Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government

The Fourth Congress of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society (APVRS) took place in Taipei on November 12. Mayor Hau Lung-bin and Health Commissioner Allen W.H. Chiu attended the opening session and welcomed the attendees to Taipei.
The mayor pointed out that myopia (nearsightedness) is a very common problem for Asian countries including Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. He stressed that Taipei City Government takes great care in dealing with this issue, offering preschool and elementary school children basic eye examination each year.
Hau hopes that the event will serve as a platform of exchange for international experts and local medical professionals, as well as raising public awareness on vitreo-retina diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and aging macular degeneration.
The annual meetings of APVRS have been held in cities across the Asia-Pacific region since 2006. The hosts for previous APVRS congresses include Hong Kong, PRC, and South Korea.