are all CME sessions, there are industry-sponsored symposia and multi-sponsor symposia. Importantly, we encourage unbiased, objective information and communication in the main sessions and in these industry-sponsored events.
As far as the subspecialty areas that we cover, there has been some variation over the years. Currently, we primarily cover retina but also uveitis and neuro-ophthalmology. This year we have reintroduced glaucoma, in collaboration with Francesca Cordeiro, MD, PhD.
Healio: What are the hot topics that will be discussed in the 16th iteration of COPHy?
Loewenstein: First of all, we have a big new field of discussion — the treatment of non-neovascular age-related macular degeneration. This topic is going to have a lot of space in our meeting, both in the main CME sessions and the industry-sponsored symposia. In the field of new therapies, we are going to discuss multi-targeted approaches for the management of neovascular AMD. Until a few years ago, we only had anti-VEGFs, and now we have drugs with two pathways, other mechanisms of action and genetic therapy on the near horizon. We are aiming for long duration and sustained delivery systems. The way we manage diabetes and diabetes-related eye disease is also changing, with new topical therapies and oral therapies in development. AI is another field that has evolved tremendously — many opportunities but also many challenges, controversies and ethical issues arise from the use of AI in medicine. What are the barriers? What are the limitations? What are the advantages, the biases, the risks? Home monitoring will also be widely discussed with the opportunities and the barriers that it presents and the technology that has evolved over the years.
As far as glaucoma is concerned, we are going to talk about prevention, the importance of preservative-free drops and minimally invasive bleb-based surgeries in comparison with trabeculectomy. For uveitis, we are going to discuss new treatments and the importance of systemic therapy. Finally, there will be discussion on the treatment of optic neuropathy, medical vs. surgical management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, how to differentiate between functional and organic causes of vision loss and a lot more.
Healio: What level of attendance are you expecting?
Loewenstein: COPHy started fairly small, with 500 to 600 participants for the first 3 years. Then it grew to more than 1,000 and took a huge hit during COVID, when it was held virtually. It was smaller again when we restarted, but now we are expecting more than 1,000 attendees.
Healio: Outside the scientific sessions, are there any special treats and events that you are offering attendees?
Loewenstein: We are not organizing any big event or exclusive gala dinner, but all meals will be provided to everyone in the exhibition area. This will keep our attendees together to enjoy the breaks with good food and discussion with each other, with us and with our industry partners. Breakfast and lunch boxes will also be provided for those who want to attend the industry-sponsored symposia. Hopefully, this will encourage people to get interested, get involved and exchange ideas. After the meeting, we will remain in touch through virtual quarterly webinars on controversial issues with renowned speakers and industry partners.
We look forward to welcoming you in Seville, the heart of Andalusia, to enjoy this new edition of our unique, lively, engaging and thought-provoking COPHy meeting.
For more information:
Anat Loewenstein, MD, MHA, of Tel Aviv University, Israel, can be reached at anatl@tlvmc.gov.il.
Meeting information can be found at https://cophy.comtecmed.com/.
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