WCPOS V 2024 Day 3: A Grand Finale of Knowledge and Collaboration

As the echoes of last night’s memorable Gala Dinner faded, delegates, still basking in the glow of the interactive celebration, made their way back to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the final time. Day 3 of the 5th World Congress of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (WCPOS V 2024) is the last, but it’s certainly not the least.

The concluding day of WCPOS V 2024 started with a bang, featuring a thrilling battle of the minds. The energy from this intellectual face-off carried through the afternoon, which was packed with educational goodies. From the prestigious Kanski Medal Lecture to the highly-anticipated Strabismus Workshop, organizers provided numerous reasons for delegates to stay through to the closing ceremony. 

Pentathlon showdown

Day 3 of WCPOS V 2024 began with the inaugural Paediatric Ophthalmic Pentathlon at 7:30 AM sharp. Despite the early hour—and last night’s revelry—the atmosphere in Conference Hall 2 crackled with anticipation as four teams of five members prepared to compete. 

The distinguished panel of judges, including WSPOS Co-founder Prof. Ken Nischal (UK/USA), Dr. Kyle Arnoldi-Jolley (USA) and Dr. Meenakshi Swaminathan (India), brought their expertise and keen eyes to ensure fair and accurate scoring throughout the event.

The event featured five intense rounds, challenging the participants with tasks ranging from unscrambling ophthalmic terms to short presentations of rare surgical cases. Each round tested the teams’ knowledge, speed and collaboration, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. With multiple tie-breakers needed to determine the ultimate victor, the competition grew even fiercer.

After a series of nail-biting rounds, Team D emerged victorious. Comprised of Dr. Ahmed Awadein (Egypt), Dr. Edward Wilson (USA), Dr. Nilutparna Deori (India), Dr. Connie Lai (Hong Kong) and Dr. Feti Karfiati Memed (Indonesia), their combined expertise and quick thinking shone through, earning them the top spot in the pentathlon.

As the champions celebrated their hard-fought victory, the camaraderie and spirit of the event underscored the global collaboration and dedication to advancing pediatric ophthalmology. Read our full story here for detailed round-by-round commentary.

Eyes of tomorrow

The morning symposium on emerging therapeutics for pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus offered a fascinating glimpse into the cutting-edge technologies and treatments shaping the future of eye health for young patients. 

Dr. Mattheiu Robert (France) started the session with an in-depth look at bag-in-the-lens (BIL) implantation for infantile cataracts. While acknowledging the complexity of this technique, he highlighted its significant benefits in optimizing visual outcomes and minimizing complications.

Next, Dr. Asman Ali (Canada) introduced the concept of cornea neurotization to treat pediatric neurotrophic keratopathy (PNK). This innovative treatment improves corneal sensation, overall ocular health and vision, aiming to enhance healing, reduce epithelial defects and prevent severe complications like ulcers and scarring.

Dr. Jolene Rudell (USA) presented a groundbreaking approach to strabismus treatment using neurotrophic factors. This method showed potential to modify extraocular muscle and neuronal characteristics in strabismus models. She hypothesized that local neurotrophic factor treatment likely mitigates the abrupt changes following surgery which would lead to more stable and longer-lasting outcomes.

Professor Ken Nischal wrapped up the session with a discussion on novel topical ocular agents—insulin and losartan—for treating persistent epithelial defects (PED). He emphasized the non-invasive, affordable and accessible nature of topical insulin and the crucial role insulin-like growth factors (IGF) play in the growth, differentiation and proliferation of corneal epithelial cells. Losartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, showed promise in reducing scarring associated with PED and improving healing.

For a deeper understanding of these emerging therapeutics, read our full coverage of the symposium here.

Top tips for surgical pediatric retina

The pediatric surgical retina session did not disappoint. Delegates were privy to first-hand surgical pearls from some of the region’s best in this sub-speciality. 

Throughout the session, Drs. Manoharan Shunmugam (Malaysia), Andrew Tsai (Singapore), Wai-Ching Lam (Hong Kong), Gavin Tan (Singapore) and Pei-Chang Wu (Taiwan) led attendees through case studies and the ins and outs of the detection, treatment and management of pediatric retinopathies— from pediatric IOL fixation, pediatric Coats disease, juvenile retinoschisis, to familial exudative vitreoretinopathy and retinal detachment. Be sure to read the full details of our report of this session, here. 

Corneal crusader

The prestigious Kanski Medal, awarded to an eye care professional whose contributions have profoundly impacted children’s eye care despite not being a pediatric ophthalmologist, was presented this year to Prof. Dr. Shigery Kinoshita of the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan. 

In the early 1980s, while at the Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston, Dr. Kinoshita established the concept of the centripetal movement of the corneal epithelium. This groundbreaking idea significantly influenced the development of corneal stem cell theory, laying the foundation for many advances in the field.

Dr. Kinoshita’s prolific career includes over 670 published articles and an impressive H-index of 98, alongside holding more than 39 patents worldwide. His notable scientific achievements include pioneering cultivated endothelial cell injection therapy for corneal endothelial failure, developing amniotic membrane transplantation and advancing oral mucosal epithelial stem cell transplantation for severe ocular surface disease. 

Additionally, he proved the clinical efficacy of topical ROCK-inhibitor application for partial endothelial dysfunction, revolutionizing therapies for corneal endothelial dysfunction.

The awards and honors Dr. Kinoshita has received are too numerous to list, a testament to his enduring influence and exceptional contributions to ophthalmology. During his lecture at the conference, he captivated the audience with his insights into innovative approaches for managing key pediatric corneal diseases, sharing new treatment strategies that promise to further enhance pediatric eye care.

As delegates listened intently to Dr. Kinoshita’s lecture, it was clear that his work continues to inspire and shape the future of pediatric ophthalmology, making him a most deserving recipient of the Kanski Medal.

Mastering strabismus surgery

The highly anticipated Strabismus Workshop was a standout event on the last day of WCPOS V 2024, packing a punch with 16 instructors demonstrating 10 advanced techniques—all within 75 minutes. Given its popularity and limited space, participants had to book their spots ahead of time, ensuring an eager and engaged audience. 

With procedures such as resection and inferior tenotomy (Dr. Yee Fong Choong, Malaysia), transposition techniques (Dr. Claudio Polo, Argentina) and rectus muscle plication (Dr. Edward Wilson, USA), delegates left the workshop inspired and equipped with new surgical skills to take back to their practices.

As the curtain fell on WCPOS V 2024, the energy and enthusiasm that defined the conference lingered in the air. Over the course of just three days, delegates gained a wealth of knowledge, forged new connections and renewed their passion for pediatric eye care. The event was a testament to the power of education, diversity and collaboration in the relentless pursuit of excellence in pediatric ophthalmology. 

Before we bid adieu, be sure to follow our Conference Coverage page for updates and highlights from future ophthalmology events. Selamat tinggal, until next time.

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.