LVPEI hosts first ever combined vitreo retinal eye conference

L V Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) is the local host for the first time ever combined Sixth Asia-Pacific Vitreo-retina Society (APVRS) Congress held in conjunction with the 20th Vitreo-retina Society of India (VRSI) annual meeting.  The Congress is being held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) from December 1-3 and will bring together world renowned eye surgeons, physicians and researchers of this subspecialty.

Both these eminent bodies promote the practice and research of vitreous and retinal diseases of the eye in the Asia-Pacific and Indian regions respectively, and are collaborating for this weeks’ milestone event that is estimated to hugely impact ophthalmologists of this important subspecialty. Besides providing for good integration of skills and knowledge of ophthalmologists in the vitreoretinal subspecialty the promotion and dissemination of eye care information for vitreoretinal diseases and related issues among the general public is also an important aim of both the APVRS and the VRSI.

 The retina is an extension of the brain. It forms the interior lining of the eye and contains millions of light-sensitive nerve endings. Vitreous is a clear, gel-like substance that fills the cavity between the lens and the retina. The retina and vitreous can be affected by a large variety of conditions, including diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion, macular degeneration, retinal detachments or tears, macular holes, retinopathy of prematurity, flashes and floaters, retinoblastoma and retinitis pigmentosa etc. Also, the retinal vessels are an eye to the vessels in rest of the body, and so a retinal examination can sometimes detect serious underlying systemic diseases about which the patient may not be aware of. This includes high blood pressure, diabetes, blood and other cancers, high cholesterol, HIV infection, many viral infections of newborns etc.

 Most retinal diseases can cause irreversible blindness, because they are silent diseases, ie, patients do not realise they have the symptoms until their vision actually begins to get affected. Hence vitreo-retinal ophthalmologists lay great emphasis on regular eye checks to detect disease as early as possible. They also advocate greater frequency of checks for those with greater risk factors, which include persons suffering from diabetes, high myopia, having a family history of such diseases, having injuries to the eye, preterm or premature babies (who should definitely get one retina check up between 20-30 days of birth), etc.

 Speaking on the occasion, Dr Gopal Lal Verma, President, VRSI, said, “I believe that this unprecedented partnership between the two vitreo retinal bodies will set a benchmark for the mutual exchange of ideas and information, as well as bring out the best from all of us.”

“Advances in medical and surgical retina continue at astonishing pace, so much so that even one year between high level scientific congresses such as this, seems too long to keep up,” said Prof Ian Constable, President, APVRS. Other local hosts hosting this landmark event in conjunction with LVPEI include the Andhra Pradesh Ophthalmological Society and the Hyderabad Ophthalmological Association.