OSEA holds its Annual Congress in Mombasa, Kenya

The 34^th congress of the Ophthalmological Society of East Africa (OSEA) was held in Whitesands Hotel Mombasa, Kenya from 20^th -21^st August, 2009. It was attended by 244 participants from 21 countries. Most participants came from East Africa with Kenya the host country predominating. Forty papers were delivered and there were 4 guest lecturers during the 2-day-meeting. This year for the first time there were 3 subspecialty satellite workshops in retina, oculoplastics & orbit and glaucoma facilitated by teams of specialists from the region and abroad. Attendance was good and it is expected that the impact will be felt in the teaching and clinical service programs across East Africa. The best paper award during the congress was won by Dr. EZ Ogando et al with the article ‘Lid scrubs with fornix irrigation vs. scrubs alone for pre-operative preparation in cataract surgery: a randomized controlled trial’. The Outstanding Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the development of eyecare in the region was won by Dr. Martin Kollmann, a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Department of Ophthalmology. Delegates also attended commercial exhibitions and special dinners.

ISRS/ AAO honors Dr. M. Alaa El-Danasoury with Kritzinger Award

The International society of Refractive Surgery of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (ISRS/AAO) has decided to honor Dr. M. Alaa El-Danasoury Kritzinger Award which is given to an individual who embodies the clinical, educational and investigative qualities of the late Dr. Micheal Kritzinger. Dr. Alaa will be awarded at this year’s ISRS/AAO meeting in San Francisco. Dr. Alaa is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh and is also the chair of the Scientific Committee of the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO). He was among the very first refractive surgeons to perform LASIK operations worldwide and the first to perform Phakic IOLs in the Middle East.

Dr. M. Alaa El-Danasoury

New President and Secretary General Get Elected for Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria

Recently held Congress of Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria saw the appointment of Dr. Kunle Hasan as its new President and Dr. Adeola Onakoya as its secretary general for the term of 2 years. The elections for the new cabinet were held recently during the congress of the society from 24^th-26^th September, 2009. MEACO takes the opportunity to congratulate Dr. Hasan and Dr. Onakoya and wishes the best for their future endeavors.

Dr. Kunle Hasan

Join the MEACO Subspecialty Societies

Are you an ophthalmologist in Africa or Middle-East planning to sub-specialize or update your subspecialty knowledge and skills? Are you an ophthalmologist in the Middle-East or Africa interested in sharing experiences and resources on clinical practices relating to your subspecialty?. If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, then hasten to join the MEACO Sub specialty societies at www.meaco.org/page.php?mdid=22.
The MEACO subspecialty societies were established in March 2009. They were set up to stimulate and enhance the development of ophthalmology subspecialties in the Middle-East and Africa regions through organizing subspecialty scientific meetings at national, regional and international conferences, providing forum for sharing and exchange of ideas and resources in subspecialty practices, development of regional management guidelines for ophthalmic conditions etc. There are currently 5 subspecialty societies. These are the:

• Middle East Africa Cataract and Refractive Surgery Society (MEACRS),
• Middle East Africa Glaucoma Society (MEAGS),
• Middle East Africa Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus society (MEAPOSS),
• Middle East Africa Oculoplastic Society (MEAOPS)
• Middle East Africa Vitreo retinal Society (MEAVRS).

Upcoming Issue of Middle East Africa Journal of Ophthalmology (MEAJO)

Middle East Africa Journal of Ophthalmology (MEAJO) is pleased to announce that the July-September 2009 Issue (Vol 16, No 3) will be available both online and in print in a few days. The theme for this issue is an "Update on Glaucoma Surgical Procedures" which will features review articles from distinguished experts in glaucoma around the globe. Besides glaucoma, this issue also contains other original articles of interest to ophthalmologists in the Middle East Africa region. Please contact your respective societies to reserve a print copy of this issue. Online issue of the journal is available on www.meajo.org

Saudi Ophthalmology 2010: Call for Abstracts

The Saudi Ophthalmology 2010 to be held on Feb 28^th – March 2^nd, 2010 is calling on interested participants for submitting their abstracts to the society before November 7^th, 2009. Participants who prefer submitting their abstracts online can do so by logging on to www.saudi-ophthalmology.org. This four-day event will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and will mark the 27^th Annual Symposium of King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH), the 23^rd Annual meeting of Saudi Ophthalmological Society (SOS), which is the 12^th Joint meeting between KKESH and SOS.

Bahrain Ophthalmological Association Organizes the 2^nd Arab Board Preparation Course

The Bahrain Ophthalmological Association along with the Ministry of Health in Kingdom of Bahrain are organizing the 2^nd Arab Board Preparation Course for Residents appearing for 2^nd part oral exams. The course would be held on 19^th-20^th November, 2009 at the Arabian Gulf University in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The course would be conducted by Arab Board Examiners who are currently involved in oral Arab Board exams.

To download the flyer and registration form, please click on the link below:

Download Here:
Course Information
Registration Form

Presenting Visual Acuities in a Referral Eye Center in an Oil-Producing Area of Nigeria

Waziri-Erameh etal in a retrospective study analyzed visual related problems in 6533 patients from the Niger Delta region that were seen from company clinics of large companies (company) or the general public (private) Low vision was more less common in company patients (16.9%) versus private (24.1%) and so was bilateral blindness (0.9% vs. 2.7%) and monocular blindness in 1.2% vs5.2%). Low vision and blindness were high in both groups in this oil-producing area but was more common in the in private than in the company patients. Middle East Africa Journal of Ophthalmology.

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Middle East Africa Council Of Ophthalmology (MEACO)