Record attendance at 20th ESCRS Winter Meeting in Athens, Greece

[caption id="attachment_5413" align="alignnone" width="750"] David Spalton, president ESCRS[/caption] More than 2,200 delegates from 74 countries are attending the 20th ESCRS Winter Meeting in Athens, Greece. This is a record attendance for the meeting and reflects the continuing popularity of Athens and Greece as a centre for medical excellence. ESCRS president David Spalton said the society was very pleased to return to Athens after successful meetings in 1999 and 2007, and to once again join colleagues from the Hellenic Society of Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery (HSIOIRS) for this important meeting. “Greece is a special place for doctors because it is where the science of medicine first started over 2,500 years ago. Hippocrates (about 400BC), the father of medicine, based his practice on observation and scientific reasoning, leading him to be able to make a prognosis. His ethics of ‘first do no harm’ are still with us and underlie modern medicine,” said Prof Spalton. At yesterday’s Welcome Ceremony the welcome from the local hosts was delivered by Spyros Georgaras, president of HSIOIRS. “I remember that the first joint Winter Meeting for ESCRS was organised in 1999, here in Athens, with great success,” said Prof Georgaras. “For this meeting, we are proud to achieve such a large number of Greek papers, which defines the Greek tone of this event. Since the founding of our society 30 years ago, we have been working side-by-side with all the ESCRS board, more as close friends than colleagues,” he added. “We are very familiar with these ties, and we do not forget that ESCRS has been sending distinguished speakers to our conferences, as well as scientific and organisational material, enhancing the quality of our meetings and contributing to the training of Greek ophthalmologists. I am sure that my friend and ESCRS president David Spalton will agree, that this congress will be a great success and that you will enjoy Athens, the eternal cradle of European civilization,” said Prof Georgaras. Prof Pandelis Papadopoulos presented the HSIOIRS Fyodorov Award to José Güell. After the presentation, Dr Güell delivered the HSIOIRS Fyodorov Lecture on the topic of “Modern approach for keratoconus patients”.