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Madrid, February 16, 2023. The Spanish Retina and Vitreous Society (SERV) has chosen Valencia to host its XXVI annual congress. Specifically, the Palacio de Congresos will be the setting in which more than 1,000 top-level specialists will meet on March 3 and 4 to present the latest technological advances and innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of vitreoretinal diseases.
“There are many novelties, especially in the surgical field, new treatments for gene therapy in patients with degenerative diseases of the retina or hereditary diseases. We have one of the international speakers, Dr. Audina Berrocal, who will explain the surgical techniques in these patients and also in pediatric patients, since they are very complex surgeries in children," says Dr. José García-Arumí, president of the SERV and the first Spaniard recently elected to preside over the Jules Gonin Club, an entity that brings together the best retinologists in the world.
During both days there will be space to analyze and debate the pros and cons of the use of artificial intelligence in this field; as well as the first experiences and results in daily practice with brolucizumab, a drug authorized for the treatment of age-related neovascular macular degeneration.
AMD is the leading cause of irreversible visual loss in developed countries, in people over 50 years of age, and it is estimated that around 16 percent of patients will develop blindness within two years if they do not receive treatment.
“At the level of the vitreous retina there are a series of more prevalent diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, as well as side effects associated with retinal vascular pathologies that have been greatly improving in recent years, with medical treatments, with intravitreal injections, but we still have a long way to go, for example in dry macular degeneration, new drugs are now appearing, but so far we have not achieved great results in terms of improving visual acuity in these patients” , explains the president of the SERV, Dr. García-Arumí.
Six international guests and Medal of Honor to Dr. Kadonosono
As in previous editions, six world-renowned experts have been invited to participate in the meeting with the aim of contributing their experience and knowledge of treatments and techniques used in other countries.
For Dr. Alfredo García Layana, Vice President of the SERV and Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona and Madrid, "the level of Spanish retinologists is at the highest international standards and it is difficult to find specialists who provide a qualitative leap in the quality of presentations. But without a doubt, all the speakers from Europe and North America that have been invited are true world references in their field. They are people who carry out great research work and with a high capacity for innovation. Knowing first-hand what they are working on and being able to exchange opinions in open discussion forums such as SERV are undoubtedly very relevant aspects that help to maintain the position of international leadership of the Spanish Retina”.
Likewise, this year the SERV will present its Medal of Honor to the Japanese professor Kazuaki Kadonosono, head of the Department of Ophthalmology and Microtechnology at Yokohama City University Medical Center (Kanagawa-ken, Japan), for his extensive professional career and his contribution to the vitreoretinal surgery.
VII SERV < 40 Meeting and I Surgical Video Contest
Another of the important events of this year's edition will be the VII SERV < 40 Meeting, a meeting point in which only ophthalmologists under 40 years of age can participate, but professionals of all ages can attend. "Currently 40 percent of the members of the Spanish Retina and Vitreous Society are under 40 years of age, and it is increasing every year because the training is getting better and better and they have a tremendous learning capacity that is reflected in these meetings", says Dr. García-Arumí.
As a novelty this year, the first edition of the Surgical Video Contest will also be held, a contest also aimed at young ophthalmologists and whose objective is to highlight the very high level and surgical experience they have.
Finally, from the SERV they underline the importance of holding this type of congresses and meetings to face the challenges that specialists in the sector must face. “Ophthalmologists are going to face specific challenges in our specialty and also other cross-cutting challenges of the entire health system; Waiting lists in ophthalmology are some of the longest in the entire health system, but we have to focus preferably on processes whose delay in treatment can lead to blindness that would otherwise be preventable. We are talking about diseases such as AMD or diabetic macular edema. In this sense, we can talk about key challenges such as adapting resources to the demand for care, the incorporation of new technologies and pharmacological innovations, and of course meeting the expectations of our patients in an efficient way, practicing medicine based on measurable health results. ”, concludes Dr. García Layana.
For more information: https://www.congresoserv.org/
About the SERV
The Spanish Retina and Vitreous Society is a non-profit scientific association whose purpose is to promote the study of diseases of the retina, choroid and vitreous. Its objectives include establishing exchanges to expand, promote and update studies related to the pathology and surgery of the retina, choroid and vitreous, promote the dissemination of therapeutic methods, and contribute to the training and updating of its members in this area of the knowledge.
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