1st Eastern European Ophthalmic Summer Academy
Divani Apollon Palace and Spa Hotel, 11-15 September 2013
The 1st Eastern European Ophthalmic Summer Academy was organized in Athens, Greece by the Hellenic Society of Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery with the Collaboration of Slovak Medical University and the Southeastern European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. After the big success of the 1st Eastern European Ophthalmic Spring Academy in Bratislava, Slovakia, the courses were repeated, this time at the magnificent seaside resort of Vouliagmeni in Athens, Greece.
The program consisted of two 5-day wetlab courses with introductory lectures by international faculty. The standard cataract surgery course intended to teach the beginning surgeon all the steps to perform a state-of-the-art cataract operation. The Advanced Anterior Segment Surgery Course introduced the ophthalmic surgeon to specialized techniques necessary to manage difficult cases, to utilization of premium lenses and to combined operations. All the attendees had the opportunity to practice for five days on animal and artificial eyes, under the supervision of experienced instructors, in order to prepare them to apply the learned techniques on human eyes. they also had the chance to perform surgery with different phaco machines and learn important technical details. The setting of the high-communication wetlabs was organized by the MTS-Wetlab Company.
The courses were organized in such a way that the participants were able to enjoy a very pleasant vacation on a five-star seaside resort. Each day, they had a full afternoon to take a swim in the blue Aegean Sea or visit the town of Athens with its historical monuments.