WCPOS V 2024 Day 2: Forging New Paths in Pediatric Eye Care

Day 2 of the 5th World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (WCPOS V 2024) dawned with renewed vigor, as delegates streamed in to build upon the momentum of captivating sessions and lively discussions from Day 1. The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) hummed with anticipation, echoing the footsteps of researchers and specialists eager to dive into the latest in pediatric eye care. 

Early morning showers dampened the pavements of Kuala Lumpur, but not the spirits of WCPOS V 2024 delegates. Far from dismal, the cloudy skies offered respite from the hot sun as the day’s exciting menu of events whetted the appetites of conference-goers. 

Charting a path in ophthalmology and life

The first plenary session of the day was a treasure trove of wisdom for young ophthalmologists, with a delightful blend of insights from three rising stars—Dr. Wai Yong Zheng (Malaysia), Dr. Helena Hurairah (Brunei) and Dr. Widya Anandita (Indonesia)—alongside the sage advice of Dr. Diva Kant Misra (India). 

Moderator Dr. Sudhashini Chandrasekaran began the session with an engaging address to the young ophthalmologists in the crowd, stating, “The crucial decisions you make now can affect the trajectory of your life.” Her words set the tone for a discussion that would navigate the challenging yet rewarding journey from residency to post-residency, and beyond, while also balancing home life. 

From dealing with mistakes in surgery (Dr. Zheng) and giving yourself “me time” post-residency (Dr. Hurairah) to managing “mom guilt” (Dr. Anandita) and creating leadership opportunities (Dr. Misra), all four presenters offered invaluable pearls, enriched with personal anecdotes that made the session incredibly relatable. 

Healing little eyes

One of the morning symposia on Day 2 brought together experts in pediatric eye injuries to discuss the unique challenges and innovative solutions for preserving visual function in young patients.

Dr. Inez Wong (Singapore) emphasized prevention strategies to mitigate ocular trauma, highlighting the importance of adult supervision during play, the use of protective sports eyewear and restricting access to airguns and fireworks. 

Focusing on pediatric eyelid trauma, Dr. Jamalia Rahmat (Malaysia) underscored the importance of restoring normal function through meticulous canaliculi repair and recommended the use of stents to facilitate mucosal healing and prevent obstruction. 

Next, Dr. Naomi Tan (United Kingdom) explored the critical aspects of managing globe ruptures in children, stressing the importance of taking an accurate history and applying minimal pressure on the globe during surgery. 

Prof. Jaspreet Sukhija (India) offered insights into managing traumatic cataracts, noting the complexity of surgeries due to associated ocular injuries. He emphasized the importance of preoperative ultrasound, careful IOL power calculations, and advised the use of posterior optic capture and intracameral steroids to improve outcomes.

Dr. Rasheena Bansal (India) ended the session with her talk on strabismus following trauma. She explained its restrictive and paralytic manifestations and recommended an initial conservative treatment approach, but highlighted the need for surgical intervention when misalignment persists. 

For a deeper dive into the latest advancements in pediatric eye injury management, read our full symposium synopsis here. 

Pearls and wisdom on pediatric cornea

Day 2’s pediatric cornea symposium was packed with pearls (and wisdom!), straight from each presenter’s real-world clinical cases. 

From advice on identifying and treating rare corneal diseases (Dr. Meena Lakshmipathy; India), with emphasis on the role of imaging (Dr. Asim Ali from Canada and Dr. Gerald Zaidman from USA), to the ins and outs of pediatric keratoplasty (Dr. Nikolas Ziakas; Greece) and corneal infections (Dr. Merle Fernandes; India)… the sight-saving tips from these experts provided the audience with practical solutions that would change the lives of their pediatric patients. 

In the end, all the presenters agreed that the choice of therapeutic strategies and other decision-making in corneal conditions becomes challenging when children are involved. Do not miss our full coverage of this symposium here.

The spectacle lens trend

In the Exhibition Hall, the Poster and Video Villages were bustling hubs of discovery, showcasing presentations on diverse topics, including myopia. One standout poster by Norazman et al. showed that defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) spectacle lenses effectively controlled myopia progression without affecting accommodative functions in the children studied.¹

Among the many attendees drawn to the myopia-related discussions was Dr. Sun Chen-Hsin, a pediatric myopia specialist at the National University Hospital in Singapore. Reflecting on the vibrant atmosphere, Dr. Sun shared, “I arrived and saw all these booths with a lot of treatments and therapies for myopia.” 

“My mentor, Inez Wong, mentioned that the level of commercial sponsorship wasn’t there the past few WSPOS conferences,” he added. “It’s very exciting to see big industry players offering us options to help control childhood myopia.”

Dr. Sun was particularly impressed by the EssilorLuxottica lunch symposium held on Day 1, which presented a study on combination therapy with atropine eye drops and Stellest myopia control spectacle lenses. “They gave very good results,” he said. “I know it works. I have a lot of patients on this combination, and they don’t progress at all.” 

He elaborated on the significance of this study, noting, “Not many have done a study like this because there’s not much commercial interest in atropine. It’s a generic drug that companies can’t protect, so nobody has done a study until now.”

Sight is a right

Following the afternoon break, Conference Halls 1, 2 and 3 filled with delegates eager to hear from the non-strabismus keynote speaker, Prof. Dr. P. Vijayalakshmi (India). Fondly known as “Viji Madam” this decorated Chief Medical Consultant of Pediatric Ophthalmology at Aravind Eye Hospital has been a beacon of knowledge and dedication in her field.

In 1990, Prof. Vijayalakshmi launched an 18-month fellowship program in pediatric ophthalmology and has since significantly contributed to various childhood blindness programs under the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). 

Her commitment to education resonates with the ethos of WSPOS, having trained 140 national and international fellows. Not only does Prof. Vijayalakshmi share her expertise in ophthalmology, but she also teaches leadership, multitasking, time management skills and the importance of balancing work and family. 

Prof. Vijayalakshmi’s keynote address focused on transforming visual disability into ability in children. “Sight is a right, not a privilege,” she asserted, emphasizing the need for proactive attitudes in the field. “‘Nothing can be done’ can never be the solution,” she continued, highlighting her belief in the relentless pursuit of solutions.

As Prof. Vijayalakshmi signed off on her lecture, the room full of delegates erupted in a standing ovation. Her words and work, no doubt, left a profound impact on the audience, inspiring those in attendance to push the boundaries of what’s possible in pediatric ophthalmology.

Following the celebration of Prof. Vijayalakshmi’s achievements, delegates will gather for the Gala Dinner—an opportunity to unwind, forge new connections and reflect on the day’s revelations. As the congress enters its final stretch, Day 3 holds the promise of further discoveries and collaborations. Stay tuned for our last day of reporting here in Kuala Lumpur!

Reference

1. Norazmam FNN, Ali BM, Fadzil NM, et al. The impact of wearing defocus incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) spectacle lens on visual functions and accommodation in myopic children in Kuala Lumpur (poster). The 5th World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. July 12, 2024.

Editor’s Note: Reporting for this article occurred at the 5th World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (WCPOS V 2024) from 11-13 July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.