2
ISSUE
09 | 20 | 24
PIE M A G A ZINE’ S D A ILY CONGR E S S NE W S ON T HE P O S T E RIOR S EGME N T
posterior segment
•
innovation
•
enlightenment
HIGHLIGHTS 04
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers immense potential in healthcare, from improving diagnostics to streamlining drug development... but is it reliable?
06
The silent threat of radiation retinopathy, explored at EURETINA.
Published by
Matt Young CEO & Publisher
Gloria D. Gamat Chief Editor
Matt Herman Associate Editor
Maricel Salvador Graphic Designer Writers
Diana Truong Tan Sher Lynn
Hannah Nguyen COO
Travis Plage CFO
Ruchi Ranga Society Relations & Conference Manager International Business Development
Brandon Winkeler Robert Anderson Sven Mehlitz
Media MICE Pte. Ltd.
6001 Beach Road, #09-09 Golden Mile Tower, Singapore 199589 Tel: +65 8186 7677 Email: enquiry@mediamice.com www.mediaMICE.com
EURETINA Stars Tackle Sustainability in Ophthalmology
by Matt Herman
Sustainability in retinal surgery—and ophthalmology in general—was on the docket for an early morning Day 2 session at the 24th Congress of the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA 2024). Luminaries from across the subspecialty spoke on challenges and controversies facing greener retinal care—and gave glimpses of the way forward.
H
ow do the needs of patients intersect with the health of our planet? The question of sustainability in ophthalmology is a thorny one, where surgical safety and patient needs are often pitted against one another on opposite ends of a sliding scale. But it doesn’t have to be that way, according to panelists at a symposium on the topic. A global panel from EURETINA Board Member Prof. Martin Zinkernagel (Switzerland) to Dr. Vivek Dave (India) presented the latest on not only how ophthalmologists can make ophthalmic surgery greener—but also whether it is safe to do so.
The need for action Session moderator Prof. Jens Kiilgaard (Denmark) began by framing the debate with an unorthodox perspective. Arguing over whether humans are causing climate change is ultimately fruitless, he stated, as it does not change our responsibility to slow the warming of the planet. Prof. Kiilgaard then gave some personal examples from his time practicing in Greenland, where the effects of climate change and its impacts on human society are front and center. “Animals like polar bears are coming closer and closer to buildings and people,” he recounted.