The European VitreoRetinal Society (EVRS), one of Europe’s oldest associations in the field of vitreoretinal surgery, chose Turkey for this year’s international congress. The 20th EVRS Meeting, held in Cappadocia after a 19-year hiatus, hosted more than 500 ophthalmologists, experts in their field, from 53 countries. The congress, which featured intensive discussions on new surgical techniques, current knowledge about diseases, and surgical debates, provided international knowledge transfer.
The 20th European VitreoRetinal Society (EVRS) Meeting, which had been postponed for 3 years during the pandemic, welcomed participants again this year in the unique historical setting of Cappadocia, one of our country’s most popular unique tourism centers. After a 19-year break, Turkey hosted this international congress once again.
HELD WITH MORE THAN 500 PARTICIPANTS FROM 53 COUNTRIES
This year’s congress, organized by the European VitreoRetinal Society with currently over 1400 members, had the theme “Combined Retina Surgeries, Advances in Medical Retina, and Imaging.” The congress covered new surgical techniques in both vitreoretinal surgery and cataract and glaucoma surgeries performed together. In addition, the latest imaging methods and scientific developments in medical retina were shared. Vitreoretinal surgeons from different countries showcased their special surgeries performed live to the participants. In the congress, which took place with over 500 participants from 53 countries in more than 60 sessions, new and specialized surgical techniques were discussed by expert names.
EVRS PRESIDENT DR. G. GINI: “WE ARE THRILLED TO MEET IN TURKEY”
Speaking about the congress, EVRS President Dr. Giampaolo Gini said, “We are delighted to restart our EVRS meeting, which we had to postpone for 3 years due to the pandemic, and meet with our colleagues. What sets EVRS apart is its unique perspective. In our congress, our primary goal is to keep up with the latest developments in every aspect and, while doing so, reach the best results for our patients through open-minded discussions. In our meetings, we try to create an environment where everyone can freely express themselves and ask questions and find answers to their questions. We are thrilled to meet in Turkey this year with our colleagues from 53 countries. The secret to bringing all of us from such different places together is actually the values of this community, such as friendship and sincerity.”
EVRS VICE PRESIDENT DR. B. PAROLINI: “OUR GOAL IS TO ADVANCE VITREORETINAL SURGERY FURTHER”
Barbara Parolini, Vice President of EVRS, emphasized that EVRS is not only a European but a global organization: “Although EVRS is named the European VitreoRetinal Society, we are actually a community that encompasses the world. In this meeting, we conducted a very strong scientific program with dear colleagues from 53 different nations and 7 different continents. We made intense efforts for this. We discussed and tried to find the newest and different techniques, surgical knowledge, and how to solve the problems everyone encounters in daily practice with our doctor colleagues. We will continue to organize our future meetings with the same determination and performance. The fundamental aim of these steps we take is to ensure the advancement of vitreoretinal surgery.”
EVRS GENERAL SECRETARY DR. ŞENGÜL ÖZDEK: “WE ARE PROUD TO ORGANIZE THIS PROCESS AFTER 19 YEARS”
Prof. Dr. Şengül Özdek, who serves as the General Secretary of EVRS, expressed their pride in organizing this meeting in Cappadocia after 19 years: “EVRS was last held in Istanbul in 2004. After a 19-year gap, we are proud to host this meeting in Cappadocia this year with more than 500 international participants. Despite this intensive program lasting for 4 days, all participants actively participated in all speeches, which made for a very productive conference.”
EVRS BOARD MEMBER DR. NUR ACAR GÖÇGİL: “WE HAVE A WORLD-CLASS ACCUMULATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE”
Prof. Dr. Nur Acar Göçgil, a member of the EVRS Board of Directors, said in her statement, “We are proud to host our distinguished colleagues from all over the world in Cappadocia within the scope of EVRS’s 2023 congress. We have a world-class accumulation of knowledge and experience in the field of vitreoretinal surgery. Many valuable professors from our country contributed, and our young colleagues followed with great interest, directly communicating with our professors on a global scale and asking their questions, making it a productive congress. We thank all participants for this congress, where international-level experience transfer was made. The difference of this congress from others is that everyone can find answers to their questions, discuss them, and bring new information that can be applied to our daily practice.”
TOD PRESIDENT PROF. DR. ZİYA KAPRAN: “I THANK EVRS FOR ORGANIZING THE CONGRESS IN CAPPADOCIA ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY”
Prof. Dr. Ziya Kapran, President of the Turkish Ophthalmology Association, said in his evaluation of the congress: “In the 100th year of the Republic of Turkey, I would like to thank the EVRS executive committee for organizing the 20th EVRS congress in Cappadocia. Our world is currently going through an extraordinary challenging period. In such extraordinary times, the importance of international solidarity becomes even more evident. As the President of the Turkish Ophthalmology Association, I would like to thank all EVRS members for their contributions to this very important and high-quality meeting.”