TOD's 9th Live Surgery Symposium to Be Held in Ankara from 29 May to 1 June

The 9th Live Surgery Symposium, organized by the Turkish Ophthalmological Society, will be held in Ankara between 29 May – 1 June 2025. Within the scope of the symposium, surgeries performed by ophthalmologists at the T.C. Ministry of Health Ankara Bilkent City Hospital over 4 days will be broadcast live to the conference hall where other ophthalmologists are present. 

The Turkish Ophthalmological Society, the sole association representing ophthalmologists in Turkey, continues to organize events and educational activities at world-standard quality to ensure the professional development of eye physicians in Turkey.

The Live Surgery Symposium has become the most important and most attended meeting after the National Congress organized annually by the Turkish Ophthalmological Society. Within the scope of the symposium, which enables ophthalmologists to share their knowledge and experience, 70 different eye surgeries will be performed and the surgeries will be displayed in high resolution via live broadcast on a large screen in the conference hall for physicians to observe. 

Education must continue under all circumstances
Prof. Dr. Huban Atilla, President of the Turkish Ophthalmological Society, stated: "The 9th Live Surgery Symposium to be organized this year, as in the previous year, will be held at the operating theaters of the T.C. Ministry of Health Ankara Bilkent City Hospital with the contributions of our Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, Oculoplastic Surgery, Cornea and Ocular Surface, Glaucoma, Cataract and Refractive Surgery, and Vitreoretinal Surgery units, between 29 May-1 June 2025 at Bilkent Hotel and Convention Center. Six educational units in the field of eye diseases will conduct live surgery sessions lasting at least four hours each simultaneously in two separate halls on their respective topics. Additionally, more than 20 sponsored live surgery sessions and satellite symposiums by industry companies will be held at the symposium, where technological advances, new techniques and devices will be shared with participants."

70 surgeries will be performed in 4 days at the symposium
Prof. Dr. Huban Atilla noted that more than 1,000 ophthalmologists from Turkey and around the world will participate physically and virtually in the symposium over 4 days, and continued as follows;

"The symposium we organized again in Ankara last year generated significant interest. During the symposium, 70 eye surgeons performed live surgeries over 4 days. The surgeries were followed by approximately 900 ophthalmologists from Turkey and over 500 foreign eye physicians from abroad, with 250 health personnel involved in the operations. Among these surgeries were quite difficult and rarely performed operations, and our patients recovered their health. This year we plan to perform surgeries on approximately 70 patients again at the T.C. Ministry of Health Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. Our planning regarding the surgeries and patient selection is proceeding intensively."

World-class symposium
Prof. Dr. Huban Atilla added that they plan to organize a Live Surgery Symposium at world standards with many outstanding features such as technical specifications, live broadcast quality, and the difficulty and diversity of the surgeries performed, and spoke as follows:

"The TOD Live Surgery Symposium is an event we organize with intensive effort. As active members of TOD units, I thank each and every ophthalmology colleague who performs and participates in surgery. From start to finish we are working to make it a world-standard symposium. Our event generates significant interest from both domestic and international participants every year. As foreign participation increases with each passing year, simultaneous interpretation is provided at our symposium. Participants not only watch the surgeries but also observe discussions with expert lecturers in the field and can receive answers to their questions."