Advancing research

We have just returned from Vienna, where WSPOS held a very successful subspecialty day preceding the 36th Congress of the ESCRS. One of the highlights of any meeting for me is the opportunity to discuss some of the hot topics in our specialty. So what is new in paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus? In paediatric glaucoma, we have an ongoing discussion on the role of MIGS, and this is an area where we can expect to see a lot of work going on in the next four or five years. Cross-linking has really taken off in paediatric cornea and people are pushing the envelope on what you can cross-link. When you get to retina, there is a lot of exciting research going on into artificial retinas, substitution vision, gene therapy and also the clinical trial for ataluren for children with aniridia. Our mission at WSPOS is to advance research into all of these areas and also to make the research accessible to ophthalmologists all over the world. SHARING KNOWLEDGE When David Granet and I co-founded WSPOS one of our mantras was that paediatric ophthalmologists should not work in isolation from other specialists. Our first meeting was in 2009 and we are very proud to say that the level of co-operation and dialogue with all of our colleagues has been dramatically transformed since that initial meeting. WSPOS is now established globally and we are welcoming new chapters to the society every year. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary in 2019, and this will give us the opportunity to reflect on the landmark transformation that has taken place since our formation. These are exciting times for WSPOS, and as the society continues to grow there will be even better times ahead. Ken Nischal is the founding co-director of the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus