The European VitreoRetinal Surgery Society (European VitreoRetinal Society – EVRS), one of Europe’s most established associations in the field of vitreoretinal surgery, chose Turkey for this year’s international congress. The 20th EVRS Meeting, held in Cappadocia after 19 years, hosted over 500 ophthalmologists specializing in the field from 53 countries. The congress, where new surgical techniques, current information related to diseases, and surgical discussions were intensively held, facilitated international knowledge exchange.

THE 20TH EUROPEAN VITREORETINAL SURGERY SOCIETY (EVRS) MEETING, INTERRUPTED FOR 3 YEARS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WELCOMED PARTICIPANTS AGAIN THIS YEAR IN CAPPADOCIA, ONE OF OUR COUNTRY’S MOST POPULAR TOURISM DESTINATIONS.

The 20th European VitreoRetinal Surgery Society (EVRS) Meeting, which had been on hold for three years due to the pandemic, welcomed its participants again this year in Cappadocia, one of our country’s most popular private tourism destinations, thanks to its unique historical structure.

IT WAS HELD WITH OVER 500 PARTICIPANTS FROM 53 COUNTRIES

This year’s congress, organized by the European VitreoRetinal Surgery Society, which currently has more than 1400 members, had the theme of “Combined Retina Surgeries, Medical Retina, and Advances in Imaging.” The meeting addressed new surgical techniques in the fields of both vitreoretinal surgery and combined cataract and glaucoma surgery. In addition, current imaging methods and scientific developments in the field of medical retina were shared. Vitreoretinal surgeons from different countries showcased their special surgical procedures live to the participants. Within the scope of the congress, which took place with over 500 participants from 53 countries in more than 60 sessions, new and specialized surgical techniques were discussed by expert figures.

DR. G. GINI, PRESIDENT OF EVRS: “WE ARE THRILLED TO MEET IN TURKEY”

Speaking about the congress, Dr. Giampaolo Gini, President of EVRS, said, “We are delighted to resume our EVRS meeting this year after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and we are excited to meet with our colleagues. EVRS is characterized by having a different perspective. Our main goal is to keep up with the latest developments in every aspect during our congress and, while doing so, to achieve the best for our patients through open-minded discussions. In our meetings, we strive to create an environment where everyone can freely express themselves and ask questions, and where they can find answers to their questions. We are thrilled to meet with our colleagues from 53 countries in Turkey this year. The secret to bringing all of us together from such different places is actually built on values such as friendship and sincerity within this community.”

DR. B. PAROLINI, VICE PRESIDENT OF EVRS: “OUR AIM IS TO ADVANCE VITREORETINAL SURGERY EVEN FURTHER”

Barbara Parolini, Vice President of EVRS, emphasized that EVRS is a structure that covers not only Europe but the whole world. She stated, “Although EVRS is named the European VitreoRetinal Society, we are actually a community that encompasses the world. In this meeting, we conducted a very strong scientific program with our dear colleagues who came from 53 different nations and 7 different continents. We worked hard for this. We tried to find new surgical techniques, surgical knowledge, and how to solve the problems everyone encounters in daily practice by discussing them together. We will continue to create our future meetings with the same determination and performance. The most fundamental goal of these steps we take is to further advance vitreoretinal surgery.”

DR. ŞENGÜL ÖZDEK, GENERAL SECRETARY OF EVRS: “WE ARE PROUD TO ORGANIZE THIS PROCESS AFTER 19 YEARS”

Prof. Dr. Şengül Özdek, who serves as the General Secretary of EVRS, expressed their pride in organizing this meeting in Cappadocia after 19 years. She said, “The last EVRS meeting was held in Istanbul in 2004. After a 19-year gap, we are proud to host this meeting in Cappadocia this year with more than 500 international participants. We worked hard for this congress, which was both scientifically and socially productive. Despite the intensive program that lasted for 4 days, all participants actively engaged in all the presentations.”

DR. NUR ACAR GÖÇGİL, BOARD MEMBER OF EVRS: “WE HAVE WORLD-CLASS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF VITREORETINAL SURGERY”

Prof. Dr. Nur Acar Göçgil, a Board Member of EVRS, also stated, “During EVRS’s 2023 congress, we were proud to host our esteemed colleagues from all over the world in Cappadocia. We have world-class knowledge and experience in the field of vitreoretinal surgery. This was a productive congress where our valuable professors from our country made contributions, and our young colleagues followed closely, establishing direct communication with our global professors, and asked their questions. We thank all participants for this congress, where international-level knowledge transfer took place. The difference of this congress from others is that it allows everyone to find answers to their questions, discuss them, and take home new information that can be applied in our daily practice.”

PROF. DR. ZİYA KAPRAN, PRESIDENT OF TOD: “THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THE EVRS CONGRESS IN CAPPADOCIA ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC”

Prof. Dr. Ziya Kapran, President of the Turkish Ophthalmology Society, which is the only association in the field of ophthalmology in our country, expressed his gratitude for organizing the 20th EVRS congress in Cappadocia on the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. He stated, “Our world is currently going through an extraordinarily challenging period. In such extraordinary times, the importance of international solidarity becomes even more pronounced. As the President of the Turkish Ophthalmology Society, I would like to thank all EVRS members for their contributions to this very important and high-quality meeting.”