7th EuCornea congress provides firm platform for growth

[caption id="attachment_5300" align="alignnone" width="750"] Francois Malecaze addressing delegates at the opening ceremony of the 7th EuCornea congress[/caption]   CORNEAL specialists from Europe and further afield gathered in the beautiful city of Copenhagen for the 7th EuCornea Congress. Welcoming delegates to Denmark’s capital, EuCornea President François Malecaze expressed satisfaction with the momentum that the organisation has built up in a relatively short time. Prof Malecaze said he was heartened to see so many delegates coming to Copenhagen to support the meeting and said it provided a firm platform for the future growth and wellbeing of EuCornea. “The success of our annual congress shows that a European society dedicated to the cornea is completely justified. I am convinced that 2016 is going to be another successful year for EuCornea. We have taken a big step forward with the launch of our new journal, largely thanks to the efforts and energy of Prof Harminder Dua. I urge you all to submit papers to the journal and ensure its success,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the Danish Ophthalmological Society, Prof Jesper Hjortdal welcomed delegates to Copenhagen and urged them to enjoy the manifold delights of one of Europe’s most vibrant cities. As part of the opening ceremony, this year’s EuCornea Medal Lecture was delivered by Prof Paolo Rama of Italy, discussing the huge potential of cultivated limbal stem cells for ocular surface reconstruction and regeneration in cases of severe ocular surface disease. Prof Rama’s lecture was followed by the presentation of a plaque to Prof Malecaze on behalf of EuCornea by incoming President Friedrich E Kruse. “We want to thank Francois for his tireless work on behalf of our society over the past two years. He has always been available to deal with queries, answer emails and advance the cause of EuCornea and we are deeply appreciative of his efforts,” he said. Prof Malecaze concluded by thanking all of the assembled audience for their attendance and urged them to play an active role in making EuCornea a thriving organisation that actively serves the interests of its members. “I have tried to do my best over the term of my presidency to promote the activities of EuCornea. I think, in large part due to the success of our congresses, that our society is now firmly established as a reference for corneal specialists. I am sure that Friedrich will continue on the work of his predecessors in promoting the work of our society,” he said.