WAEH August Newsletter 2025
Get Ready for the 19th WAEH Annual Meeting!
We are counting down the days to the 19th WAEH Annual Meeting – and 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.
Check out the latest version of the programme here: www.waeh.org/waeh-19th-annual-meeting-2025/programme-waeh20205-meeting/
NEW THIS YEAR!!
Round Tables; Learning, Sharing, and Inspiring
🗓️ Saturday 11th, October
⏰ 13:00 – 14:00
The Round Tables are all about exchanging knowledge and experiences within our global network in an interactive way: from the value of narrative medicine for both caregivers and patients, to the impact of strategic philanthropy in eye care. From the topics coming from our Communities of Practice, for Human Resources, Nurses & Allied Health Personnel to the new upcoming Community of Practice – Innovation & Science, showcasing cutting-edge projects such as the use of AI to support pediatric orthokeratology.
With laptop presentations and interactive discussions, the Round Tables promise to be a unique opportunity to learn together, reflect, and gain fresh inspiration.
Quality of Care
Fundraising
Communities of Practice
Human Resources
Nurses & Allied Health Personnel
Innovation & Science
WAEH Board Member Election
Is your hospital a full member of the WAEH and are you the person representing your hospital in the WAEH network?
If so, you can apply to become a board member of the WAEH.
This year five board members from the current board will need to step down due to the board member structure in place. These are represents from the following eyehospitals:
- Singapore National Eye Centre
- Rotterdam Eye Hospital
- Wilmer Eye Institute
- King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
- Aier Eye Hospital Group
Please note that board members who step down can also go for re-election in the same year they step down.
Would you like to become a board member of the WAEH?
You can apply online via: https://form.jotform.com/211941678449063
Please note that your application will be treated strictly confidential and will be just reviewed by the support team of the WAEH (Maaike van Zuilen, Wim Oosterom).
Deadline to send in your application: Deadline Friday September 12.
After the application process has ended, all full members of the WAEH will receive a link to the voting form to select the new board member from the members that applied for board membership.
PS: Is your eye hospital currently an associate member, but you think your eye hospital is ready to grow into full membership? Please feel free to contact Maaike van Zuilen via
The outcomes will be presented during the member meeting part II – at the annual meeting of the WAEH in France (Saturday October 11).
Bring on the music!
Join the first WAEH Band In Switzerland
During the WAEH meeting in Switzerland, we have a special evening planned for you at the Welcome Dinner, taking place on Tuesday evening October 7.
Enjoy the smooth sounds of a live jazz band, discover the rich flavours of Swiss wines during a wine tasting, and take in the breathtaking views over Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains.
And we have a surprise… 🎺🎸🥁
This year, we invite all guests to bring their own musical instrument – no matter how big or small. Together, we’ll create the first-ever WAEH Band! Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just want to join in for the fun, this will be a unique way to connect with your colleagues from around the world.
So pack your instrument, warm up your vocal cords, and get ready for an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and WAEH spirit!
19th Annual WAEH Meeting
7 October – 11 October
What’s waiting for you?
Presentations from leading eye hospitals worldwide – your fellow members will share cutting-edge innovations, best practices, and inspiring lessons learned.
- Visits to our three host hospitals to see how they deliver excellence in eye care.
- Interactive round tables on AI, innovation, and quality of care.
- The two-part WAEH Member Meeting – including a lively discussion on the new strategy for 2026–2031.
- Special evening programs, from a jazz night with Swiss wine tasting overlooking Lake Lausanne, to a unique evening in Paris with dinner on a boat on the Seine!
Ready to join?
Now is the time to start planning your trip!
- Book your hotel in Lausanne and Paris as soon as possible – October is a busy month in both cities.
- Schedule your flights to make the most of this unique dual-city event.
- Book the train from Lausanne to Paris on October 9 in the morning.
- Prepare to connect with eye care leaders from all over the world and bring fresh ideas home.
❤️ Why you should be there
This isn’t just a conference – it’s a global gathering of the WAEH community. It’s where innovation meets collaboration, and where you can help shape the future of eye hospital management and patient care.
📅 Dates: 7–11 October 2025
📍 Locations: Lausanne, Switzerland & Paris, France
🔗 Learn more
Book your hotel for the Annual Meeting!
Lausanne, Switzerland | Dates: 6 – 9 October
Hôtel de la Paix (****)
To make reservations: WAEH exclusive booking link
Lausanne Palace (*****)
To make reservations: WAEH exclusive booking link
Ibis Lausanne Centre (***)
To make reservations: WAEH exclusive booking link
Paris, France | Dates: 9 – 11 October (or longer as you wish)
Le Jardin du Marais
To make reservations: Le Jardin du Marais
Courtyard Marriott Paris Gare de Lyon
To make reservations: Courtyard Marriott Paris Gare de Lyon
Register for the in person meeting
Deadline 31 of August 2025
Is your eyehospital a full member? Two attendees are included in the membership.
Is your eyehospital an associate member? One attendee is included in the membership.
Of course you can attend with more than 2 persons!
More information about the fee for attendees you can find on our website.
Request the code to register for free via Maaike:
Please note that all membership fees have to be paid before registering with this code.
Want to know more about the event? Visit our website and explore all the details and check out the programme.
Due to limited space at the hosting eye hospitals, registration will close once we reach the maximum capacity of 150 participants.
Short overview of the programme
Monday, October 6th
- Arrival Lausanne, Switzerland
Tuesday, October 7th
- 10:00 – Visit Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules-Gonin Fondation Asile des aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Board Meeting (just for board members)
- Member – presentations
- Member Meeting
- Welcoming Dinner
Wednesday, October 8th
- Location: Hôpital ophtalmique Jules-Gonin Fondation Asile des aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Conference day with presentations
Thursday, October 9th
- Travel with TGV to Paris
- Afternoon: Welcome, presentations & visit Hôpital National des 15-20, Paris, France
- Welcoming drinks
Friday, October 10th
- Location: Hôpital National des 15-20, Paris, France
- Conference Day with presentations
- Boattrip on the Seine
Saturday, October 11th
- Location: Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France
- Conference Day with presentations, round table and more!
- Member meeting Part II
- Wrap up – announcement 2026
Important Information
TGV Booking for travelling to Paris
On Thursday, October 9, we will be transitioning from Lausanne to Paris. We advise all participants to travel in the morning.
We recommend taking the TGV Lyria train from Lausanne (via Geneva) to Paris, departing in the morning from Lausanne train station.
Check the train schedule: 👉 Connections Lausanne to Paris Gare de Lyon | The SBB online portal for timetable, trains and public transport
Make reservations via: https://www.tgv-lyria.com/fr/en
Or take a flight – Book individually
At 12.00 noon approximately you will arrive in Paris. Take either a taxi to the hotel or walk (15 minutes).
Leave latest at 13.30 from your hotel to walk to the 15-20 Eye Hospital.
Arrival between 14.00 – 14.30 at the 15-20 Eye Hospital.
Guided tours of the 15-20 Eye Hospital will start latest at 14.30. This visit will provide an inspiring look into the workings of one of the city’s most renowned eye care institutions.
Please make sure to book your train tickets in advance and plan accordingly so you can join us for the afternoon program in Paris.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Welcome to the Olympic capital!
Upon you arrival, the hotel will provide you with the Lausanne Transport card which will allow you to take all public transportation for free.
Arriving before the congress starts ?
Highlights of Lausanne
The Lausanner’s short guide
Video: Flying through Lausanne
Special Offers
Lausanne Transport Card
Sponsor of the 19th Annual Meeting!!
Bring on the music!
Join the first WAEH Band In Switzerland
During the WAEH meeting in Switzerland, we have a special evening planned for you at the Welcome Dinner, taking place on Tuesday evening October 7.
Enjoy the smooth sounds of a live jazz band, discover the rich flavours of Swiss wines during a wine tasting, and take in the breathtaking views over Lake Geneva and the surrounding mountains.
And we have a surprise… 🎺🎸🥁
This year, we invite all guests to bring their own musical instrument – no matter how big or small. Together, we’ll create the first-ever WAEH Band! Whether you’re a seasoned musician or just want to join in for the fun, this will be a unique way to connect with your colleagues from around the world.
So pack your instrument, warm up your vocal cords, and get ready for an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and WAEH spirit!
Join the next Community of Practice for Human Resources!
We are excited to bring together colleagues from around the world to share innovative projects and best practices in ophthalmic care.
This session will highlight the four new WAEH projects that are starting this year.
- Anaesthetic modalities, cost and patient-reported intraoperative pain in ophthalmic surgery by Clinica Oftalmológica Pasteur Chile
Presented during this Community of Practice by:
Alan Kastner
Ophthalmologist – Glaucoma Surgeon
- Developing Guidelines for Nursing and Allied Healthcare Staff to assist Visually Impaired Patients by King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Cataract Calendar Project by Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Advanced Practice Orthoptists: Co-management and Care Plan Facilitation by Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Members from the other projects will also be present to answer your questions. Please join us to learn more and see how you can get involved!
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.
Join the next Community of Practice for Nurses and Allied Health Personnel
🗓️ September 18,2025
⏰ 01:00 PM (CEST)
We are excited to bring together colleagues from around the world to share innovative projects and best practices in ophthalmic care.
This session will highlight the four new WAEH projects that are starting this year.
- Cataract Calendar Project by Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom
Presented during this Community of Practice by:
Pranesh Balasubramaniam
Ophthalmologist & Medical Educator and Author
Pei-Fen Lin
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Clinical Director of Digital Innovation
Caroline Kilduff
Ophthalmologist
- Advanced Practice Orthoptists: Co-management and Care Plan Facilitation by Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Presented during this Community of Practice by:
Catherine Manusco
Manager
- Anaesthetic modalities, cost and patient-reported intraoperative pain in ophthalmic surgery by Clinica Oftalmológica Pasteur Chile
- Developing Guidelines for Nursing and Allied Healthcare Staff to assist Visually Impaired Patients by King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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!
September
Monday, 1 September
Workshops by Moorfields Education Orthoptics for ophthalmologists
Monday, 1 September
Workshops by Moorfields Education Clinical electrophysiology of vision 2025
Wednesday, 11 September
Workshops by Moorfields Education Basic slit lamp and Goldmann tonometry study day
Thursday, 11 September, 12.00noon CEST
WAEH Board Meeting: want to share ideas with the board? Please send them to Maaike:
Thursday, 11 September, 01.00 PM CEST
WAEH Community of Practice Human Resources
Friday, 12 September
Workshops by Moorfields Education Lacrimal assessment for nursing & allied professionals study day
Monday, 15 September
Workshops by Moorfields Education Cataract, medical retina and disc assessment
Wednesday, 17 September
Workshops by Moorfields Education Dry eye course
Thursday, 18 September, 01.00 pm CEST
WAEH Community of Practice for Nurses and Allied Health Personnel
Tuesday, 23 September
Workshops by Moorfields Education: TED series -updates on TED trials
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: