Background: Embracing a spirit of collaboration across relevant stakeholders, Retina 2020 provides the perfect platform for public engagement, staying up-to-date with therapeutic developments, fostering new connections, building research and clinical capacity whilst acknowledging the significant vision research efforts underway both in Ireland and abroad.
Purpose: The year 2020 brings with it a lot of attention and expectation with respect to vision. Acknowledging this, Fighting Blindness wish to create an event that highlights the impact of sight loss and accelerates the significant innovations underway to address this health agenda. Coinciding with World Sight Day, RETINA 2020 aims to build capacity in Ireland by enriching early stage researchers and ophthalmologists-in-training through a variety of career-building seminars and public and patient involvement initiatives.
Objectives: In an era that is offering real hope and opportunities to Irish patients living with sight loss, we recognise the need to ensure increased expertise in both a clinical and laboratory setting in the area of retina and sight loss. There is a significant talent pool in Ireland and we wish to enable this community by creating a unique and educational forum designed to enhance their professional career development. Retina 2020 objectives include:
To create greater understanding and awareness of sight loss and associated burden in Ireland.
To build research and clinical capacity in vision through enabling next generation of leaders with the tools required to advance career and patient goals.
To broaden perspectives, overcome barriers, encourage greater cross-functional collaboration and information-sharing.
