13th international training congress for opticians
For the 13th time, the association Aalen Friends of Optometry e. V. together with Aalen University offered an international continuing education congress for optometrists from September 20 to 21. It took place for the 11th time at the Center for Environment and Culture (ZUK) in Benediktbeuern Monastery.
Professors from the USA and Germany as well as ophthalmologists and other top-class experts passed on their knowledge. Over 80 graduates and students from Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia and numerous other countries outside of Europe took advantage of this opportunity to exchange the latest findings from research, science and clinical practice in the field of optometry. Due to the international orientation of the Aalen Master's program and the close cooperation with US-American universities, the event was held in English as always.
This year's lectures focused on current developments such as the role of artificial intelligence in ophthalmology (Prof. Dr. Dr. Norbert Schrage), retinal vessel analysis for the detection of systemic diseases (Prof. Dr. Konstantin Kotliar) and the growing importance of visual stress caused by digital screens (Prof. Scott Cooper). Other topics included vision in sport, modern approaches to glaucoma screening and ways to better support the treatment of amblyopia. The global problem of increasing short-sightedness in children and young people was also discussed in particular.
Background: In Germany, opticians and optometrists are primarily responsible for determining the values of spectacles and contact lenses and for examining visual functions. In their daily practice, however, they can also provide valuable information on possible abnormalities in the eye or in connection with general illnesses, which are then passed on to doctors for further clarification. In this way, they complement medical care and contribute to close interdisciplinary cooperation, which benefits patients.
Since 2012, optometry students and graduates have met once a year in Benediktbeuern for an English-language advanced training course at the highest level. This training course was initiated by the then course director Prof. Dr. h.c. Dietmar Kümmel from Aalen, who maintains close contact with Father Karl Geissinger SDB.
The advanced training at ZUK has established itself as a fixed meeting point for experts from science and practice in ophthalmic optics and optometry. In addition to professional training, the focus is also on personal exchange between graduates of Aalen University and guests and experts from all over the world. Prof. Dr. Anna Nagl, the course director of this very successful part-time optometry master's course, is pleased that the dates for 2026 and 2027 at ZUK are already firmly booked and can therefore be planned for all participants: September 26 and 27, 2026 and October 2 and 3, 2027.
Source: www.optometry-friends.com/de/
