A Spanish for the first time presiding over the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery

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The ophthalmologist surgeon Jose Luis Güell, president-elect of the largest ophthalmic company in Europe
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Prepare the 13th winter meeting of the Society to be held in February in Rome with crucial issues such as stem cells, genetic manipulation and ocular prosthesis

Dr. José Luis Güell, coordinator of the unit of cornea and refractive surgery in the Ocular Microsurgery Institute (IMO) in Barcelona, has become the first Spanish who chairs the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS). The specialist, who was Secretary of this Society from 2003 to 2007, was elected unanimously by the Board of Directors of the Company last September in Berlin.

The ESCRS, the most important ophthalmological society of Europe, aims to disseminate and train ophthalmologists in Europe through its two major annual conferences and activities organized with national societies in Europe. In addition, these meetings allow the trade to share knowledge and seek to improve the quality of care in Europe, especially in Eastern Europe and other countries of Asia and the Middle East. Also encourage certain attitudes and good practices in the exercise of the profession to prevent infection and prevent the onset of disease.

A presidency with crucial challenges
The thirteenth meeting of the ESCRS winter, which will take place from 6 to February 8 in Rome, will be the first to have a Spanish ophthalmologist and president-elect of the Society. The 1500 reunion will bring together specialists from across Europe on the table and put crucial challenges of the specialty, as the latest advances in cell culture with stem cells, genetic manipulation and artificial cornea implants (queratoprótesis), replacing the cornea. The latter technique is new to many European countries, which have not yet implemented.

Transplants without rejection and without reliance on donor quality
The use and applications of artificial cornea is a central theme of the meeting of ESCRS. Cell culture techniques and recent advances in genetic engineering are moving significantly in this field.

Thanks to the lamellar surgery, transplants can be made selective, by replacing only the damaged tissue and respecting the original structure of the cornea. For the moment such transplants have worked only in superficial layers of the eye and in most subsequent studies, but continue to cover all layers of the cornea. To achieve this, besides the skill of the surgeon are of great help new automated cutting devices, especially those based on femtosecond laser technology, allowing a more precise cut. The development and success of corneal tissue cultures are crucial to minimize the risk of rejection and greater independence of donations.

For the first time, those attending this meeting may attend a series of live, made from three hospitals and clinics in Rome. The surgeons were mostly Italian and some, among them, Dr. Jose Luis Güell, president-elect of the ESCRS.