Dear friends and colleagues,

SEEOS proudly entered its 8th year. This young society that gathers all the ophthalmologists of South-Eastern Europe from Slovakia to Crete and from Italy to Ukraine is living a daily increase. It just concluded its 7th Congress showing seriousness, dynamism and a high scientific level. The congress was organized in Albania, the Eagle’s country.

My country Albania holds 3 thousand years of history and it’s famous for its Byzantine heritage. Mountains are massive and severe. Their big snow staid lit by shafts fill of full sunlight and shadowed by clattering heavy clouds, its spectacular scenery and unspoiled Mediterranean coastline. No wonder Lord Bairon has loved Albania so much.  Listen and watch, it will make you thirstier to try to get in our extraordinary country. The great hospitality, the people’s kindness, the sweetness of ordinary people is worth knowing.

This congress welcomed in Tirana 275 participants, 75% of which were foreign doctors and professors from all European countries. The congress was organized at the main conference hall of the National Historical Museum, with a magnificent framework and artistic exhibition possible to be visited from the participants. 110 oral presentations, 26 poster presentations and some lectures from well-known professors worldwide were presented during this congress. The most attractive subjects were those of crystalline lens surgery and correction with multifocal lenses, retinal imaging and modern treatment of retinal diseases, ocular surface recons truction and intraocular tumors. The 7th Congress of SEEOS continued its tradition to organize the joint-session with Vision 2020, but this year was also organized the joint session with SEE-ARVO. This was for the very first time, and was chaired by Prof. M. Jager, president of ARVO. I would like to warmly thank her for her participation in this first event in my country.

It was decided during the Board Meeting that there will be representatives from other countries, such as Kosovo and Montenegro, in our society. The 8th Congress of SEEOS will be organized in Turkey, under the lead of Prof. Kaskaloglu. The editorship of our journal shifts to the representative of Serbia, Prof. S. Latinovic being the editor in chief. Articles are welcomed for publication.You already have the 7th Congress materials online and will soon have also your presentations.

I thank all the participants that contributed to the well going of this congress, the professors that elevated the scientific level with their lectures, but also all my friends and colleagues for their very encouraging words, especially those of Prof. J. Nemeth, past-president of SEEOS, Prof. M. Jager and Prof. A. Nikolakopoulos.

Pajtim Lutaj                                                                                                      Presedent of SEEOS

Download: The Final Book of Program & Abstracts