APAO 2018 in Asia's world city
APAO 2018 President Professor Charles McGhee (in blue) with conference organisers Profs Dennis Lam and Clement Tham and Dr Carmen Chan

APAO 2018 in Asia's world city

May 14, 2018 Dr Stuti Misra

This year, the 33rd Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress was held in "Asia’s world city", Hong Kong, where we were welcomed by unseasonably cold weather. The congress itself, however, warmed up the atmosphere quickly with more than 5,200 delegates from 87 countries attending; predominantly ophthalmologists, but also optometrists and vision scientists from across the world. Perhaps in honour of own Professor Charles McGhee, chair of ophthalmology at the University of Auckland and new APAO president, delegates were warmly welcomed by kilt-wearing, bagpipe players at the opening ceremony. 

This year's meeting lived up to its theme, 'Creativity and technology without boundaries’, offering many opportunities for young clinician-scientists to interact with their seasoned and experienced peers across the spectrum of ophthalmology and lots of news about new technological advances.  

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) using ‘deep learning’ – complicated software algorithms that allow powerful computers to "learn" from large datasets – is expected to revolutionise retinal examination. Deep learning uses artificial neural networks that allow machines to process and perceive the world in a similar way to humans, but with far, far greater speed and accuracy and without any bias. A research study in Thailand used this modality for diabetic retinopathy screening studies. According to the Thai researcher Dr Paisan Ruamviboonsuk, the very same technology may also be able to process retinal images to predict refractive errors, cardiovascular risk and cancer biopsies. AI certainly became a virtual theme (pun intended!) of the conference. In fact, one session was dedicated just to AI-based screening with presentations focusing on diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. 

Another entertaining yet equally educational session from this year's APAO meeting, was the ‘Ophthalmic premier league’, where four teams, in team jerseys no-less and accompanied by music galore, discussed challenging and complicated cataract cases together with different, potential lines of action. The resulting laugh-riot was full of confusion yet still delivered some excellent pearls to deal with unusual characters and cataracts. 

As APAO president, Prof McGhee had a busy schedule with a number of different speaking engagements, including seven scientific lectures! These ranged from the truly educational, on iris melanoma and corneal transplants, to some more entertaining ones, including, ‘Chevalier Taylor, the oculist who blinded Handel and Bach: self-promoting quack or the target of fake news’. The lecture was as informative as its intriguing title! 

Technological advances were also on the menu of the corneal surgery symposium where advances in corneal endothelial surgery were discussed at great length. Although several ‘improved’ versions of endothelial keratoplasties have emerged, it is not clear whether they lead to better outcomes in terms of vision, according to Dr Sanjay Patel (Mayo Clinic, USA). Professor Donald Tan of Singapore National Eye centre also explained about alternative surgical approaches including ‘no touch’ and ‘hybrid-’.

There were a significant number of invited lectures by New Zealand-based ophthalmology professors, lecturers and post-doctoral fellows. The anterior segment and cornea was well covered by Auckland’s clinical and laboratory-based research team. Professor Dipika Patel discussed imaging the inflamed cornea; Dr Rasha Al-Taie lectured on corneal transplantation in a paediatric population; Dr Akilesh Gokul tackled the biomechanical properties of the cornea and keratoconus management: Professor Trevor Sherwin and Dr Jie Zhang delivered lectures on stem cells; while I presented on imaging the cornea with systemic diseases. 

New Zealand's contingent was not only a significant part of this internationally-renowned conference in terms of lectures and free paper presentations, but we also won a couple of awards! Dr Samantha Simkin won the best scientific free paper award for, ‘Wide-field Digital Imaging and Telemedicine for Retinopathy of Prematurity: The Auckland Experience’ in the Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus category; while Salim Ismail, Jane McGhee and Prof Sherwin won the best video award, ‘Die Another Day: The Journey of a stem cell sphere to fulfil the promise of regenerative medicine’

The conference also played host to some star-studded social events! While the opening ceremony was a colourful musical event, the gala dinner had a few heart-touching performances by a group of blind musicians and a cheerful band of school kids. To conclude the evening, a seven-course dim sum meal delighted our pallets! APAO also organised its third charity run to raise funds for Blind Sports Hong Kong and the new APAO Satellite Congress educational programme. 

Overall, the 33rd APAO had numerous glitzy moments of science, innovation and entertainment. I am particularly looking forward to finding out more about the role of artificial intelligence and deep learning in ophthalmology at the next APAO annual meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, from 6-9 March 2019. 

About the author

Dr Stuti Misra is a lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Auckland. Her research revolves around ocular surface and imaging in corneal disorders and systemic diseases.