Considering getting into refractive surgery?
Then come to Nice!

By Ana Hidalgo-Simon

Barcelona - The list of prominent international speakers and up-to-date comprehensive coverage of the field make the didactic course of the ESCRS the best gateway to the world of refractive surgery practice.

And more than 50 on-site wet-labs will offer the complementary hands-on experience in Nice.

The Board of the ESCRS identified a need for information and training in refractive surgery some years ago. The Refractive Surgery Didactic Course was introduced to meet that need. The current course took form following a major re-organisation four years ago.

The ESCRS Board felt that the original course did not reflect the current needs of surgeons wishing to enter the field of refractive surgery.

A new group - the Refractive Committee subgroup responsible for the didactic course in refractive surgery - was appointed. Their brief was to design and run a practical course of high quality and good value for money. The subcommittee comprised Dr Michael Knorz, Course Director, Prof Ioannis Pallikaris, Chairman of the Refractive Committee and Prof Dan Epstein.

Prof Epstein of the University Eye clinic in Zurich, Switzerland explained that the subcommittee started anew, with a fresh look at the contents, topics and speakers in the programme. It approached colleagues considered good teachers and briefed them carefully on the topic they would speak on.

Course offers theory and practice
The didactic course is open to any ophthalmologist who wants to obtain basic training in refractive surgery. The practical skills can be acquired in the wet labs - on-site in Nice - or in a high volume training centre in the surgeon's own country. The course is presented twice a year - coinciding with the summer and winter meetings of the ESCRS - and provides the theoretical background needed as an introduction to the world of refractive surgery.

The average number of participants in recent meetings was 120 in summer and 80 in winter meetings.

To guarantee the quality of the presentations, the refractive sub-committee has produced a CD-Rom which contains slides for all presentations. If a speaker can't make it to the course, another speaker can step in and use the already prepared presentation. A well organised and current presentation is there ready to be delivered, according to Prof Epstein.

All participants also receive a copy of the CD-Rom with the full set of presentations for further reference.

"We don't want the audience to be distracted by taking notes. That is why a CD is handed to them at the end of the one-day course," Prof Epstein said.

Participants grade speakers
Participants are given evaluation forms to complete at the end of the course, in which they grade speakers on content and quality of presentation. The organising committee uses these grades to determine which speakers are invited back.

"The course is a very dynamic event. First there is a constant turnover of speakers; some are invited to speak for several years, others are new, perhaps because they have an expertise that we consider important to include.

"And of course content evolves following the changes in refractive surgery and clinical evidence," Prof Epstein observed.

The Committee closely follows developments in the ophthalmic field to ensure content is current and reflects new technologies, materials and practices.

"I am particularly proud of the way some of our lecturers explain fairly complex issues in a comprehensive, accessible way without scarifying content. For example, if we look at Barcelona, the most recent course, Jack Holladay gave a masterful presentation explaining corneal topography in an extremely clear manner," Prof Epstein said.

Although some speakers from America, South Africa and other non-European countries are invited, the bulk of presenters come from Europe. Nationality is not an issue. He stressed that the objective is to get the best teachers, wherever they live.

The course's link with the ESCRS Congress is an added advantage. Surgical skill training courses in refractive procedures will be available at the next Congress in Nice, France and the Society will, on request, provide a list of centres in Europe offering refractive training.

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