New ESCRS President Focuses on a Global Perspective

EuroTimes Editor-in-Chief Sean Henahan caught up with ESCRS President Burkhard Dick at the ESCRS 2026 Winter Meeting in Helsinki. Professor Dick shared his vision and goals for the ESCRS in the next two years. 

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. What is your history with the ESCRS?

A: I have known Emanuel Rosen (the first president of the ESCRS) since the late 1990s, and he was a highly influential educator and mentor to me. His active dedication to the Society inspired me, as he played a crucial role in transforming ESCRS from a small European initiative into a respected scientific society. Initially, I regularly attended the ESCRS conferences. Eventually, I was honoured to be asked by Professor Rudy Nuijts to chair the ESCRS Research Committee. At that time, I was an experienced cataract and refractive surgeon and Chair of the University Eye Hospital in Bochum [Germany], where we had a strong track record of publishing in basic and clinical research. With the support of some very clever people, I was able to redesign the committee and update the documentation and standard operating procedures. Next, I became Secretary of the Society, which enabled me to become involved with everything going on in the organisation.

In recent years, ophthalmology has become increasingly intertwined with the outside world. Each ESCRS president enters a new world, with new challenges and goals. What is your outlook as you begin your presidency?

In 2026, I am looking forward with great confidence in the ESCRS. My predecessors have definitely created a solid foundation, and we have a lot of momentum. We are now expanding our activities and reaching even further, strengthening our position as the leading global society for cataract and refractive surgery. My goal is to increase international cooperation and expand the ESCRS’s influence. To this end, we have recently strengthened our international efforts by establishing new partnerships, including with the Egyptian Ophthalmology Society, the Emirates Society, and with societies in Saudi Arabia and Mexico. Those societies have reached out to us, and we are glad to work with them.

The benefits of these new partnerships for our members are undeniable. These include greater scientific exchange, more research opportunities, and access to the latest technology. Keeping the recent changes in MDR rules in mind, these affiliations will help us stay up to date with the global innovation pipeline at the earliest stages. It is also important to remember that these partnerships are truly bilateral and will strengthen the global acceptance of guidelines developed by the ESCRS. These include the cataract and refractive surgery guidelines, the newly developed IOL classification system, and the associated nomenclature. It is also interesting to study problem-solving across many different healthcare systems.

Education will remain central to all we do. ESCRS membership offers many benefits, including training resources and access to our conferences, the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and EuroTimes. We offer an expanding array of research support, including Digital Research Awards, Clinical Research Awards, Pioneer Research Awards, the Systematic Review Award, and, most recently, the Sustainability Award.

In 2026, several key initiatives will be launched, including the new Masterclass Course in Refractive Surgery and educational programmes covering posterior segment topics and ocular comorbidities, in line with current clinical practice. Our relationship with others, such as EURETINA, will also strengthen. Together, we shall continue to highlight the integrated nature of ophthalmic practice in the modern era.

Artificial intelligence will also become a key focus for our Society in 2026, with specific courses, summits, and symposia designed to help members assess and utilise these new technologies responsibly and effectively. Professional development will extend well beyond the operating theatre with the launch of the ESCRS Insight Hub, covering medical writing, presentation skills, and critical reading and review skills, among others. We will continue strengthening our relationships with industry partners in the fields of pharmaceuticals and interventional microsurgery.

Could you give us a preview of what’s in store for the 2026 ESCRS Annual Congress being held in London?

Our meetings shall continue to provide platforms for innovation and engagement. Indeed, the successful Winter Meeting in Helsinki on presbyopia set the stage for the Annual Congress to unveil new and dynamic initiatives, such as the 3D Surgery sessions, the OR Microscope Showdown, the Excimer Laser Museum, the Parliament Debates, the AI Summit, and the enhanced Young Ophthalmologists sessions. All these shall aim to blend the best of scientific content with innovation, youth, and interactivity.