The event gathered 410 influential experts who specialized in pediatric eye conditions, as well as 70 participants who joined the meeting online to share their knowledge and experiences from the field of strabology. Apart from all European countries, the participants came to Zagreb from almost every part of the world: USA, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, Australia, India, China, South Korea, South Africa, Kazakhstan and many others. The Westin Hotel made sure to give a warm welcome to this event, of high significance for Croatia and the city of Zagreb, with its conference facilities and accommodation.
The European Strabismological Association holds its meetings every two years and each time the event takes place in a different European city, in agreement and collaboration with the International Strabismological Association (ISA). In 2019, the Department of Ophthalmology of the Clinical Hospital “Sveti Duh” employees, Prof. Mirjana Bjeloš, MD, Ophthalmology specialist and Head of Reference center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus as well as the Clinic Head, Prof. Mladen Bušić, MD, have initiated, along with the Congress department of the PCO agency Spektar putovanja, preparations for participation in the bid to host ESA 2021. The collaboration was extremely successful and Zagreb was chosen as the host city for the 2021 meeting. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was postponed to 2023.
Presentation of the newest technological achievements in the field of pediatric eye conditions
The 42nd meeting of the European Strabismological Association took place from 4 to 7 June this year and it consisted of 84 lectures in total along with presentation posters dedicated to the topics of esotropia, exotropia, cyclic and vertical strabismus, nystagmus, amblyopia and amblyopia screening. The program was based on lectures given by professionals from various fields of strabismology. The lectures represented the main and biggest group of lectures, while a smaller part of the congress showcased a poster section and a “free-papers” section, all the while the scientific committee reviewed all papers applied from the two sections.
Some of the notable speakers who held their presentations at the event were John Sloper, Oliver Ehrt, Jonathan Holmes, responsible for the keynote speech, Rosario Gomez de Liana, Laura Lindberg, Dominique Thouvenin, Sule Ziylan, Per Kerlsson, Seyhan Ozkan, Andrea Molinari, Helena Buch-Hesgaard, Daniela Cioplean, Herb Simonsz, David Silbert, Michael Gräf, Jan Tjeerd de Faber, Giovanni Marcon, Emmanuel Bui Quoc, Jelena Petrinović-Dorešić and Mirjana Bjeloš.
As part of the meeting, an elective assembly was held and a new ESA management board was elected. A brilliant Croatian pediatric ophthalmology specialist, prof. dr. sc. Mirjana Bjeloš was chosen to be a part of the elected ESA management body as the Association secretary-treasurer.
The Congress was the place where professionals had the opportunity to present the newest technological achievements from the field of amblyopia treatment (its discovery was rewarded by a Nobel prize in 1981), dichoptic training in home conditions and the “biofeedback” fixation training. It is expected that the development of various artificial materials, particularly hydrogel as a synthetic muscle in strabismus surgeries, will lead to great results.
A rich social program for the event participants in Zagreb
The gathering offered a rich social program for its participants in Zagreb. A warm reception was organized in the beautiful atrium of the Westin Hotel in the open air and the guests also enjoyed a special Congress gala dinner at one of the most striking terraces of the city – the Esplanade hotel terrace as well as its Emerald Ballroom.
The participants also explored the city on a tour bus, led by a tour guide, along with a performance by a traditional Croatian folk singing association “Podgorac” from Gračani, which thrilled the audience before a dinner at a famous local restaurant Okrugljak in Zagreb.
Learn more about conferences and events in Zagreb here.
, ESA 2023, was held from 4 to 7 June in Zagreb in a hybrid format.){kind=link}