MARRAKESH

The "Red Imperial City" was founded in the 11th century and became quickly the capital of Morocco which, until a few decades ago, was known as Kingdom of Marrakesh by Arabs, Persians and Europeans.

Today, Marrakesh is a city of 1,500, 000 inhabitants, reverberating collision of Africa and Europe, west and east, Arab cities and Berber villages. Framed by the snow-capped Atlas mountains, thousand-year-old palm groves, and wrapped in faded red, ochre walls, Marrakech casts a magic spell. One’s senses are stimulated by the brilliantly colored spices, entrancing music, rich folds of carpets, delectable cuisine, whirling dervishes, intertwining tile geometries, perfumed gardens shimmering in still waters of reflecting pools.

The town of Marrakech is divided into two distinct parts: the Medina, or the historical city, and the new city. Once in the medina, everything can be seen on foot, though you'll be doing a lot of walking. An alternative and romantic way to travel is by caleche - pronounced kalesh - a small horse-drawn carriage.

The 2009 EVRS Congress topic is designed to be a continuation of last year’s «My Way» Congress. During the Prague meeting, a lot of new and unconventional tools and techniques, concepts and experiences, were presented and the reasons for applying these were explained. The sessions stirred enormous interest and extensive discussions were conducted in an open-minded spirit with great regard for unconventional ideas.
At the same time, the EVRS membership survey demonstrated that European surgeons differ in their approaches in many basic things among each other and with respect to their overseas colleagues.
Now it is perhaps the time to build on that experience.
This year let us try to critically analyze if fashionable techniques or non-traditional treatments are actually more beneficial for our patients compared to classical ones. Let us try to discover whether maybe some of the new measures might be the result of “encouragement” by industry or an individual’s natural urge of being innovative even if it is for the sake of innovation.
Let us stimulate exchange between the promoters of new drugs or non-established therapeutical approaches and the defenders of standard therapies or classical instruments. This should compel everyone to explain more thoroughly the basis for each individual decision and from this confrontation answers to our questions will hopefully emerge.
You are therefore requested to preferably present your ways of doing things in all the different aspects of medical and surgical retina with the idea of a debate in mind:
– If your choice is in fashion or unconventional, you will be asked to explain the advantages you found in your innovation.
– If your choice is more traditional, you will have to answer the question why you resisted the new trends.
Presentations in this general spirit will be treated preferentially.
Therefore, don’t hesitate to send many different abstracts or feel free to create posters, which will be discussed within the sessions wherever possible.
Please note that only online abstract submission is allowed. The only selection criteria is that during the discussion you must be able to defend your approach.

The 9th EVRS Meeting will follow the EVRS congress philosophy. No invited lecturers. The program will be built by the sole abstract submissions. Each member will pay his registration fee and will be treated equally. The goal is not to give an audience to a certain number of lecturers in order to promote them but really to share our tricks, our knowledge and our experience. Never more than this year, the congress will be closer to the EVRS fundamentals.

The 9th EVRS Meeting will have the usual Meeting Policies.

The Palmeraie Golf Hotel & Spa, a 5* luxe resort, is located among the Marrakesh Palmeraie, a protected palm grove at ten minutes from the city centre. Surrounded by a beautiful 27-holes golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr,
It offers 312 guestrooms, including single and double suites at the Palmeraie Golf Hotel, 44 deluxe suites at “Le Pavillon du Golf”, 26 Moorish-styled suites at "Les Jardins d'Inès" and 240 apartments of one to three rooms at "Le Palmeraie Village".
Nine restaurants of different specialities (French gastronomy, Moroccan, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean, International ... cuisine) with a 2* Michelin Restaurant are available in this luxury environment.
A luxurious spa offers Hamman & massage. Seven pools, horseback riding, tennis and a mini club for children are waiting for you.
An onsite service can arrange your sightseeing or other escape bookings.

Special reduction fees for accomodation have been obtained by EVRS. If you want to benefit from this offer, please book your accomodation through our hotel booking webpage (otherwise you will have to pay the normal fee). As booking rules will be done on a first served basis, we recommend you to make your hotel booking as soon as possible.
Please note that, if you accept to share an apartment of two or three rooms with one or two colleagues, you can obtain a price inferior to 100 EUR per night (including breakfast & local taxes).

Transfert airport/hotel/airport will be offered if you register before August 21, 2009.