ESCRS/Alcon Video competition a Nice way to present

What makes a good ophthalmological video?

That is the question an international panel of experts judging the ESCRS/Alcon 2002 Video Competition will address at this year's XX Congress of the ESCRS in Nice, as entrants wait for their submitted Videos to be judged.

Richard Packard FRCS, FRCOphth from the UK and Chairman of this year's judging panel, would like the contest to evolve into a more open and easily accessible challenge for all ESCRS members.

"I would like to see more 'American style' videos. Some surgeons feel intimidated, but the fact is that you don't need fancy equipment to make a good video. We would like to encourage more surgeons to take part in this competition," he said.

A video can be a powerful educational tool, and when well used, is a very effective communication device for new techniques, devices and innovative ideas.
Mr Packard considers what makes a good video.

"You need to define very clearly the point you want to make, select your graphics wisely and edit carefully," he advised.
Mr Packard believes the worst mistake that a video creator can make is to rehash a presentation.

"Videos have many possibilities, and to use slides and a presenter in the same way you deliver a lecture does not work," he explained.

His experience as a member of the judging panel in previous years is that the quality of videos submitted to the competition varies enormously.

"The quality and depth of content and the level of the commentary is where the quality differences are more evident," he said.
And warned: "This year we are going to be very strict in implementing the 10 minutes maximum length rule."

All topics related to cataract and refractive surgery are accepted for the competition. Videos should be in English; the display of company names should be avoided; along with logos or names of commercial products. The Video should not have been presented anywhere else before.

Entries are accepted for competition in several categories: innovative, scientific, artistic, educational and special cases. In practice these categories overlap with each other, and the judging panel takes a flexible approach when selecting winners in each section. An overall winner is also chosen.

Clips from winning Videos in all categories will be shown at the Awards Ceremony which will take place during the ESCRS Congress in Nice at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday 8th September. This year all delegates attending the Awards Ceremony will be given a compilation tape of the winning Videos.

Complete versions of all videos submitted to the competition can be viewed by attendees in a continuous show during Congress hours. A detailed schedule is posted each day.

"For next year we would like to divide the competition into professional and personal categories. It is intended to separate videos which are sponsored by companies (or simply expensive to make) from those made on a low budget," Mr Packard said.

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