OCULAR INFECTIONS

The International Conference on Ocular Infections (ICOI) will be held for the first time together with the XXXIII Congress of the ESCRS in Barcelona, Spain from September 3-4, 2015.

Terrence P O’Brien MD says The ICOI represents “the Olympics” of ocular infectious diseases. Prof O’Brien, professor of ophthalmology and Charlotte Breyer Rodgers Distinguished Chair at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute Miami, Florida, US is serving as the ICOI meeting chairman. The meeting will also coincide with the 6th EuCornea Congress and the 3rd World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS).

“After successful prior conferences in Europe, Asia and the United States, the ICOI is excited to hold its next meeting in conjunction with ESCRS, WSPOS and EuCornea,” said William Freeman MD, meeting president.

The ICOI, which formally convenes every four years, expects next year's meeting with ESCRS to attract its largest attendance to date. “The conference agenda provides broad material of practical interest to general and subspecialty ophthalmologists,” said Prof O'Brien.

“With a unique comprehensive programme format, the conference hopes to expand participation from delegates in related disciplines such as bioinformatics, biostatistics, epidemiology, microbiology, molecular biology, pharmacology, drug delivery, systemic infection, and others to diversify and enrich the discussions on ocular infections.

“We are fortunate to have the support of an outstanding international expert scientific advisory board as well as strong national and regional organising groups from Europe, Asia, Latin and South America and the United States,” he said

Collaboration

Prof O'Brien said they hoped to deliver a diverse scientific programme with significant contributions from faculty experts outside of ophthalmology in related areas of infectious diseases and microbiology. This will help to educate attendees on the latest advances that may have relevancy to ocular infectious diseases rather than simply speaking to each other on concepts already familiar.

"In this way I believe participants can truly learn new concepts and think of innovative ways to apply them for the ultimate benefit of those suffering from ocular infections,” he said.

ICOI co-president Prof Joseph Frucht-Pery said, "The location, timing and unique scientific programme are very attractive to interested individuals both from outside and within the European Union”.

Details of the full programme and previews of the key topics, will be included in future issues of EuroTimes.

Terrence P O’Brien: tpob3333@hotmail.com