Turkish Eye Surgery Expertise Reaches 50 Countries

The 10th Live Surgery Symposium, organized in collaboration between the Turkish Ophthalmological Society (TOD) and the Turkish Ministry of Health Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, saw 70 eye surgeries performed over four days. The surgeries, conducted by specialist eye physicians from various centers across Turkey, were followed in high-definition live broadcasts by viewers from 50 countries.

The symposium, held between 11-14 June, was attended by approximately 1,500 eye physicians from within Turkey and more than 1,500 specialists from different countries participating remotely. The event thus brought together more than 3,000 participants on a single platform, becoming an important educational organization of international scale in the field of eye diseases.

The Live Surgery Symposium, organized by the Turkish Ophthalmological Society, the sole professional organization representing eye physicians in Turkey, stands out as one of the most sought-after scientific events following the Society's National Ophthalmology Congress. The surgeries performed during the symposium were transmitted live from Ankara Bilkent City Hospital simultaneously to participants at the JW Marriott Hotel and Convention Center and to eye physicians in different countries around the world.

Surgeries Broadcast Live in 50 Countries
Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Güngör, President of the Turkish Ophthalmological Society, made the following remarks regarding the symposium:

"We successfully completed the 10th Live Surgery Symposium this year under the hosting of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital. Live surgery symposiums are not merely organizations where surgeries are observed; they are highly important educational platforms where surgical experience, accumulated knowledge, and clinical approaches are shared. The surgeries performed during the symposium were followed live in 50 countries including the United States of America, Japan, Australia, India, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Germany, and England. Turkish eye physicians today have reached an important position on the international scale through their surgical applications, scientific studies, and innovative approaches."

250 Healthcare Professionals Participated
In the 70 surgeries performed during the symposium, a total team of 250 people consisting of eye physicians, nurses, technicians, and healthcare workers participated.

Prof. Dr. Güngör noted that the surgeries performed over four days were evaluated not only in their technical aspects but also together with clinical decision-making processes, and spoke as follows:

"There is no similar organization in the world that has conducted an uninterrupted live surgery program over four days in different subspecialties. Each surgery was evaluated interactively in terms of surgical techniques as well as case selection, treatment planning, and decision-making processes. In this way, we provided our participants not only the opportunity to observe an operation, but also a strong educational opportunity based on experience sharing. Through simultaneous international broadcasts, the knowledge and experience of Turkish eye physicians are being shared with the world, demonstrating our country's scientific strength in this field."

An Educational Platform at World Standards
Prof. Dr. Güngör emphasized that the Live Surgery Symposium is an organization at world standards in terms of technical infrastructure, broadcast quality, case diversity, and educational content, and noted that the event reaches more international participants each year.

Prof. Dr. Güngör thanked the management of Ankara Bilkent City Hospital, healthcare workers, and all eye physicians participating in the symposium, and made the following assessment:

"We are working with great dedication to conduct a scientific event at world standards from start to finish. Our event receives intense interest both from within and outside the country every year. The continuous increase in international participation is one of the most important indicators of Turkish ophthalmology's respected position in the world."

About the Turkish Ophthalmological Society
The Turkish Ophthalmological Society (TOD), the official national professional organization of Turkish eye physicians, includes eye disease specialists and physicians undergoing specialty training within its membership. Operating with more than 5,000 members, the society carries out activities aimed at improving eye health, supporting professional and scientific education, protecting public health, and combating unethical practices. Founded in 1928, the society's headquarters is located in Istanbul.