2 3 November 2012, Prague, Czech Republic Programme

Transcription

1 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 2 3 November 2012, Prague, Czech Republic Programme

2 02 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Content 03 Welcome by the Organising Committee 04 Scientific Programme: Friday, 2 November Scientific Programme: Saturday, 3 November Session 1: RVO treatments Chairs: Prof. Anat Loewenstein, Israel, and Prof. Frank Holz, Germany 09 Session 2: Surgical treatment of macular diseases Chairs: Prof. Anselm Kampik, Germany, and Dr. Michael Georgopoulos, Austria 10 Session 3: Expanding the role of anti-vegf therapy in ocular disease: examining the evidence Chairs: Prof. Leonidas Zografos, Switzerland, and Prof. Gabriel Coscas, France 11 Session 4: Diabetic retinopathy Chairs: Prof. Paul Mitchell, Australia, and Dr. Susan Bressler, USA 12 Session 5: The management of neovascular AMD Chairs: Prof. Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, Austria, and Dr. Marco Zarbin, USA 13 Session 6: Disorders of the vitreomacular interface Chairs: Dr. Antonio Capone, USA, and Dr. George Williams, USA 14 Faculty 22 Floorplan 24 Thank you to Novartis Delegate countries 25 Organisation ESASO would like to sincerely thank Novartis Pharma AG for supporting the 12th AMD and Retina Congress with an unrestricted educational grant. The event has been granted 9 European CME credits.

3 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 03 Welcome by the Organising Committee Dear Delegate, We are delighted to welcome you, on behalf of ESASO s Executive Board, to the 12th AMD and Retina Congress in Prague on 2-3 November The scientific programme includes plenary sessions, panel discussions, case studies and meet-the-expert sessions delivered by distinguished speakers from all across the world. In addition to this engaging programme, a scientific poster exhibition is planned; the best poster presented at the congress will be nominated by the scientific committee. As well as the engaging scientific programme, other highlights in Prague will be the 3rd ESASO Graduate Award Ceremony and the 3rd XOVA Award Ceremony, supported by Novartis. The congress venue, at the heart of the city, offers not only good facilities for delegates and speakers, but also provides a magnificent view over the river Vltava. Futhermore, as delegates, you will benefit from onsite accommodation and a variety of traditional and modern Czech dining options. Praga Caput Regni has been inscribed in Prague s coat of arms. And rightly so. Since the very beginning, Prague has always played an important role in the history of both the country and Europe - now, Prague will play its part in the history of the International AMD and Retina Congress as host city for Borja Corcóstegui Professor and President, Instituto de Microcirurgía Ocular (IMO), Barcelona, Spain Francesco Bandello Professor and Chairman Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy Giuseppe Guarnaccia President, ESASO Foundation, Director III Surgery Department at BMM Hospital, Reggio Calabria, Italy We are confident that the 12th AMD and Retina Congress will continue to build upon the quality that ESASO have established during previous congresses and we look forward to welcoming you to Prague in early November! With our best regards, Organising Committee

4 04 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Scientific Programme FRIDAY, 2 NOVEMBER :30 Opening Ceremony Francesco Bandello, Italy Borja Corcóstegui, Spain Giuseppe Guarnaccia, Italy Tomáš Sosna, Czech Republic 08:45 SESSION 1 Chairs: Anat Loewenstein, Israel RVO treatments Frank Holz, Germany Systemic and ocular risk factors for RVO José Cunha-Vaz, Portugal Clinical evaluation of RVO Gabriel Coscas, France Treatment options for RVO: evidence from clinical trials Francesco Bandello, Italy Interactive clinical case 1: Macular oedema and peripheral retinal ischaemia Giuseppe Querques, France Interactive clinical case 2: RVO and vitreous haemorrhage Sobha Sivaprasad, UK Interactive clinical case 3: Refractory macular oedema in RVO Anat Loewenstein, Israel Interactive clinical case 4: Medical work-up for RVO Jirí Rehák, Czech Republic 09:50 COFFEE BREAK 10:20 The XOVA Award 10:45 SESSION 2 Chairs: Anselm Kampik, Germany Surgical treatment of macular diseases Michael Georgopoulos, Austria Cataract surgery in a patient with AMD Emin Özmert, Turkey Cataract surgery in a patient with diabetic retinopathy Tomáš Sosna, Czech Republic Surgical treatment of DME Carl Claes, Belgium Therapeutic options for post-surgical cystoid macular oedema Francesco Boscia, Italy PANEL DISCUSSION WITH Q&A All session participants If only drusen or mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (without macular oedema) is noted on clinical exam, when should one obtain an OCT? Fluorescein angiogram? ICG? When there are drusen or other RPE abnormalities, but not CNV, how does one determine how much visual acuity is from cataract and when cataract surgery should be considered? 11:50 SESSION 3 Chairs: Leonidas Zografos, Switzerland Expanding the role of anti-vegf therapy in ocular disease: examining the evidence Gabriel Coscas, France Anti-VEGF therapy for ocular tumours? Leonidas Zografos, Switzerland Retinal arterial macroaneurysm? Maurizio Battaglia-Parodi, Italy Macular telangiectasia Frank Holz, Germany CNV in patients under 10 years old? ROP? Antonio Capone, USA Anti-VEGF for radiation-induced retinopathy and optic neuropathy? David Pelayes, Argentina 12:30 LUNCH

5 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 05 13:00 Meet-the-expert sessions New findings in OCT examination Luisa Pierro, Italy Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, Austria Steroids and anti-vegf for DME Anat Loewenstein, Israel Victor Chong, UK Anti-VEGF therapy in other retinal diseases Giuseppe Querques, France (excluding AMD, DR and RVO) Frank Holz, Germany The management of myopic CNV Jordi Monés, Spain Paolo Lanzetta, Italy Perspectives on vitreolysis George Williams, USA Antonio Capone, USA Central serous chorioretinopathy Rufino Silva, Portugal Ugo Introini, Italy 14:00 ESASO Graduation Ceremony Francesco Bandello, Italy Borja Corcóstegui, Spain Giuseppe Guarnaccia, Italy 14:30 ESASO Fellowship Programme Giuseppe Guarnaccia, Italy Borja Corcóstegui, Spain 14:45 SESSION 4 Chairs: Paul Mitchell, Australia Diabetic retinopathy Susan B Bressler, USA DME: evidence from clinical trials Neil M Bressler, USA The management of PDR Michael Larsen, Denmark Interactive clinical case 1: DME treated only with conventional laser Bruno Falcomatá, Italy Interactive clinical case 2: Micropulse laser in DME Victor Chong, UK Interactive clinical case 3: Anti-VEGF monotherapy for DME Gabriele Lang, Germany Interactive clinical case 4: Combining anti-vegf therapy with conventional Adrian Koh, Singapore laser in DME 15:45 COFFEE BREAK 16:15 Interactive clinical case 5: DME not responding to anti-vegf therapy Sobha Sivaprasad, UK Interactive clinical case 6: Treating DME in pseudophakic eyes Rafael Navarro, Spain Interactive clinical case 7: PDR complicated with DME Paolo Lanzetta, Italy Interactive clinical case 8: PDR complicated with iris neovascularization Rosangela Lattanzio, Italy ROUND TABLE: EVOLVING APPROACHES TO THE MANAGEMENT OF DME All session participants Therapeutic classification of DME Role of wide-field angiography/prp for DME? Monitoring the anti-vegf treatment in DME: is OCT enough? Visual acuity? Fluorescein angiography? Fundus photos? Management of DME not involving the central subfield Systemic management of DME (i.e. fenofibrate data in ACCORD-EYE and FIELD, blood pressure, use of ARBs in people without clinically significant hypertension) 17:30 Chair Summary and Close Francesco Bandello, Italy

6 06 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Scientific Programme SATURDAY, 3 NOVEMBER :30 Poster Awards Francesco Bandello, Italy SESSION 5 Chairs: Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, Austria The management of neovascular AMD Marco Zarbin, USA Treatment options for AMD: evidence from clinical trials Sebastian Wolf, Switzerland Reviewing the safety and tolerability of current therapeutic agents Paul Mitchell, Australia Diagnostic Assessment of AMD lesion type for the anti-vegf treatment Won Ki Lee, South Korea OCT guidance for treatment in neovascular AMD: An update Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, Austria The top 3 emerging therapies for AMD in 2012 Marco Zarbin, USA The impact of ranibizumab on the incidence of legal blindness and Susan B Bressler, USA milder levels of vision impairment in patients with AMD Interactive clinical case 1: AMD requiring retreatment more frequently than Rufino Silva, Portugal every 4 weeks Interactive clinical case 2: Recalcitrant vascularized PED Ugo Introini, Italy Interactive clinical case 3: Sub-RPE CNV without ME Rafael Navarro, Spain Interactive clinical case 4: Treatment of RAP in the anti-vegf era Jordi Monés, Spain Interactive clinical case 5: Treatment of PCV in the anti-vegf era Adrian Koh, Singapore ROUND TABLE: OPTIMIZING THE MANAGEMENT OF AMD All session participants Difference among the treatment regimens in AMD (monthly, bi-monthly, PRN, treat and extend): efficacy and cost-effectiveness American vs European technique of intravitreal injection 11:05 COFFEE BREAK 11:35 SESSION 6 Chairs: Antonio Capone, USA Disorders of the vitreomacular interface George Williams, USA OCT evaluation of the abnormalities of vitreo-macular interface Luisa Pierro, Italy Surgical approaches to abnormalities of the vitreomacular interface George Williams, USA Potential role of ocriplasmin in abnormalities of the vitreomacular interface Adnan Tufail, UK Interactive clinical case 1: Macular hole Anselm Kampik, Germany Interactive clinical case 2: An epiretinal membrane with vitreomacular traction Athanasioa Nikolakopoulos, Greece Interactive clinical case 3: Vitreomacular traction with underlying CNV Michael Georgopoulos, Austria Panel Discussion 13:00 Close of Congress Francesco Bandello, Italy 13:15 LUNCH

7 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 07 Welcome to Prague XOVA provides funding for non-profit initiatives expected to have a positive impact on unmet needs in eye care Eligible projects: Will have a clear impact on the quality of eye care Must have long-term viability and sustainability Are at an advanced planning stage so they can begin as soon as funding is provided XOVA is fully sponsored by Novartis Pharma and Alcon and led by medical specialists in the field of eye care XOVA 2013 will be opening for applications on January 1st Application forms can be downloaded from the XOVA website at Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland Novartis Pharma AG, 2012 October 2012 OPH.12.3

8 08 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Session 1 RVO treatments Chairs: Prof. Anat Loewenstein, Israel, and Prof. Frank Holz, Germany A number of aspects of RVO can influence the visual prognosis for patients with this disease. These aspects may include systemic risk factors (such as hypertension and diabetes), the extent of vision loss and the presence of any vision-threatening complications. For example, the presence of ischaemia is associated with a poor prognosis, and the extent of ischaemia may increase over time, further complicating treatment of the disease. Therefore, the identification of modifiable risk factors and sight-threatening complications has a key role in determining the appropriate treatment pathway for the patient. Laser therapy was initially used as the standard of care for the treatment of BRVO based on outcomes from the BVO study. However, improvements in BCVA with laser therapy were not extensive, with a mean improvement of ETDRS lines. For patients with CRVO, data from the CVO study determined that laser therapy provided no improvements in BCVA. Following these studies, there remained an unmet need for a treatment that delivered significant improvements in BCVA for patients with BRVO and CRVO. The BRAVO, CRUISE and GENEVA studies provided the initial evidence of the efficacy of ranibizumab (Lucentis ; BRAVO and CRUISE) and dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex ; GENEVA) for the treatment of patients with RVO. Clinicians now have access to a greater number of therapies that may improve vision for patients with RVO in whom, previously, there was limited therapeutic opportunity. Promising outcomes with intravitreal aflibercept (Eylea ) in patients with CRVO may potentially result in a new treatment option for improving vision in this particular patient group. In this session, the panel will provide an overview of the management of RVO, with several case studies included to focus attention on how various complications of the disease are treated in clinical practice. Anat Loewenstein Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel Anat Loewenstein is Full Professor of Ophthalmology and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Tel Aviv Medical Center, Israel. After medical studies at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem and residency in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Tel Aviv Medical Center, she completed her fellowship in Retinal Vascular Diseases and Vitreoretinal Surgery at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA. Professor Loewenstein s main areas of expertise are AMD, RVO and the investigation of drug toxicity to the retina. She also led the development of model technology for early detection of AMD. Professor Loewenstein has authored numerous publications in peer- -reviewed journals and ophthalmology textbooks, serves on multiple editorial boards, and is Editor of Case Reports in Ophthalmology. She is a member of the EURETINA Board, represents Israel on the European Society of Ophthalmology Board and is the International Representative on the Macula Society Executive Committee. Frank G Holz Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany Frank G Holz is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Bonn. His research interests include the pathogenesis, prognostic factors, biomarkers and treatment of macular and retinal diseases, and innovative retinal imaging technologies. Professor Holz was a co-founder of the German Research Council (DFG) Priority Program for AMD and the GRADE Reading Centre. He is a Board Member of the German Ophthalmological Society (DOG) and EURETINA, Editor-in-Chief of Der Ophthalmologe, and serves as a reviewer for many peer-reviewed journals. Professor Holz has received numerous awards, including the Alcon Research Institute (ARI) award and the Senior Achievement Award of the AAO. He has published more than 200 papers in peer-reviewed journals.

9 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 09 Session 2 Surgical treatment of macular diseases Chairs: Prof. Anselm Kampik, Germany, and Dr. Michael Georgopoulos, Austria Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures carried out by ophthalmologists and remains the only effective treatment available to restore or maintain vision in affected patients. Recent evidence highlights that cataract surgery is associated with an increased risk of development of late AMD, suggesting that patients with AMD may require more careful monitoring post-surgery to ensure that any disease progression is identified rapidly and treated appropriately. In addition to complications after surgery in patients with AMD, co-existing diabetic retinopathy with cataract may also impair the extent of visual recovery after cataract removal. When complications do arise, additional treatments may be needed to reduce the risk of further vision loss and to aid visual recovery. Among other therapies, anti- VEGF agents have been found to lower the risk of perioperative macular events and post-surgical complications and to improve vision outcomes in cases of haemorrhage in patients with choroidal neovascularisation and cystoid macular oedema. The potential benefit of surgery in some ocular conditions remains a controversial topic, despite evidence showing that surgical approaches can result in anatomical and visual improvements. For example, in a study of vitrectomy for the treatment of patients with DME with vision loss and vitreomacular traction, patients had a reduction in CRT and improvement in vision after 6 months. At present, the role of vitrectomy in the DME treatment algorithm has not been defined and further investigation is required. During this session, the panel will discuss best practice in the field of surgical ophthalmology that may not be extensively covered by the literature and in which approaches to therapy and outcomes differ substantially. Finally, the audience are encouraged to communicate their own approaches to surgery during the panel discussion. Anselm Kampik Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) Munich, Germany Anselm Kampik is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology, at LMU in Munich, Germany. He received his medical degree and completed his Residency in Ophthalmology at LMU and a fellowship in Ophthalmic Pathology at the Wilmer Institute, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, USA. His research interests mainly involve vitreoretinal diseases, retinal cell biology and clinical research related to intraocular surgery. Professor Kampik has taught and published extensively, with over 435 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 15 books edited. He currently serves on numerous editorial boards including American Journal of Ophthalmology, Retina and the European Journal of Ophthalmology and is Secretary-General of the Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft (DOG). He is currently President of the European Academy of Ophthalmology, Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology and Gold Fellow of ARVO. Michael Georgopoulos Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna General Hospital, Währinger Gürtel, Vienna, Austria Michael Georgopoulos graduated from medical school in 1994 and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Vienna, Austria. He has been Chief Consultant for Vitreoretinal Surgery since 2008 and Vice Chairman at the Department of Ophthalmology since 2010 at the Medical University of Vienna, Italy. In 2007 he received an MBA in Health Care Management from the Medical University of Vienna. After more than 15 years in Ophthalmology and more than 20 years of scientific work in different fields of medicine his main research interest is now vitreoretinal surgery. He has more than 80 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He has given lectures and presentations at many national and international conferences and meetings, and serves as a reviewer for several scientific journals (including British Journal of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmologica and BMC Ophthalmology). In addition to clinical work, surgery and research, he also lectures and teaches practical ophthalmology to medical students; from 2003 to 2010 he served as advisor to seven doctoral and diploma students.

10 10 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Session 3 Expanding the role of anti-vegf therapy in ocular disease: examining the evidence Chairs: Prof. Leonidas Zografos, Switzerland, and Prof. Gabriel Coscas, France Although the administration of anti-vegf agents is common for the most frequently encountered retinal diseases, their use has also extended to less frequent ocular conditions in which the VEGF pathway may have a key pathophysiological role. Ocular angiogenesis is a frequent cause of vision loss in a number of rare conditions, such as ocular tumours and retinopathy of prematurity. Although photodynamic therapy has been successfully used for various types of ocular cancers, there is no definitive conclusion on the role of photodynamic therapy in this area. In cases of retinopathy of prematurity, peripheral retinal laser ablation has been considered the standard of care, and anti-vegf therapy in this condition is a novel treatment concept. The potential for ocular and systemic complications in this patient population and lack of randomised controlled trials mean that their use in retinopathy of prematurity remains experimental and further investigations are required to determine their full therapeutic potential. In the presentations in this session, the panel will focus on the treatment of pathological conditions that are less frequently encountered, such as ocular tumours and retinopathy of prematurity, and their treatment with anti- VEGF agents. By sharing their own insights, the faculty hope to generate a stimulating session that will provide attendees with a greater understanding of these conditions and an increased awareness of when anti-vegf agents may be considered in the treatment pathway. Leonidas Zografos Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland Leonidas Zografos is Professor and Chairman at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne, Medical Director of the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, and Scientific Director of the Institute for Research in Ophthalmology of Sion, Valais, Switzerland. His main research activities and clinical practices involve the diagnosis and conservative management of ocular tumours and the development of pioneering radiotherapy techniques. In 1984, he introduced proton beam irradiation to Western Europe for the treatment of intraocular tumours. Dr. Zografos has an international reputation in the field of ocular oncology and has received numerous honours and distinctions. In 2009, he was nominated Commander of the Phoenix Legion of the Hellenic Republic. He is a member of several ophthalmological scientific societies and has authored/ co-authored over 150 original articles and 132 book chapters, reviews or letters. He was principal author and editor of the 2002 annual report of the French Ophthalmological Society on intraocular tumours. Gabriel Coscas Créteil University Eye Clinic, University of Paris XII, Créteil, France Gabriel Coscas trained at the University of Paris, France. In 1970, he established the Department of Ophthalmology in Créteil (University Paris XII, France) where he served as Professor of Ophthalmology and Chairman until He is currently Emeritus Professor at the same university. Professor Coscas has devoted most of his research activity to macular diseases and was responsible for organising France s first randomised controlled trial investigating macular photocoagulation for AMD. He founded and is President of the French Retina Society and has authored/ co-authored over 450 peer-reviewed papers and many books, including Atlas of Indocyanine Green Angiography, Optical Coherence Tomography in Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Macular Edema. Professor Coscas has received numerous awards and was honoured as the first recipient of the Gabriel Coscas Lecture in 2001 and the Patz Medal, from the Macula Society, in He is a founding member of the WHO Global Alliance against trachoma.

11 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 11 Session 4 Diabetic retinopathy Chairs: Prof. Paul Mitchell, Australia, and Dr. Susan Bressler, USA With the number of people with diabetes worldwide predicted to grow to 366 million by 2030, the population at risk of diabetic retinopathy is also increasing. Despite advancements in diabetes care, incident retinal complications occur in these patients. Metabolic and blood pressure control is central in the approach to the prevention and management of diabetic retinopathy. However, our improved understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in diabetic retinopathy has led to development of new agents to treat these disorders. Approval of the anti-vegf agent ranibizumab for the treatment of visual impairment due to DME has changed the treatment paradigm, making improvement of vision a realistic goal for some of these patients, while minimising the risk of moderate visual loss for nearly all patients. Furthermore, technological advances in retinal imaging may allow for development of a new system for DME classification that facilitates these new treatment paradigms. In this session, the evidence from clinical trials evaluating DME will be reviewed and interactive clinical cases will examine the role of both conventional and micropulse laser therapy for treatment of DME in the context of the anti- VEGF era. In addition, the treatment controversies that may arise in the context of pseudophakia or patients whose vision does not improve with anti-vegf therapy will be addressed. An overview of the management of proliferative diabetic retinopathy will also be presented, with interactive clinical cases highlighting the approach to treatment of particularly complicated cases. Finally, a faculty of experts will address a variety of topics on the management of DME, ranging from clinical classification to systemic management, in a roundtable discussion. Paul Mitchell Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia Paul Mitchell is Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Sydney and Director of Ophthalmology for the Sydney West Area Health Service, Australia. His clinical work focusses on managing AMD, diabetic and other vascular retinopathies, and on systemic diseases and their effects on the eye, and he conducts a fellowship programme in Medical Retina. He has a strong interest in the application of evidence-based medicine in ophthalmology, particularly in the area of new therapies for AMD and DME. Professor Mitchell has made significant contributions in the fields of public health and ophthalmic epidemiology via the landmark Blue Mountains Eye Study. He has published over 700 peer-reviewed scientific papers and is on the editorial boards of British Journal of Ophthalmology and Eye, as well as being a reviewer for key journals in Ophthalmology and General Medicine. He is currently Vice President of ARVO and a member of the ARVO Board of Trustees. Susan B Bressler Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Susan Bressler graduated from Smith College, Northampton, MA, and completed an internship in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, followed by an ophthalmology residency at Harvard Medical School s Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA. She was inducted as the inaugural recipient of the Julia G Levy, PhD, Professor of Ophthalmology in Dr. Bressler has published 197 peer-reviewed articles and 54 book chapters and has served as an Editorial Board member of several journals, including the American Journal of Ophthalmology and Retina. Her main research interests focus on collaborative efforts in clinical trials, with specific emphasis on the treatment of both non-neovascular and neovascular AMD, and all aspects of diabetic retinopathy. Dr. Bressler has received numerous awards, including a Senior Achievement Award from the AAO, a Senior Honor Award from The American Society of Retina Specialists and the Gertrude Pyron Award for Lifetime Achievement of Outstanding Research.

12 12 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Session 5 The management of neovascular AMD Chairs: Prof. Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth, Austria, and Dr. Marco Zarbin, USA In the past decade, the advent of anti-vegf therapies led to a paradigm shift in the management of neovascular AMD, with the prognosis of these patients improving substantially. Intravitreal injection with ranibizumab and/or bevacizumab has become the standard of care for the treatment of these patients; however, optimisation of individualised treatment and monitoring regimens, balancing vision outcomes with realistic demands on clinic resources and patient compliance remain ongoing challenges. In addition, the role of the new anti-vegf agent aflibercept (recently approved in the US and Australia for the treatment of neovascular AMD) has yet to be defined in the current treatment paradigm. There are several emerging new therapies at various stages of clinical development, which target a variety of different steps in the neovascularisation pathway. These clinical trials will assess the contribution of various angiogenic factors implicated in the pathophysiology of AMD. The combination of existing therapies and treatment modalities is also being explored. In this session, the panel will cover a wide range of topics relating to neovascular AMD. Clinical data for the different therapeutic options will be reviewed, as will the top emerging therapies. Diagnosing lesion type to predict a patient s response to anti-vegf therapy and the role of OCT in treatment decisions will also be addressed. This will be a highly interactive session, with the inclusion of several clinical cases relating to particular treatment and diagnostic challenges. The session will conclude with a roundtable discussion of the optimisation of AMD management in terms of efficacy and cost-effectiveness, as well as a discussion of the techniques used to administer intravitreal injections in Europe and in the US. Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth is Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Eye Hospital, Vienna, Austria. Her clinical activities include surgical and medical retina, while her research focusses on the development of novel diagnostic techniques. She founded the Vienna Study Center, which serves as the principal site for multicentre clinical trials, and the Vienna Reading Center, an independent institution for digital imaging. Professor Schmidt-Erfurth is a member of many professional organisations, including The European Academy of Ophthalmologists and the AAO. She has authored/co-authored over 250 original articles and serves on the editorial boards of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Acta Ophthalmologica and the European Journal of Ophthalmology. She has received numerous grants and awards, including The Research Award from the German Ophthalmological Society, the Achievement Award from the AAO, the Roger Johnson Award from the University of Washington and the Donald Gass Award from the Retina Society. Marco Zarbin New Jersey Medical School, Newark NJ, USA Marco Zarbin completed an ophthalmology residency and fellowship training in Vitreoretinal Surgery and Macular Disease at the Johns Hopkins Hospital , during which time he was the co-recipient of the Francis S Schwentker Award for resident research and Assistant Chief of Service. He is Chief of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital in Newark, NJ, and Professor of Ophthalmology and Neuroscience and Chair of the Institute of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at New Jersey Medical School, and also holds the Alfonse A Cinotti, MD/Lions Eye Research Chair in the Department of Ophthalmology. In addition, he is Co-Director of the Ocular Cell Transplantation Laboratory and the Center for Macular Degeneration Research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry, NJ. Dr. Zarbin has co-authored 145 peer-reviewed scientific publications and 63 book chapters. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Translational Vision Science and Technology and is a Vice Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. His clinical practice focusses on medical and surgical diseases of the retina and vitreous, specifically AMD, trauma management, complex retinal detachment and surgery of the macula. He has been listed among the Best Doctors in America as well as among the Best Doctors in New Jersey and the Best Doctors in New York.

13 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 13 Session 6 Disorders of the vitreomacular interface Chairs: Dr. Antonio Capone, USA, and Dr. George Williams, USA Idiopathic macular hole, macular epiretinal membrane and vitreomacular traction syndrome are the most common disorders of the vitreomacular interface. All are typically associated with older age and share macular traction as a common pathogenic mechanism. Each disorder is a distinct clinical entity with unique anatomic features and management considerations. OCT is a valuable tool that has improved our understanding of the pathogenesis and the anatomical sequence of events that underlie these disorders. In general, OCT is regarded as superior to conventional fundus examination for the evaluation of the vitreomacular interface. Surgery is the only treatment option currently available for disorders of the vitreomacular interface. Pharmacological vitreolysis represents a new approach to treatment that has the potential to induce total posterior vitreous detachment without the need for surgery and associated complications. Intravitreous injection with ocriplasmin, a recombinant truncated form of human plasmin, is an emerging therapeutic option that is currently in phase 3 clinical development for symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion. In this session, the panel will address the diagnosis and management of vitreomacular interface pathology. The role of OCT in evaluation of vitreomacular interface abnormalities will be reviewed, as will both surgical and non-surgical treatment approaches, including the phase 3 study results of ocriplasmin. Interactive case studies will be used to emphasise clinically important aspects of these disorders of the vitreomacular interface. Antonio Capone Jr. Associated Retinal Consultants, Royal Oak, MI, USA Antonio Capone is an internationally recognised clinician, surgeon and educator, whose special interests include paediatric vitreoretinal diseases, complicated retinal detachment, ocular oncology and macular disease. He is currently Clinical Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Oakland University William Beaumont Hospital School of Medicine, MI, USA; Professor at the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology, Lugano, Switzerland; and Co-Director of the Associated Retinal Consultants Vitreoretinal Fellowship Training Program. He has been actively involved in resident and fellowship education for 20 years and has authored/co-authored over 200 publications. Dr. Capone has been named in America s Who s Who in Medicine and The Best Doctors in America. He is a member of many professional organisations and serves on the Executive Committee of both the American Society of Retina Specialists and the Retina Society. George A Williams Department of Ophthalmology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA George Williams is Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, Director of the Beaumont Eye Institute and Vice Chief of Surgical Services for Academic Affairs at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, USA. He is Professor and Chair of Ophthalmology at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and a partner with Associated Retinal Consultants. A graduate of Northwestern University, he completed his residency in Ophthalmology and his fellowship in Vitreoretinal Surgery at the Eye Institute of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Williams has published over 200 articles and book chapters in the field of vitreoretinal surgery and participated as Principal Investigator/Co-Investigator in over 20 clinical trials. He is on the Board of Trustees of The American Academy of Ophthalmology and is a recipient of their Special Recognition Award, Secretariat Award and Lifetime Achievement Award. He currently serves on the Editorial Boards of Retina, Retinal Physician, Retinal Cases and Brief Reports, and Current Opinion in Ophthalmology.

14 14 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Faculty Francesco Bandello Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy Francesco Bandello is Full Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology, University Vita-Salute, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. He is currently the President Elect of EURETINA, Vice President of Academia Ophthalmologica Europea and Vice President of EuroLam. Professor Bandello is Co-Editor of the European Journal of Ophthalmology and a former Board Member of the Club Jules Gonin and the Macula Society. He is a member of the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis and the Accademia Nazionale di Medicina and serves as a peer reviewer for grant applications for the National Eye Institute. He has authored/co- -authored over 177 PubMed journal articles, co-authored five books and has served as the Principal Investigator in several clinical trials, mainly those concerning AMD and diabetic retinopathy. Maurizio Battaglia Parodi Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy Maurizio Battaglia Parodi is currently working at the Department of Ophthalmology, Scientific Institute San Raffaele in Milan, Italy. He has previously held appointments within the Departments of Ophthalmology at the University of Trieste and the University of Udine. Dr. Parodi received his degree in Medicine and Surgery at the University of Genoa in 1986 and specialised in Ophthalmology at the University of Trieste, Italy, in His major clinical and research interests include AMD, vascular diseases and dystrophies. He has been an investigator in many international clinical trials and has authored/co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles and three books. Dr. Parodi has received awards for his contributions to scientific research and is a reviewer for many international journals. He is a coordinator for the Scientific Committee of the European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO). Francesco Boscia Department of Ophthalmology, Bari University, Bari, Italy Francesco Boscia is Associate Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology at Bari University, Italy. His main clinical interests involve medical and surgical diseases of the retina and vitreous. Dr. Boscia received his medical degree from Bari University in 1986 and completed his general ophthalmology residency at the same institution in Following this, he undertook a vitreoretinal fellowship at King s College Hospital and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK in To date, Dr. Boscia has authored/co-authored over 55 articles published in peer-reviewed journals. Neil M Bressler Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA Neil Bressler is Chief of the Retina Division at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has an endowed chair as the inaugural James P Gills Professor of Ophthalmology. His main research interests have been collaborative efforts in clinical trials of common retinal diseases, including AMD and diabetic retinopathy, having chaired several NIH-sponsored and industry-sponsored multicentre RCTs and authored over 290 peer-reviewed publications. Currently, as Chair of the NIH-sponsored Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network, he has extensive involvement in guidelines, policies, protocol development and implementation to facilitate Network operations in an open and transparent fashion. Dr. Bressler also chairs the NEI s Data and Safety Monitoring Committee for intramural clinical trials and the FDA s Ophthalmic Devices Panel. Beyond ophthalmology, he chairs the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine s Committee on Outside Interests and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.

15 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 15 Victor Chong Oxford Eye Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK Victor Chong is the Head of Department at the Oxford Eye Hospital, the University of Oxford, UK. He graduated from the University of Glasgow Medical School with the Neil Arnott Prize, after which he trained in ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, and undertook a retinal fellowship at Moorfields and then at the Center for Macular Degeneration, Iowa, USA. He is Co-Chair of the UK Medical Retina Group, co-founder of UK Amsler Club and Deputy President of the European Fluorescein Angiography (FAN) Club. He sits on the Scientific Committee and Research Committee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and EURETINA, respectively, and was the Deputy Chair of the UK Clinical Research Network (Ophthalmology). He has overseen numerous multicentre clinical studies and has published over 100 journal articles, three books and 16 book chapters. His main research interests are extracellular matrix, biomarkers, micropulse laser, retinal imaging, stem cell therapy and visual rehabilitation. Carl Claes Vitreoretinal Department, St Augustinus Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium Carl Claes is the Head and Founder of the Vitreoretinal Department at the St Augustinus Hospital in Antwerp, Belgium. In 1989, he founded the Vitreoretinal Course in Antwerp, which he continues to organise biannually for several hundred retina specialists from across the world. Dr. Claes carries out ~1200 surgical interventions annually, a large percentage of which are for international patients. He specialises in trauma, advanced diabetic retinopathy and proliferative vitreoretinopathy in addition to other areas. As well as developing new surgical instrumentations and techniques in collaboration with various medical companies, Dr. Claes also travels extensively to demonstrate live surgical procedures. He has given more than 400 invited lectures across the world, received several international awards and is an active peer reviewer for a number of international journals. Borja Corcóstegui Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular, Barcelona, Spain Borja Corcóstegui is the Medical Director of the Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular in Barcelona, Spain. He graduated as an Ophthalmologist from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in 1977, after which he was an Associate Doctor at the Ciudad Sanitaria Vall d Hebrón. Subsequently, he completed a fellowship at the Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Professor Corcóstegui undertook various posts at the Ciudad Sanitaria Vall d Hebrón and the UAB until he founded the Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular in He is a peer reviewer for several national and international journals, has been an author/co-author on numerous papers, and has authored three books. Professor Corcóstegui has previously been President of the Sociedad Española de Retina y Vitreo (SERV) and EURETINA. He is a member of 15 national and international scientific societies and associations. José Cunha-Vaz AIBILI and University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal José Cunha-Vaz is Emeritus Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and President of the Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI), a not-for-profit clinical research organisation. He is Chief Editor of Ophthalmologica, Coordinator of the Diabetic Retinopathy and Retinal Vascular Diseases Section of the European Vision Institute Clinical Research Network (EVICR.net) and Secretary General of the European Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Cunha-Vaz s work has included laboratory and clinical research in retina and intraocular fluids with special emphasis on blood retinal barriers and diabetic retinopathy. He is also dedicated to the characterisation of different phenotypes and biomarkers of diabetic retinopathy. He was the first to describe the blood retinal barrier and initiated clinical vitreous fluorometry and multimodal macular mapping. Dr. Cunha-Vaz has authored and co-authored over 450 peer-reviewed papers and books.

16 16 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Bruno Falcomatà Department of Ophthalmology, Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, Reggio Calabria, Italy Bruno Falcomatà is Head of the Unit of Retinal Diseases at Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli in Reggio Calabria, Italy. Dr. Falcomatà completed his General Ophthalmology Residency and his Medical Retina Fellowship training at the Department of Ophthalmology of the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan. His main clinical interest is the diagnosis and treatment of AMD and diabetic retinopathy. He is co-author of two book chapters and has published a number of scientific papers in national and international journals including AKT Augenheilk, British Journal of Ophthalmology, Graefe s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology, and Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. Giuseppe Guarnaccia Ophthalmic Operating Centre, BMM Hospital, Reggio Calabria, Italy Giuseppe Guarnaccia is Director III of the Surgery Department and Director of the Ophthalmic Operating Centre at the BMM Hospital in Reggio Calabria, Italy. He graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Messina in 1977 with a Specialisation in Ophthalmology, completed at the Scientific Hospital San Raffaele in Milan in He became the Director of the Social Ophthalmic Centre of the Civil Hospital in Paola-Cetraro in 1993, followed by the position of Co-ordinator, and later Director, of the Ophthalmic Operative Centre. Dr. Guarnaccia took up his initial post at the BMM Hospital in Dr. Guarnaccia is a member of numerous Italian and international ophthalmological societies and has organised 10 international congresses of ophthalmology. He is also the recipient of various honours including the National AVIS Prize and the National IARVO Prize. Ugo Introini Department of Ophthalmology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy Ugo Introini is Managing Doctor of the Department of Ophthalmology at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan, Italy, where he is responsible for ocular angiography and medical retina maculopathy. He is tutor in Ophthalmology at the Università Vita-Salute, also in Milan. His main area of interest is diseases of the retina, particularly the diagnosis and treatment of maculopathy and retinal pathologies. Dr. Introini has served as Principal Investigator for many international multicentre clinical trials evaluating the use of antiangiogenic drugs in the treatment of AMD. He has authored a number of scientific publications in both national and international journals, frequently serves as a peer reviewer, and has attended and spoken at a number of international congresses. Adrian Koh Eye & Retina Surgeons, Camden Medical Centre, Singapore Adrian Koh is Founding Partner and Senior Consultant at the Eye & Retina Surgeons at Camden Medical Centre, Singapore. He is also Visiting Consultant to the Vitreoretinal Service at Singapore National Eye Centre and the Eye Institute at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Dr. Koh previously completed fellowships in Medical Retina at Moorfields Eye Hospital and the Institute of Ophthalmology in London, UK, and at the Jules Stein Eye Institute in Los Angeles, CA, USA. He is Vice President of the International Retina Foundation and the Founding Chairman and Honorary Adviser to the Retinitis Pigmentosa Society of Singapore. Dr. Koh was one of the first surgeons to introduce PDT to the Asia-Pacific region, and has pioneered both anti-vegf and combination therapy for patients with AMD. He has authored or edited many publications in the field of ophthalmology, and has received numerous awards.

17 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 17 Gabriele Lang Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany Gabriele Lang is Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Medical Retina and Laser Treatment division at the University of Ulm, Germany. She qualified at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany and trained in Ophthalmology at the same institution. Professor Lang s research mainly focusses on preclinical and clinical studies in diabetic retinopathy and AMD. Professor Lang was President of the German Society of Ophthalmology , President of the German Initiative Group of Early Detection of Diabetic Eye Disease (IFDA) and Vice President of the German Retinological Society She is Chief Editor of Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde, has authored/ co-authored over 170 peer-reviewed journal articles, written several book chapters and published a book on diabetic retinopathy. She is the Principal Investigator/Investigator for several clinical trials and is a member of numerous advisory boards, steering committees and safety committees. Paolo Lanzetta Department of Ophthalmology, University of Udine, Udine, Italy Paolo Lanzetta is Chaiman of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Udine, Italy. His main areas of interest are laser applications in ophthalmology; diagnosis and treatment of vitreous, retinal and macular diseases; and cataract surgery. Professor Lanzetta is actively involved in retinal clinical research and is currently an investigator in many international, multicentre, clinical trials on PDT and anti-angiogenic and newer drugs and delivery systems. With surgical experience in anterior and posterior segment procedures and laser treatments, Professor Lanzetta has given over 350 presentations at national and international meetings. He is a member of numerous professional societies, including ARVO and the Macula Society. As well as publishing over 170 original articles, Professor Lanzetta is a scientific reviewer for many journals and serves on the Editorial Board of the European Journal of Ophthalmology. Michael Larsen Department of Ophthalmology, Glostrup Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark Michael Larsen is Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the University of Copenhagen, and the Glostrup Hospital and National Eye Clinic of the Kennedy Center in Copenhagen, Denmark. He graduated from the Medical School of the University of Copenhagen in He became a Doctor of Medical Science in 1993 and has been Director of the Macula Service within the Department of Ophthalmology at Glostrup Hospital since Professor Larsen has carried out clinical and experimental research in retinopathy and noninvasive techniques for assessment of retinal function and structure. His research focusses on the relation between function, metabolism and perfusion in the retina under various types of metabolic challenges, including hypoperfusion, hypoxia and unstable glycaemia. Rosangela Lattanzio Department of Ophthalmology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, University Vita-Salute, Milan, Italy Rosangela Lattanzio is currently based at the Department of Ophthalmology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, University Vita-Salute in Milan, Italy, where she is Head of the Medical Retina Service Vasculopathies. She is researcher for many clinical projects and Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on several clinical trials, mainly those concerning retinal vascular diseases. She is Editorial Associate of the European Journal of Ophthalmology and a member of the Club Jules Gonin. She was recipient of an Academy Achievement Scholarship from the Italian Ministry of the University and Scientific and Technological Research; a Research Scholarship from the National Council of Research; the 2004 Research Kreissig Award; and the 2007 Italian Society of Ophthalmology (SOI) Project of Research. She is co-author of one book and 31 peer-reviewed publications.

18 18 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Won Ki Lee Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul St Mary s Hospital, Seoul, South Korea Won Ki Lee is Professor of the Department of Ophthalmology at Seoul St Mary s Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. He is currently Principal Investigator of the Posurdex trial in DME (Allergan), the EVEREST study (Novartis) and the VIEW 2 study (Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals). Professor Lee is a member of the Korean Medical Association, Korean Ophthalmological Society, ASRS and EURETINA, and is the current Secretary General of the Korean Ophthalmological Society. He has published numerous articles on subjects such as PCV, subfoveal CNV, PDT, diabetic retinopathy and myopia in journals such as the Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society, Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology, Retina and American Journal of Ophthalmology. He has given numerous presentations on PCV, PDT, CSC and CNV at international and national meetings. Jordi Monés Institut de la Màcula i de la Retina and Barcelona Macula Foundation, Barcelona, Spain Jordi Monés is an MD and PhD ophthalmologist, macular and vitreoretinal specialist, and a macular and retinal degeneration researcher. After graduating from the University of Barcelona, Spain, he specialised in Ophthalmology at the Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer. After this, he completed 3 years further training (including a Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary), and obtained his PhD at the University of Barcelona. He is currently the Director of the Institut de la Màcula i de la Retina and of the Barcelona Macula Foundation: Research for Vision. His interests encompass several areas of macular and retinal diseases, including wet and dry AMD, retinal transplant, and vitreoretinal and macular surgery. Dr. Monés is closely involved in most of the clinical trials conducted in international centres for the treatment of AMD. He has been widely published in scientific journals and books, and has given more than 200 talks at international meetings. Rafael Navarro Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular, Barcelona, Spain Rafael Navarro is a graduate of the Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain and completed his ophthalmology residency at the Hospital del Valle d Hebron in Barcelona in He subsequently worked as a retina specialist at two of the main public hospitals in Barcelona the Hospital de Sant Pau and the Hospital Clinic. He joined the Instituto de Microcirugía Ocular, where he is currently based, in Dr Navarro s clinical practice focusses on medical retina, particularly macular diseases, retinal vasculopathies and hereditary retinal dystrophies. He is actively involved in various international multicentre clinical trials investigating AMD and DME. He has written numerous publications and is a member of the AAO, EURETINA, Spanish Society of Ophthalmology, and Spanish Society of Vitreous and Retina. Athanasios Nikolakopoulos Ophthalmology Department, Papanikolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece Athanasios Nikolakopoulos is Chairman of the Ophthalmology Department of Papanikolaou Hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece and General Secretary of the Greek Ophthalmological Federation. After graduating from Aristotelio University, he studied for his fellowship in retinal diseases, glaucoma and inflammations at Addenbrooke s Hospital, Cambridge, and attended Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, UK. He became a Senior Registrar at Adenbrooke s Hospital and an Assistant at King s College London. Dr. Nikolakopoulos organised and directed the Retina Department of St Dimitrios Hospital of Thessaloniki and became Vice Director of the Ophthalmological Clinic of the hospital. He has been President of the Northern Greek Ophthalmological Society three times, President of the Greek Ophthalmological Federation, President of the Greek Retina Society twice and Board Member and General Secretary of the European Vitreoretinal Society (EVRS). Dr. Nikolakopoulos has been a Coordinator and Instructor for EVRS, Vitreoretinal School of Bremen, EURETINA and the World Congress in Hong Kong. He received the EURETINA Honorary Award in New York and Senior Honorary Award from the ASRS in Hawaii.

19 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 19 Emin Özmert Retina & Vitreous Unit, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Vehbi Koç Eye Hospital, Ankara, Turkey Emin Özmert is Head of Vitreoretinal Surgery at Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Vehbi Koç Eye Hospital in Ankara, Turkey. He graduated from Ankara University and completed his residency at the same institution. During this time, he also worked as a Vitreoretinal Research Fellow at Cornell University Medical Center, where he was involved in the development of liquid perfluorocarbons. After returning to Ankara University, he established the modern Vitreoretinal Surgery Unit, and pioneered the widespread training of vitreoretinal procedures. He was also responsible for introducing microendoscopic vitreoretinal surgery to Turkey. Professor Özmert s special research interests include endoscope-assisted vitreoretinal surgery, macular diseases and surgery, fundus autofluorescence, spectral OCT, and virtual vitreoretinal surgery training. He has authored/ co-authored over 170 scientific papers and five textbook chapters, and has participated in several international multicentre studies on anti-vegf therapy. He co-ordinated the 6th European School for Advanced Studies in Ophthalmology (ESASO) Surgical Retina Module in Ankara in September David E Pelayes Buenos Aires University and Maimonides University, Buenos Aires, Argentina David Pelayes is Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Buenos Aires and Maimonides Universities as well as Head of Retina and Oncology at the Hospital Carlos G Durand in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He graduated from Buenos Aires University in 1990 and subsequently studied at the Hospital José de San Martin and Hospital Carlos G Durand. Dr. Pelayes received his doctorate from the Buenos Aires University School of Medicine in He is the present General Secretary of EuroLam and Executive Vice President of the Pan American Society of Ocular Oncology. As well as being on the editorial committees of a number of ophthalmological journals and Editorin-Chief of Ophthalmic Research, he has authored chapters in various ophthalmological books, specialising in retinal and vitreous ophthalmology and ocular oncology. He has edited five books, presented almost 200 scientific lectures and authored 41 publications. Luisa Pierro Department of Ophthalmology at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy Luisa Pierro is Chief of the Diagnostic Imaging Unit at the Department of Ophthalmology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy. She is also a contract professor at the Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan. Dr. Pierro s main field of research is retinal diagnostics, with specific focus on ultrasound, ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and OCT. She has been an author/co-author of more than 150 scientific publications, including 64 in peer-reviewed journals. She is a member of the Editorial Board of ISRN Ophthalmology. Dr. Pierro has received awards for the best International Society for Ocular Trauma (ISOT) poster in 2006, the Italian Society of Ophthalmology (SOI) Research Project in 2007 and the best poster presentation at the 2008 AAO annual meeting. Dr. Pierro has spoken at and organised numerous international meetings. Giuseppe Querques University Paris XII, Paris, France Giuseppe Querques is Associate Professor at the Université Paris-Est Créteil, and Consultant Surgeon Ophthalmologist at the Créteil Eye Clinic, France. He earned his MD degree from the University of Bari, and completed his ophthalmology residency and PhD at the University of Foggia, Italy. His main topics of interest are medical retina (AMD, retinal vascular diseases, inherited macular and retinal dystrophies) and ophthalmic surgery (retina and cataract). Dr. Querques has contributed to more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, mainly in medical retina and is a scientific reviewer for several international peer-reviewed journals (including Ophthalmology, Retina and the British Journal of Ophthalmology). His main clinical and laboratory research interests are currently the diagnosis (imaging) and treatment of retinal diseases. Dr. Querques is the recipient of the 2005 prize of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and the 2008 prize of the SOE.

20 20 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Jiří Řehák Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital and School of Medicine, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic Jirí Rehák is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the Palacky University Hospital in Olomouc, Czech Republic. He graduated as a medical doctor in 1983, received his PhD in 1991, was appointed Associate Professor in 1996 and became a Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology in Professor Rehak s research is currently focussed on the pathophysiology and treatment of RVO, with particular emphasis on branch RVO. His other research interests include diabetic retinopathy and AMD. He has published over 100 papers on the pathophysiology and treatment of RVO, and has attended/spoken at a number of international congresses. Rufino Silva Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, and Ophthalmology Department, Coimbra University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal Rufino Silva is invited Professor of Ophthalmology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, and Head of the Medical Retina Unit at the Ophthalmology Department of the Coimbra University Hospital, Portugal. He is also an Investigator at the Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image (AIBILI) in Coimbra. Professor Silva specialises in diseases of the retina and vitreous, and his particular interests include AMD, diabetic retinopathy, myopia, macular oedema and CSC. He is a member of the Editorial Board of Ophthalmologica and Case Reports in Ophthalmology and of a number of scientific societies, including the Portuguese Society of Ophthalmology, AAO, Fluorescein Angiography Club (FAN), EURETINA, ARVO and Sociedad Espanola de Retina y Vitreo (SERV). Sobha Sivaprasad Moorfields Eye Hospital and King s College London, London, UK Sobha Sivaprasad is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and a Reader at King s College London, UK. She obtained her higher research degree from Cranfield University and King s College Hospital on the subject of Co-morbidity of age-related macular degeneration and atherosclerosis and obtained her Medical Retina Fellowship from Moorfields Eye Hospital. Dr. Sivaprasad has active clinical and laboratory research interests in AMD, diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular disorders. Her research focusses on biomarkers and modelling of retinal morphology in retinal diseases. She oversees several clinical trials in these areas and has over 70 peer-reviewed publications to her credit. Dr. Sivaprasad is the Retinal Section Editor of two journals and peer reviewer of several ophthalmic journals. Tomáš Sosna Department of Ophthalmology, Thomayer Memorial University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic Tomáš Sosna is currently Head of the Outpatient Department (Ophthalmology) at Thomayer Memorial University Hospital and the Centre of Diabetology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic. He received his medical degree in 1973 from Charles University in Prague and his PhD in 2000 from the same institution. After this, he completed his post-doctoral training at a number of different universities and hospitals, including the University of Homburg, Germany, and Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK. Since 2004, he has been an Associate Professor of Charles University. He is a member of the Czech Ophthalmologic Society, an international member of the AAO and the Elected Secretary of the Czech Vitreoretinal Society. Dr. Sosna s main research interest is in the area of diabetic retinopathy. He has been an author/co-author on more than 80 journal articles, and lectures regularly at international conferences and symposia.

21 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 21 Adnan Tufail Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK Adnan Tufail is currently a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Ophthalmology, UCL, London, UK, and Lead for AMD research at these institutions. He carried out his medical training at Guy s Hospital Medical School and ophthalmology training at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He then undertook training in uveitis at the Jules Stein Eye Hospital in Los Angeles, CA, USA, also completing a higher research degree during this time. He completed a 2-year fellowship in Medical Retina at Moorfields as well as spending a period of time at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, TN, USA with Dr. Gass. Mr. Tufail s research interests include novel treatments for AMD and diabetic retinopathy. Sebastian Wolf Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland Sebastian Wolf is Professor of Ophthalmology and Director of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern in Switzerland. He obtained his PhD and medical degrees from the Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule in Aachen, Germany, and completed his residency in Ophthalmology at the University of Aachen. His major clinical interests are in medical and surgical retina, with specific focus on AMD, diabetic retinopathy, RVO, imaging, vitreoretinal surgery and quality of life. Dr. Wolf has authored/co-authored over 160 peer-reviewed publications and serves on the editorial boards of various scientific journals including IOVS, Ophthalmologica and the European Journal of Ophthalmology. He is a frequent speaker at national and international meetings and is a member of many professional organisations, including the Retina Society, EURETINA, Club Jules Gonin and the AAO. He has been appointed an ARVO Gold Fellow and is serving as General Secretary of EURETINA.

22 22 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Floorplan Mezzanine level (ML) Chez Louis Salon Ex-Mex Ballroom Foyer Lunch Hilton Grand Ballroom Lunch Café Bistro Rooms Palmovka / Rokoska / Hercovka / Tyrolka Ex-Mex Elevator Area Rooms Karlin I. / II. / III. Ex-Mex Lobby level (L) Czechouse Restaurant Atrium Restaurant Lunch Hotel Main Entrance Reception Elevator Area Zest Bar Lunch Room Amsterdam Ex-Mex Rooms Athens / Barcelona Ex-Mex Rooms Berlin / Brussels Ex-Mex

23 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 23 Lower level (LL) Room Madrid Slide Preview Room Vienna Scientific Secretariat Room Roma Congress Secretariat Congress Hall Plenary Foyer Outside Entrance Parking

24 24 12th International AMD and Retina Congress Thank you from ESASO We would like to thank the main sponsors of this meeting, Novartis Pharma AG, for providing us with an unrestricted educational grant to allow such a great event to take place. Novartis Pharma AG has a long-established interest in the treatment of retinal diseases, having provided revolutionary therapies for over 10 years. The Session Chairs have made an exceptional contribution in their leadership of the scientific content of the meeting, including the development of the programme, liaising with Speakers in the preparation of their presentations. We would also like to offer them special thanks: as leading retina specialists, their expertise has been paramount in the preparation and execution of this meeting. We would also like to thank the Faculty for their dedication in delivering the presentations, chairing the overall meeting and the individual sessions and for sharing their knowledge during the meet-the-expert sessions. Their contribution throughout has been of the utmost quality and it is an honour to host so many talented retina specialists. Finally we would like to thank all the delegates for attending this meeting, and we hope to see them all again at the 13th congress next year. Delegate countries Argentina Finland Malta South Korea Australia France Netherlands Spain Austria Germany Norway Sweden Belgium Greece Poland Switzerland Canada India Portugal Taiwan China Ireland Russia Turkey Cyprus Israel Serbia UAE Czech Republic Italy Singapore UK Denmark Japan Slovakia USA Egypt Malaysia Slovenia

25 12th International AMD and Retina Congress 25 Organisation ORGANISING COMMITTEE Giuseppe Guarnaccia, Italy President, ESASO Foundation Member Organising Committee Prague 2012 Borja Corcóstegui, Spain Board Member, ESASO Foundation Member Organising Committee Prague 2012 Francesco Bandello, Italy Board Member, ESASO Foundation Member Organising Committee Prague 2012 SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Chairman Francesco Bandello, Italy Co-Chairs Neil M Bressler, USA Tomáš Sosna, Czech Republic Coordinators Maurizio Battaglia-Parodi, Italy Bruno Falcomatà, Italy CONGRESS ORGANISER ESASO c/o Università della Svizzera italiana Via Giuseppe Buffi Lugano Switzerland General Manager Gabriella Skala Skala Communications, Switzerland Scientific Secretary Helen Morgan, Leigh Usherwood, Shetal Gudka Chameleon Communications International, UK Professional Congress Organiser Luisa Marques, Isabel Oliveira, Joana Marques Meeting Point, Portugal We hope you will enjoy this year s congress, which we feel offeres further insight into the future of treating retinal diseases.