July 2016

Innovations in retina occur globally. Drugs, devices, and techniques are pioneered across the world. Although regional societies can serve as channels of communication among doctors in particular regions, these independent organizations lack a forum where surgeons can share surgical techniques and discuss tactics for managing complex cases.

Enter the Retina World Congress (RWC), a sort-of United Nations of retina. It’s a first-of-its-kind meeting at which international groups will work collaboratively to create its agenda. The RWC provides an open forum for international participants to attend and learn from an all-star panel of speakers. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen to the surgical, medical, and imaging strategies employed by their international peers, and they are eligible for continuing medical education credit. The goal is global retina collaboration, and attendees will have the opportunity to participate in collaborative research opportunities and present unique data.

The RWC is not a membership organization, and attendees will have open access to the meeting. This meeting is a unique opportunity for retina specialists to grasp the scope and shape of retina’s international evolution.

So far, 22 international retina societies have secured their positions at the inaugural RWC, to be held February 23 to 26, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. To register for the meeting, visit www.retinaworldcongress.org.

Rishi Singh, MD
• staff physician, associate professor of ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic
• financial disclosure: president, Retina World Congress
• drrishisingh@retinaworldcongress.org