The World Congress of Ophthalmic Anaesthesia (WCOA) was established in 2004 by Professor Chandra M Kumar, Middlesbrough, UK.
The 1st WCOA was held in London, UK 2004 which was established and organized by Professor Chandra M Kumar, Middlesbrough (UK) currently working in Singapore. The congress preceded the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists, Paris (France). Its first International President Dr Robert (Roy) Hamilton, Calgary (Canada) inaugurated the congress. The scientific contents were organized by Professor Chris Dodds, Middlesbrough (UK). This congress attracted delegates and speakers from 77 countries.
The 2nd WCOA was organized by Professor Ezzat Aziz, Cairo (Egypt) in 2008 with Professor Chris Dodds (UK) as its 2nd International President and Professor Chandra M Kumar was the Scientific Chairman. The congress was preceded by pre-congress tour of Nile River. Twenty speakers with their family members joined the pre-congress tour. The congress was held over 2 days in Marriot Hotel, Cairo (Egypt) preceding World Congress of Anaesthesiologists in Cape Town, South Africa 2008. This congress attracted delegates from all the continents. The aim was to promote safe ophthalmic anaesthesia in African countries.
The 3rd WCOA was organized by Associate Professor Oya Cok in Ankara, Turkey, in 2012, with Professor Chandra M. Kumar (Singapore and UK) serving as the 3rd International President and Dr. K-L Kong as the Scientific Chairman. The congress was preceded by a pre-congress tour of Istanbul and Cappadocia, which was attended by twenty-one families. Held over two days in a hotel, the congress could not take place before the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists in Buenos Aires, Argentina, as originally planned. Nevertheless, it successfully attracted delegates from all continents and achieved its goal of promoting safe ophthalmic anaesthesia.
The 4th WCOA was held in Chennai, India in September 2-4, 2016 just after the World Congress of Anaesthesiologists in Hong Kong 2016 under the president ship of Professor Ezzat Aziz (Egypt) and Professor Chandra M Kumar (Singapore and UK) as Scientific Chairman. The congress was organized by Dr V V Jaichandran and Dr S S Badrinath was the Patron. The Congress was exclusively supported by Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai and British Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Society helped in advertising and providing speakers from the UK. The congress attracted more than 300 participants and the social functions were brilliant.
The 5th WCOA was held in Pullman Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia in February 7-8, 2020 by Dr Aida Tantri (Jakarta) conference organizer, Dr Susilo Chandra as Organisin Chairman (Jakarta, Indonesia), Dr Tom Eke (UK) international president, Dr Alfred Chua (Australia) as Scientific Chairman and Professor Chandra M Kumar (Singapore and UK) as International Scientific Coordinator. The Congress was exclusively sponsored by Jakarta Eye International Congress and supported by sister Ophthalmic Anaesthesia Societies.
The 6th WCOA was held at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo, Brazil, from April 26–28, 2024.
The congress was organized by Dr. Daniel Lahoz (São Paulo) in association with the São Paulo State Society of Anesthesiology (SAESP).
The international scientific program was jointly curated by Professor Chandra Kumar (UK), Dr. Tim Eke (UK), and Dr. Friedrich Lersch (Switzerland), under the international presidency of Dr. V. V. Jaichandran.
The event was exclusively supported by CEO Mr. Andre Maciel in collaboration with COPA SAESP 2024.
The congress was one of the most successful in terms of delegate participation, attracting attendees from across the world. It was strongly supported by several ophthalmic anesthesia societies globally, and the local Brazilian anesthetists and ophthalmologists extended a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
A full day was dedicated to hands-on workshops with international instructors featuring skull simulators, electronic simulators, and pig’s eyes. The two-day scientific program comprehensively covered all key aspects of ophthalmic anesthesia relevant to anesthetists and ophthalmologists.
Dr. Eloise Espada Lahoz and Dr. Daniel Lahoz graciously hosted all speakers at their home for an evening of drinks and dinner. Delegates and speakers were also invited to a grand dinner organized by COPA SAESP main meeting.
Overall, the 6th WCOA was a well-organized and highly successful World Congress of Ophthalmic Anesthesia. The event concluded with an invitation from Dr. Raja N. Rao (India) to the 7th World Congress, which will be held in Hyderabad in 2028.