Latest news & inspiring updates! | Newsletter WAEH
Warm welcome – CLDO – CCO New associate member from Brazil
The World Association of Eye Hospitals warmly congratulates CLDO Centro de Laser e Diagnose Ocular and CCO Centro Cearense de Oftalmologia from Fortaleza, Brazil, on their associate membership of the WAEH! We are looking forward to the valuable cooperation ahead.
As we look ahead, the WAEH is excited about the potential and contributions that this eye hospital will bring to the organization. Together, we will work towards a brighter future for eye healthcare worldwide, fostering advancements and making a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals with eye-related conditions.
Want to know more: join the upcoming annual meeting to meet the team of CLDO – CCO!!
35 years of S:t Erik Eye Hospital!
Dear WAEH colleagues,
My name is Sten Kjellström, CEO of S:t Erik Eye Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.
This autumn, we are celebrating 35 years of S:t Erik as a specialized eye hospital. As part of our celebration, we are organizing a public Eye Week focusing on eye health and research, and we would love to include greetings from our WAEH family around the world.
We kindly invite you to send a short video greeting (around 30 seconds) where you:
- Introduce yourself
- Mention your hospital and country
- Share a warm message to celebrate ophthalmology, collaboration, and the future of eye care
You’re very welcome to speak in your native language – we will add English subtitles. A simple phone video is perfect!
👉 Please upload your video no later than October 7 using this link: https://www.dropbox.com/request/E7PoiP8KuCRppqnDVv1F
This is a great opportunity to also promote your hospital and work as part of a global tribute to eye care.
Thank you in advance – your contribution will be a meaningful part of our celebration.
Only one week left until the 19th WAEH Annual Meeting! This year’s edition promises to be more inspiring and impactful than ever.
With three outstanding hosts – Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin & Fondation Asile des Aveugles in Lausanne (Switzerland), and Hôpital National des Quinze-Vingts & Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild in Paris (France) – and a program packed with innovation, inspiration, and connections to bring back to your own hospital, this is an event you simply can’t miss.
Are you ready for the 19th Annual WAEH Meeting?
Abstracts
The diversity of topics makes this an unmissable opportunity for professionals to enrich their knowledge and take advantage of valuable networking opportunities.
Curious about the abstracts?
Programme
This year’s programme showcases a strong collection of abstracts, reflecting the newest advancements and innovations in the field.
Check out the latest version of the programme here:
If anything is missing or incorrect in your abstract or the programme, please email maaike.vanzuilen@waeh.org
Sponsors of the 19th Annual WAEH Meeting
Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) visits The Rotterdam Eye Hospital
The Rotterdam Eye Hospital was honored to welcome colleagues from the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) once again begin September. During this inspiring visit, both organizations exchanged insights and shared best practices in patient care, innovation, and organizational development.
The long-standing collaboration between SNEC and The Rotterdam Eye Hospital highlights the value of international partnerships in improving ophthalmic healthcare worldwide.
Clinical trial investigates ‘Light Touch’ approach to wet AMD treatment
A clinical trial led by NIHR Moorfields Clinical Research Facility will explore a new ‘light-touch’ treatment approach for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) that could result in fewer injections and reduced number of clinic visits.
Funded by Roche, the trial will compare two treatment strategies for patients who have been receiving regular intravitreal injections and are eligible to switch to faricimab (VABYSMO®, Hoffmann-La Roche), an anti-angiogenic agent that patients are increasingly being switched to in order to stem the leaking of retinal blood vessels causing vision loss.
The first strategy, currently used for patients switching over to faricimab, is an initial course of three, monthly intravitreal injections followed by a personalised schedule of injections tailored for the patient according to the level of disease progression.
The second, light touch regimen is a single initial injection at the time of switching over, followed immediately by a personalised schedule of injections.
Insights from the last Community of Practice for Human Resources!
On September 11, 2025, HR professionals from eye hospitals around the world came together online to tackle shared challenges; from staff well-being and burnout prevention to recognition, compensation, and work-life balance.
Speakers from Pakistan (Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital) and Chile (Clinica Oftalmologia Pasteur) shared inspiring practices in structuring HR systems, wellness & staff safety, and promoting inclusion.
Want the full story and details on group insights & outcomes? Check out the recording at the KnowledgeHub.
All members have access to the Knowledge Hub. Forgot your password? E-mail maaike.vanzuilen@waeh.org
About the Community of Practice for Human Resources
The group meets via Zoom every three months. Please note that your eyehospital must be a member of the WAEH to join these meetings. If your eye hospital is not a member, you will not be able to participate.
The Human Resources Community of practice takes place once every three months. This group meets to discuss topics such as Handholding – From Volunteer to Career, Employment model(s) in ophthalmology, Task differentiation and Burn out prevention. The group will share best practices and learn from each other. This group is led by Jos Hubers from The Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and Angela Smith from the Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Jos Hubers
The Rotterdam Eye Hospital,
The Netherlands
Angela Smith
Moorfields Eye Hospital,
United Kingdom
Find more information about the Community of Practice here.
Register for community of practice
Insights from the last Community of Practice for Nurses and Allied Health Personnel
On September 18, 2025, the Community of Practice session focused on advanced practice roles in ophthalmology, with input from Australia, Ireland, Brazil, and beyond. The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (Melbourne) shared a successful model where orthoptists take on tasks usually performed by junior doctors in acute eye care. The aim is to develop an international framework and toolkit to support wider adoption of such roles. While practices differ across countries, there was broad agreement that advanced practice can help tackle the global shortage of ophthalmologists. Next steps include pilot projects with international partners and presentations at the annual meeting in Paris (October 2025).
Want the full story and details on group insights & outcomes? Check out the recording at the KnowledgeHub.
All members have access to the Knowledge Hub. Forgot your password? E-mail maaike.vanzuilen@waeh.org
About the Community of Practice for Nurses & Allied Health Personnel
The group meets via Zoom every three months. Please note that your eyehospital must be a member of the WAEH to join these meetings. If your eye hospital is not a member, you will not be able to participate.
The Community of Practice for Nurses and Allied Health personnel is for all nurses and allied health personnel working in eye hospitals worldwide. This group is led by Tendai Gwenhure from Moorfields, London, United Kingdom, and Diana Malata from Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Tendai Gwenhure
Moorfields, London, United Kingdom
Diana Malata
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Find more information about the Community of Practice here!
Register for the Community of Practice
October
Friday, 3 October
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Medical retina pathways consent course
Saturday, 4 October
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Ophthalmic emergency study day
Tuesday, 7 October – Saturday, 11 October
19th Annual WAEH Meeting in Switzerland and France: Check out the event website
Tuesday, 7 October
WAEH Board Meeting: in person meeting in Switzerland and France – want to share ideas with the board? Please share:
Thursday, 16 October
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Pregnancy considerations in women with eye disease: for non-ophthalmologists
Thursday, 16 October
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Vitreoretinal emergencies: A practical guide for health care professionals
Wednesday, 22 October
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Eye Emergencies for the non-ophthalmologist
Saturday, 25 October
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Myopia control in children
November
Monday, 3 November – Monday 1 December
4- week online course by Aravind Eye Care System
Online Course on Project Management for Eye Care
Wednesday, 5 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Basic slit lamp and Goldmann tonometry study day
Thursday, 6 November, 12.00noon CET
WAEH Board Meeting: want to share ideas with the board? Please share:
11 & 12 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Fundoscopy training programme
12th – 29th November
17 day (in person) course by Aravind Eye Care System
Community Outreach and Social Marketing of Eye Care Services
Thursday 13 November, 04.00 PM CET
Aravind – Maastricht University (location)
Ganesh Babu Balu Subburaman – defending Thesis
Thursday, 13 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: The Moorfields consultant interview course
Friday, 14 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Implementing a non-medical intravitreal injection service
19 or 20 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Therapeutics CPD course for optometrists
Friday, 21 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Moorfields cornea focus 2025
Saturday, 22 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Biometry study day
Wednesday, 26 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Paediatric eye emergencies for the non-paediatric ophthalmologist
Friday, 28 November
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Oculoplastic nursing and allied professionals study day
December
Thursday, 4 December, 01.00 pm CET
WAEH Community of Practice Human Resources
Friday, 5 December
Workshops by Moorfields Education: Moorfields corneal suturing and penetrating keratoplasty wet lab
Thursday, 11 December, 01.00 pm CET
WAEH Community of Practice for Nurses and Allied Health Personnel
2026
January
Saturday, 31 January
WAEH Project Proposals 2026 – Deadline: Check out the projects on the website
February
11-24 February
Management Training for Eye Care Programme Managers by Aravind Eye Care System
Questions? Share news?
Do you have a special request? Would you like to organize a webinar or share news? Would you like to be (digitally) connected to a certain person in one of our member eye hospitals? Please feel very welcome to share your questions via the new Community Tool or contact Maaike van Zuilen: