NEXUS: Highlights from the 35th APACRS Annual Meeting by Christina Chintanaphol and Michelle Dalton SINGAPORE, 8 – 10 June 2023 – Last year, the Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS) returned to a full in-person format for its annual meeting with an abbreviated 2-day scientific program. The 35th APACRS Annual Meeting was the Society’s first in-person meeting with a fully loaded 3-day scientific program since the beginning of the pandemic. Here compiled and lightly edited is EyeWorld Asia- Pacific’s coverage of the meeting. ‘NEXUS’ brings together all at the Opening Ceremony Taking place in one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world, the Opening Ceremony for the 35th APACRS Singapore brought together delegates from all over the world. Chan Wing Kwong, MD, excitedly told the packed hall that this year’s meeting promises to be an exciting and informative event. “As ophthalmologists, we owe it to each and every one of our patients that we are kept abreast in our field,” he said. With this year’s meeting being the first 3-day in-person meeting since 2019, “there is nothing better than an in-person conference. There are some things a webinar cannot achieve. We cannot replicate the atmosphere, the vibe, the buzz,” Dr. Chan said. The ceremony’s guest-of-honor, Vivian Balakrishnan, MD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, joined the session; Dr. Chan called it a special treat, as Dr. Balakrishnan has close ties to APACRS since he is a trained pediatric ophthalmologist. In Dr. Balakrishnan’s address to the audience, he spoke about the importance of technological advancements across the globe. “We live in a world in which, on one hand, there are enormous technological revolutions in AI, in biotechnology, in renewable energy, and in precision engineering and robotics,” Dr. Balakrishnan said. These technologies are all upon us, and the best brains of the world’s scientific community have come together over the last 7 decades to work on research and innovation. Dr. Balakrishnan described how the common stack of technology, techniques, machines, and implants propels our community forward into a better future. “If this technological stack is broken, then the rate of progress will slow,” he said. “As a result, there will be higher inflation because the development of good ideas will slow down. At a diplomatic level, there will be a more uncertain and volatile world.” The 35th APACRS Singapore, then, is an opportunity to bring together the best of ophthalmology to share, transform, and innovate for the future ahead, he said. Yao Ke, MD, gave the opening address, noting that APACRS has grown to become one of the key medical conferences in the Asia-Pacific region. “We are very excited to enter a new era as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and as we reconnect and exchange cutting edge topics and techniques,” Dr. Yao said. “I hope all the delegates, colleagues, and friends enjoy a stimulating conference in the beautiful garden city of Singapore.” The 2023 APACRS Gold Medal award was presented to Dr Fam Han Bor, MD, for his outstanding contributions to the development of ophthalmology, particularly in visual optics, wavefront science, IOL calculations, corneal topography biofilms and phacoemulsification technology in the Asia-Pacific region.
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