IIRSI 2024 Convention held in Chennai showcasing advances in eye surgery

New Delhi: The Indian Intraocular Implant & Refractive Surgery Convention 2024 (IIRSI Convention), India’s premier annual event dedicated to advancements in eye surgery, was held in Chennai, inaugurated by Honourable Justice R. Mahadevan, Chief Justice of Madras High Court. Organized by the Intraocular Implant & Refractive Society of India (IIRSI), the two-day convention saw participation from over 4,000 ophthalmologists across the country and featured 50 expert speakers, including international leaders in intraocular implantation (IOL) and LASIK & refractive surgery.

The event, held in association with Sustain Eye, a global coalition of eye societies, aims to promote the latest developments in ophthalmic care and surgery. The convention included invited lectures, live surgery sessions, hands-on Wetlabs, the Ophthalmic Premier League, the IIRSI Film Festival Awards (IFFA), a photography competition, court martial in ophthalmology, symposiums, and sessions for young ophthalmologists. Additionally, a trade area showcases the latest in ophthalmic materials and equipment.

Justice R. Mahadevan emphasized the crucial role of vision care in enhancing quality of life, pursuits of knowledge acquisition, productivity, and social participation. He highlighted the lack of public awareness about eye health measures and the rising incidence of eye health issues including refractive errors due to environmental pollution and lifestyle changes, such as overuse of digital gadgets. He commended the advancements in ophthalmic science and technology, urging professionals from different subspecialties to stay updated on the latest developments to harness the power of technology and human expertise and reach the unreached. 

Prof. Amar Agarwal, Secretary General of IIRSI and Chairman of Dr Agarwals Group of Eye Hospitals, expressed, “We are happy that this annual convention continues to grow in size and significance year after year, and elicits the interest of ophthalmologists within and outside India. The two-day conference comprises valuable programmes and live surgical session telecasts that will make sure that the participants will learn new techniques in cataract and refractive surgery. They can gain hands-on experience in the Wetlab courses on several key areas that will equip them to practice with confidence. Their interactions with global experts will clarify their doubts.”

A felicitation message from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was read at the event’s inaugural session. He assured his support for the convention and future IIRSI endeavors, stating, “The convention’s robust lineup, including invited lectures, live surgery demonstrations, hands-on Wetlabs, the Ophthalmic Premier League, the IIRSI Film Festival Awards, and the photography competition, reflects the breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise that will be shared.” 

The IIRSI Convention 2024 features over 40 scientific sessions covering topics such as cataract and refractive surgery, ophthalmic advances, pediatric ophthalmology, oculoplasty, and glaucoma. The event also honored Indian and global ophthalmologists for their contributions. Notable international awardees include Dr. Nicole R Fram from the USA, recipient of the J. Agarwal Global Icon Gold Medal, and other distinguished doctors from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Lebanon, the UK, and the USA.

Indian awardees include Dr. Satanshu Mathur (IIRSI President Gold Medal), Dr. Rohit Om Parkash (Dr. Daljit Singh Gold Medal), Dr. Prema Padmanabhan (Dr. Mrs. T. Agarwal Gold Medal), Dr. Rajesh Fogla (Om Parkash Gold Medal), and Dr. Santosh Honavar (Subodh Agrawal Gold Medal). The IIRSI Gold Medal winners are Dr. Inder Mohan Rustogi (Haryana), Dr. Rishi Swarup (Hyderabad), and Dr. Prafulla K Maharana (Delhi).

The event also featured a photography competition with categories including external photography, smartphone photography, slit lamp photography, fundus photography, and imaging. Additionally, the IIRSI Film Festival Award Show 2024 honored ophthalmologists for their short educative films on ophthalmic topics.