Friendships, expertise and Nepali hospitality came together at the NVRS 2025 meeting, creating an unforgettable experience. The event served as a platform for both intellectual exchange and the rekindling of old friendships, demonstrating that professional gatherings can be deeply personal.
The 8th Annual Conference of the Nepal Vitreo-Retina Society (NVRS 2025) held on January 3 to 4 in Kathmandu, Nepal, brought together renowned speakers from the United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Taiwan and the Philippines to discuss the latest advancements in vitreo-retinal care.
The meeting covered a range of retinal topics, ranging from retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and uveitis to medical and surgical treatments of the posterior pole.
From Bremen to Kathmandu
The vibrant and palpable hospitality of NVRS was evident at the congress venue, Hotel Soaltee in Kathmandu. During the event, I not only met new colleagues but also forged new friendships, which brought back fond memories.
I was invited to give a talk at the NVRS conference this year by my good friend of 14 years, Pratap Karki. I first met Pratap in 2011 in Bremen, Germany, during a mini-fellowship at the European Vitreo-Retina Training School (EVRTS), an offshoot of the European VitreoRetinal Society.
During the two-week training, we had in-depth didactics and open discussions on different retinal topics and cases. We were all encouraged to participate and share our experiences, discussing both simple and difficult retinal cases.
Long-term friendships and growth
At the EVRTS, were a group of 45 students from 35 countries, representing all continents except Antarctica. In the evenings, during dinner, we had the opportunity to meet with the training school’s masters and professors, allowing for friendly and relaxed interactions.
The exchange of ideas—ranging from retinal topics to general discussions—punctuated by ophthalmology humor, became a regular occurrence. On weekends, some of us explored the city of Bremen while others opted to venture to surrounding cities such as Berlin and Frankfurt. A few even traveled across borders to The Netherlands and Denmark.
Following the two-week training, our group stayed in touch via online and social media connections. With Pratap, we kept our friendship going long after the training ended. We watched each other grow through our occasional correspondences.
Last year, I organized a mini-reunion in Manila for our 2011 EVRTS cohort. Pratap came and stayed for five days, and we took him to Camiguin Island in the south of the Philippines to let him experience our beautiful beaches.
A reunion and rare case presentations
Seven months after Pratap’s visit, I traveled to Nepal for NVRS 2025 to present two lectures on surgical retina and uveitis.
NVRS 2025 was spearheaded by the society’s president, Dr. Sanyam Bajimaya, who opened the event with a traditional Nepali ceremony. The prestigious Prof. O.K. Malla Oration Lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Rajvardhan Azad of India, who also received an honorary membership in recognition of his inspiring contributions to retinal care in Nepal.
Prof. Dr. Govinda Paudyal received the NVRS Lifetime Achievement Award for advancing retinal health care in the country. Dr. Ajay Arora of India and Dr. Sanyam Bajimaya of Nepal conducted two instructional courses on subthreshold laser and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography. The Pakistan Vitreo-Retina Society and the Asia Pacific Ocular Trauma Society were among the participating societies.
United for life
At Pratap’s invitation, I visited his home, where he showed me the flags of Nepal and the Philippines, displayed side by side. I was deeply moved by his gesture. Notably, the Philippine consulate is also located near his residence.
Whether it was fate, circumstance or a fortunate premonition, it seemed as though the destinies of Nepal and the Philippines had aligned, fostering a friendship that goes beyond time and borders—uniting two colleagues in ophthalmology.
Editor’s Note: Reporting for this story took place at the 8th Annual Conference of the Nepal Vitreo-Retina Society (NVRS 2025), held from January 3 to 4, 2025, in Kathmandu, Nepal. The author dedicates this article to the exceptional organizers behind NVRS 2025 and to all the esteemed colleagues and friends he made during the two-day event. Special thanks to Dr. Sanyam Bajimaya and Dr. Pratap Karki for their invaluable contributions to the details.
