The 3rd Congress of the Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society (APSPOS), held in Brisbane from 29 June to 1 July 2025, is being hailed as a landmark moment in global paediatric eyecare.
Co-hosted with the annual meetings of the Australia and New Zealand Strabismus Society (ANZSS) and the Australia and New Zealand Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Society (ANZPOS), the historic gathering brought together expertise unlike any other event in the region.
The weekend was also a major achievement for professional conference organiser Think Business Events, which ran APSPOS and the 15th International Orthoptics Congress (IOC) within the same week at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Under the theme ‘Inspiring Collaboration’, the APSPOS meeting welcomed a record 560-plus delegates from 37 countries, including paediatric ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists, and vision scientists from around the world.
Across three days, they engaged in rich discussions, shared clinical insights, and explored pathways to advance paediatric eye care across Australasia, Asia-Pacific, and beyond.
“This was the largest paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus conference ever held in Australia, and its success is a testament to the unwavering efforts of our local organising team,” APSPOS organisers said.
These included APSPOS president Professor Frank Martin, convenor Professor Shuan Dai and co-convenors Dr Caroline Catt, also the ANZPOS chair, and Dr Deepa Taranath, also chair of ANZSS, with the support of the APSPOS scientific committee.
A standout moment of the congress was the Live Case Session on 1 July, offering “a truly unique and interactive experience”, APSPOS organisers said.
“Patients were examined live on stage by expert panels, sparking insightful discussions around diagnosis and management. This session has left a long-lasting impression on the attendees as the first such meeting they had ever attended.”
Speakers from various paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus societies across the world shared their expertise and contributed to the success of this event. These included the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), Chinese Association of Paediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (CAPOS), World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS), International Strabismological Association (ISA), International Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Council (IPOSC), and others.
The APSPOS organisers also acknowledged industry sponsors, media partners and professional conference organiser, Think Business Events.
Ophthalmic event double-header
Behind the scenes, APSPOS’s success was a big moment for Think Business Events as it delivered two global eye health events back-to-back in Brisbane with an overlapping day.
Together, both APSPOS and IOC brought together more than 800 delegates from 40 countries. The combined program featured 300 speakers and 60 scientific sessions, making it one of the largest gatherings of paediatric ophthalmology and orthoptic professionals in the region.
Delivering two “complex, high-stakes global health congresses within a single week” required meticulous planning, agile coordination, and strong partnerships, Think Business Events said.
The event organiser worked closely with both international scientific committees and local stakeholders to ensure each event retained its unique identity while achieving operational excellence across both programs.
From managing overlapping delegate flows and tailored speaker to coordinating international abstract submissions and multi-stream scientific programs, the organising team “demonstrated remarkable capability in executing dual congresses to the highest professional standard”.
“The success of these events is a direct result of careful planning, open collaboration, and the dedication of our skilled organising team that understands the complexities of international medical meetings,” said Ms Denise Broeren, director at Think Business Events.
“To deliver two global congresses, back-to-back, with record delegate numbers and sponsorship is a fantastic achievement.”
Eye health education will remain a priority for Think Business Events, with the next event being the 56th RANZCO Congress in November 2025 in Melbourne, and two major international meetings in 2026: the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision Symposium and the Asia Pacific Vitreo-retina Society Congress.
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