Congress organizers are pleased to announce that wet lab surgical training sessions will be organized for the first time in an APAO Congress at APAO 2018. Such sessions may be scheduled on popular topics, including glaucoma, cornea, retina and more. Further details of wet labs and the scientific program at APAO 2018 will be available soon.
A total of 5 new APAO member societies will be sending official representatives to the APAO Congress for the first time at APAO 2018 in Hong Kong. Today, we feature the Iranian Society of Ophthalmology (IrSO), who has joined as a national member.
Currently, Dr. Mahmoud Jabbarvand Behrouz (pictured) is president of IrSO and Dr. Siamak Zarei-Ghanavati will serve as the society’s APAO Regional Secretary. Founded in 1947, IrSO now has more than 1800 members and 7 subspecialty societies including Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Vitreo-Retinal Diseases, Glaucoma, Orbit and Plastic Surgery, Strabismus, Pediatrics and Uveitis. The international IrSO Congress has been held annually since 1990.
Stay tuned for details of APAO’s 4 additional new member societies!
This year, Congress organizers are pleased to partner with many international ophthalmic societies in curating an innovative scientific program. Our thanks to the following societies for their generous support of the 2018 APAO Congress in Hong Kong.
The Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI) is a university-centered international organization committed to excellence in education, research and medical services to preserve and restore vision.
Active membership in AOI is limited to 100 Chairs, who are formally nominated and elected by the membership to fill a specific Chair once it becomes vacant. An ophthalmologist who has been engaged in the study, research or practice of ophthalmology for at least 15 years and who has published not less than 100 scientific papers, reports or books is eligible to be nominated for membership. Currently, the AOI President is Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, who is also an APAO Councilor-at-Large.
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders.
With about 12,000 members from over 75 countries, ARVO is the largest and most respected eye and vision research organization in the world. Dr. Claude F. Burgoyne is the current president of the ARVO Board of Trustees.
The European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER) aims to encourage research and the dissemination of knowledge concerning the eye and vision by means of meetings, publications and exchange of information.
Covering all areas of ophthalmology and visual sciences, EVER is the leading ophthalmological research association in Europe, with more than 850 members from 48 countries. At present, the EVER President is Dr. Andrew Dick of Bristol.
With countless restaurants, excellent public transportation and a variety of historic and cultural sites, Hong Kong is a vibrant city perfect for both business and leisure travelers. Here are just a few of the city’s must-visit locales.
Of Hong Kong’s many tourist attractions, none is more popular than The Peak, one of the tallest mountains rising behind the skyscrapers of the city below. On a clear day, the views from The Peak on Hong Kong Island are truly impressive, and the historic tram ride up to the top is not to be missed.
After taking the famous Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor, visitors will disembark near the old railway station clock tower and the scenic waterfront promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui. The popular Avenue of Stars, which is currently under renovation, has been relocated to the nearby Garden of Stars. It features statues of famous celebrities from the Hong Kong film industry, such as martial arts experts Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.
Further afield on Lantau Island are Po Lin Monastery and the Tian Tan Buddha statue, commonly called the Big Buddha. Built of 160 bronze pieces, the statue and its base together are 34 meters tall! Although these attractions can be reached by road, the scenic Ngong Ping Cable Car from Tung Chung is highly recommended. Try a glass-bottomed compartment if you dare!
For more information about Hong Kong’s many attractions, visit http://www.discoverhongkong.com.
Themed “creativity and technology without boundaries”, the APAO 2018 Congress in Hong Kong aligns with the Chinese Belt and Road initiative, which aims to link more than 60 countries including over 60% of the world’s population. Positioned as a modern-day Silk Road for trade, economic development and more, the Belt and Road initiative spans from the Asia-Pacific region to the Middle East, Europe and beyond.
The project also hopes to encourage international cooperation in science and technology, including health care and related fields. Volunteer ophthalmology screening and diagnostics are included in plans for health-related outreach and development programs, particularly in underserved areas. Similarly, the APAO Gateway Project is working to improve eye care in APAO nations in need.
Stay tuned for country-specific updates about APAO membership and more!
Enjoy 10% off APAO 2018 registration rates through November 30, 2017. Act now!
Check our list of important dates for the upcoming APAO 2018 Congress!
Formerly a British colony, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China is located adjacent to Guangdong Province in southern China. With a population of more than 7 million residents, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
As an important financial and logistics hub for international businesses, Hong Kong is a fast paced and cosmopolitan city, with excellent transportation and communication networks. In addition to the native Cantonese dialect, both English and Mandarin Chinese are official languages used in public announcements, road names and signage.
Not far from Hong Kong’s soaring skyscrapers are other lesser known aspects of the city: its numerous beautiful beaches, extensive hiking trails and other green spaces. Stay tuned for more details on the best sights to visit in both the city and the countryside during your stay in Hong Kong.
Abstract submission for the 33rd APAO Congress in Hong Kong is now open. Here are some tips and tricks for submitting a successful abstract.
The deadline to submit abstracts for APAO 2018 is Thursday, August 31, 2017, at 11:59 pm (GMT +8). If you have any difficulties, please contact the APAO Congress Secretariat at secretariat@apaophth.org.
Don’t forget! For the first time this year, the APAO Congress will present awards for the best and most popular abstracts in different categories, as outlined below. Good luck!
 |