On January 4, 2025, a 90-minute scientific session was held in collaboration with the Nepal Vitreoretina Society (NVRS) and the Asia-Pacific Ophthalmic Trauma Society (APOTS) during the NVRS conference in Kathmandu, Nepal. This event, which focused on advocating for ophthalmic trauma management, attracted a full audience and underscored the critical role of APOTS not only within Asia but also on a global scale.
The session was chaired by APOTS’ immediate past president, Prof. Dr. S. Natarajan, alongside other prominent APOTS members, Dr. Tariq Reza Ali and Dr. Vivek Dave. It was hosted by Dr. Gunjan Prasai, a key focal person for APOTS in Nepal. The event highlighted the collaboration between Nepal and APOTS and its potential to significantly advance research, training, and advocacy in the field of ophthalmic trauma.
The session commenced with a keynote address by Prof. Dr. Natarajan, who emphasized how Nepal can play a pivotal role in tackling ophthalmic trauma. He highlighted the importance of data collection through IGATES (International Globe and Adnexal Trauma Epidemiology Study) and proposed that Nepal could become a hub for training and research in trauma management.
This was followed by insightful talks from APOTS members. Dr. Anadi discussed advancements in imaging for ophthalmic trauma, while Dr. Md. Moniruzzaman shared his expertise on managing intraocular foreign bodies. Representing Nepal, Dr. Eli Pradhan, the conference’s scientific chair and a senior APOTS representative, presented a detailed overview of Nepal’s ophthalmic trauma epidemiology study and the contributions of IGATES. Dr. Ashma Manandhar, from a high-volume trauma center in Nepal, delivered an engaging presentation on the management of post-traumatic endophthalmitis and expressed her interest in furthering Nepal’s contributions to APOTS and IGATES.
The session was highly interactive, with enthusiastic engagement from the audience. Attendees praised the session’s depth and raised numerous questions, demonstrating the need for longer sessions in the future. This success was particularly notable given that the conference was focused exclusively on retina, indicating an even broader interest if such discussions were held at a general ophthalmology event.
The session concluded with an exciting announcement: following the successful organization of APOTS conferences in Malaysia and Indonesia, the APOTS conference will be hosted in Nepal in 2026. This decision reflects the growing collaboration between APOTS and Nepalese ophthalmologists.
Special gratitude was extended to the current presidents of APOTS, Prof. Dr. Gangadhara Sundar and Dr. Rupesh Agrawal, for their leadership and support, as well as to Prof. Dr. S. Natarajan for his in-person efforts to promote ophthalmic trauma and APOTS on the Nepalese stage. This collaboration marked a significant step toward strengthening Nepal’s position in the global ophthalmic trauma network, enhancing research opportunities, and building capacity for trauma management.
This session was not only a success but also a testament to the shared vision of APOTS and Nepal to advance ophthalmic trauma care, underscoring the importance of continued partnership and collaborative initiatives.
APOTS has 90 minutes at NVRS:
1. Key note address # 1: APOTS—how APOTS and Nepal can partner together to tackle ophthalmic trauma – Prof. Dr. S. Natarajan, Immediate Past President , APOTS , 15 mins
2. Key Note Address # 2: Ophthalmic Trauma—past, present, and future – Dr. Rupesh— (15 mins)
3. Imaging in ophthalmic trauma – Dr. Anadi Khatri. (10 mins)
4. IOFB management: Dr. Sanyam Bajimaya (10 mins)
5. Nepal ophthamic trauma epidemiology study – Dr. Eli Pradhan (10 mins)
6. Three cases of ophthalmic trauma to be presented by residents or fellows from Nepal. Each case presentation: 5 minutes, and discussion: 5 minutes per case.
