Orbital Disease: Present Status and Future Challenges PDF

Introduction

The Vancouver Orbital Symposium represented an unusual opportunity to bring together many disciplines to review knowledge, interact, and assess challenges for the future. It also culminated and rewarded my tenure as chair of ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia and marks my return to full-time practice, teaching, and research.

The 47 faculty presentations, open submissions, and posters brought together experts from many disciplines including basic science, neuroimaging, radiotherapy, oncology, infectious disease, endocrinology, pathology, molecular biology, and surgery. We tackled major topics in orbital inflammatory disease, lymphoproliferative disorders, optic nerve, and meningeal lesions, problems in oncology, vascular disorders, and of course an extended look at the current status of thyroid orbitopathy.

This conference was anteceded by a two-day meeting of the Orbital Society, whose members became the core faculty of the symposium. I am grateful for the honor of their commitment to this endeavor and the plan to repeat this symposium under the auspices of the society every four to five years. Themeeting was well attended throughout, and the discussions lively, intelligent, and enthusiastic. In short, this event was the highlight of my career and especially noteworthy by the participation of 27 of my fellows, to whom I am most grateful. Ultimately, it is the joy of lifelong learning and the challenge of patient care that set the tone of the symposium.

I look forward to the continued active endeavor.