Direct line on the eve of the congress
Once again this year, one of the most important Italian refresher events for retina experts, 'Retina in progress', has arrived. It will take place from 11 to 13 June.
For frequent visitors, the location is new: our beautiful Florence.
We asked a few very quick questions to the Director and organiser, Dr Alfredo Pece, who is super-busy in the final days leading up to the Congress.
 What's new at this year's Congress?
The conference 'Retina in progress 2015', aims to describe and explore topics concerning retinal diseases, both medical and surgical.
If one had to single out the most interesting areas, I would say that in diagnostics, Angio-OCT is the absolute novelty.
Increasingly precise and sophisticated latest-generation OCTs make it possible to 'see' inside the retina the earliest lesions and to be able to intervene at the onset of the disease and obtain the best therapeutic results.
OCTs of up to 80,000 scans/second also make it possible to perform faithful and precise virtual retinal angiography, especially of the macular region. In these cases, therefore, no contrast medium is used, but the OCT itself.
It is easy to see that a new world is opening up both in research and in the evaluation of new retinal and choroidal vascular dynamics, and the analysis of neovascular net flows will also be revolutionary. Other news are the latest studies concerning intravitreal therapies now using more molecules, in almost all pathologies, especially diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration.
Finally in surgical retina the use of new dyes and advances in technology and endocular prostheses.
Why Florence?
After 15 years we moved 'Retina in progress' from Milan to Florence. There are various reasons for this. While on the one hand the contemporaneity of the EXPO is a great attraction, on the other hand the increase in costs and also the logistical difficulties advised us to change cities.
Let's not forget that the conference moves around 1,000 people and therefore has specific needs.
Florence is a magnificent city loved by all, especially by our foreign guests, with an excellent transport network.
Any symposium or report or initiative of particular note?
Personally, I would not yet give the golden palm to a specific report. Alongside the scientific congress event we also have 7 satellite courses that enrich the cultural level of the conference. I am very pleased to say that all the best Italian retinologists and some of the world's greatest are present, a parterre of great cultural depth.
I like to point out some slightly different reports such as state-of-the-art super-technological glasses also being tested, the interaction with specific diets for example to improve eye capacity in sport, also in connection with this year's EXPO topic, and why not playful aspects such as wine tastingguided tours and social dinners in beautiful places.
My affectionate thanks to Alfredo for the time he gave us and... best wishes for another thousand of these congresses!
For further information
http://www.symposiacongressi.eu/symposia/congressi/11/IT/
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
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Italian