‘Debate Corner’ was introduced as a new feature of the Euretina Congress at the 2023 meeting. Based on the large standing room only crowd in attendance at the first of these sessions held in a corner of the Exhibit Hall, the format is a huge success.
The purpose of the Debate Corners is to showcase expert opinions on important topics in the world of retina. Three sessions, each running 1 hour in length, are scheduled during the Congress. Each session features two debates and moderator-led discussions.
The first Debate Corner held on Thursday afternoon featured Dr Stela Vujosevic, Italy, arguing that biomarkers can be used to determine if steroids versus anti-VEGF agents are more appropriate to treat DME. Dr Sobha Sivaprasad, United Kingdom, defended the opposing opinion. Both speakers began their presentations with case examples as anecdotal evidence to support their viewpoint and went on to review findings from selected published studies to provide more concrete substantiation.
Nevertheless, Dr Vujosevic and Dr Sivaprasad arrived at the same main conclusion that there remains a need for high quality clinical trials to confirm a role of potential biomarkers for guiding treatment selection for patients with DME.
The second debate focused on the idea that multi-target therapy for treating neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) offers superior durability compared to mono-target therapy with an anti-VEGF agent. Colleagues from Israel, Dr Dinah Zur and Dr Michaela Goldstein, were the speakers for the for and against views, respectively.
More chances to participate
Attendees who missed the first Debate Corner have two more chances to catch one of these educational and enjoyable sessions. Debate Corner 2 will be held on Friday, 06. October, from 10:45 to 11:45 CEST. Attendees will hear the first set of speakers address the question of whether or not higher doses of existing intravitreal drugs can be beneficial in the management of nAMD. Speakers in the second debate of the session will present opposing views on the idea that presence of macular neovascularization on OCTA is predictive of subsequent exudation.
Debate Corner 3 is taking place on Saturday, 07. October, 10:45 – 11:45 CEST. Leading off the programme, speakers will argue for and against the safety and benefit of vitrectomy in the management of significant vitreous opacities. The session will conclude with a debate on the practicality of intraoperative OCT in vitreoretinal surgery.