One more year, one of the mandatory ophthalmological appointments of the year has just been held. This is FACOELCHE 2020. A meeting that brings together the most representative clinics and ophthalmologists in the country, along with a large number of ophthalmologists from all over the world looking for the latest in eye technology and surgical news.
It has been held from February 6 – 8 and as always, it´s been a few days at exciting rhythm, so that this meeting was extremely efficient in terms of sharing knowledge and being at the forefront of Ophthalmology.
The event has been a success in terms of the number of attendees, highlighting the great professionalism of all the speakers. A significant number of assistance from the most relevant pharmaceutical industry. And important parts of ophthalmology have been treated as the techniques of anterior pole reconstructive surgery, performed by an entire Canadian ophthalmologist such as Dr. Ike Ahmed. We have talked about both curious cases and anecdotes in relation to different types of surgical techniques, with short-term presentations in which tricks and personalized techniques were exposed to be able to have a successful surgery.
Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, which is the future of medicine and the specialty of ophthalmology, have had a special dedication in this meeting. Currently there are large databases of images and algorithms, to be able to reach more quickly the diagnosis of different pathologies simply by introducing photographs and symptoms or signs in the different computers designed for it.
Another section has been the most used MIGS (microimplants for glaucoma), reviewing the trabecular access (Istent) with respect to the subtenonian blister-forming access. The advantages and disadvantages of each of them have been analyzed.
Special attention has been given to the future of ophthalmology professionals. It has been discussed about it, analyzing each and every one of the ways of exercising Ophthalmology today, in public hospitals, private hospitals, associated Ophthalmological Clinics as well as physicians who work in their own or other people’s offices. Emphasis has been placed on the lack of Ophthalmology specialists and eye surgeons currently in Spain, probably worsening the figure in the coming years.
Regarding the Antiangiogenic or Anti VEG, used for age-related macular degeneration, a review of its evolution has been made since the beginning fifteen years ago. In fact, although it has not yet been commercialized in Spain, new drugs are studied that will serve to prolong the effect of current drugs over time, thus reducing the number of intravitreal injections required by patients. In fact, although it has not yet been commercialized in Spain, new drugs are studied that will serve to prolong the effect of current drugs over time, thus reducing the number of intravitreal injections required by patients.
As expected, there has been a space dedicated to experts in refractive surgery, which has reached a consensus of action for most clinical cases, and as always, made a tour of the new IOLs appeared this year for the correction of cataracts, farsightedness, myopia and presbyopia (tired eyesight), analyzing the results of each of them and criticizing their strengths and weaknesses. This is how we choose the best technology for each patient, personalizing each of our surgical actions with each eye and each expectation regarding vision. There is no perfect lens in the market yet, but each one offers advantages over others and this requires constant updating on our part.
Currently there has been a transition, changing from monofocal lenses, to monofocal plus with improved intermediate vision, and from trifocal multifocal lenses, to trifocal lenses with extended vision range or EDOF that improve visual continuity without steps at all distances and thus improving visual quality, contrast sensitivity and chromatic aberration. All this leads us to the search for the Top lens.
In these days of meeting and as previous times, we attended live surgery from several operating rooms that operated simultaneously. We had the opportunity to see complex cases and different novel surgical techniques, as well as projections of surgeries previously recorded in some of the most prestigious ophthalmological clinics in Spain.
In intermediate hours between presentations and talks, there were multiple symposiums of the different commercial ophthalmology companies that explained to the attendees the most remarkable thing about their novelties in the market.
At the same time and as usual, a parallel congress was held, which this year has been focused on a very interesting topic, complications, updating and controversies in Retina.
And finally to say that, FacoElche as always, has been a forum for debate and transmission of fundamental knowledge to continue exercising our profession in an updated and responsible way. I want to give my sincere congratulations to the organizers, since everything that takes place in this congress elevates the Spanish Ophthalmology to the category of one of the best in the world.
Dra.Carretero León, Gloria.
Ophthalmic and eyelid surgery.
Marbella
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