Dear Friends and Colleagues,

 

The Asia Pacific Tele-Ophthalmology Society (APTOS) was founded with a view to advancing and promoting the use of tele-ophthalmology in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. We witness and experience how technologies have revolutionized and transformed our way of living. Payment has been streamlined; purchase orders can be made with a few taps on the phone; rides can be booked in advance and shared. While accessibility to a multitude of services has been greatly improved with technological advancements, the approach to the provision of medical services remains essentially unchanged.

 

With the 2nd APTOS Symposium in Hong Kong on July 15 – 16, 2017, we hope to share with both ophthalmologists and tele-ophthalmologists how the provision of ophthalmic services can be streamlined with the help of tele-ophthalmology. Technological advances, when used to our advantage, can enable ophthalmologists to cut across distance to provide quality medical services and improved accessibility of individuals, both patients and medical practitioners alike. We are eager to share with you new findings in the applications of tele-ophthalmology and their implications on public health at the 2nd APTOS Symposium. The Opening Session will feature the inauguration of the International Diabetic Retinopathy Forum and 4 keynote lectures covering deep learning, artificial intelligence, breakthroughs in telemedicine and its applications. Together with an impressive scientific program, the 2nd APTOS Symposium will certainly give a new perspective to ophthalmic practice.

 

Selected as the world’s freest economic entity for 23 years in a row, Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where ‘East meets West.’ This compact city in Asia never fails to impress with its diversity of landscapes, cuisines, and cultures. We look forward to welcoming you to Hong Kong.

 

Mingguang He, MD, PhD

President, APTOS

Congress President, 2nd APTOS Symposium