From GA and PCV to conference program and street maps. Hit the science, then slip into Manila like you’ve lived here for years.
Day 1 of the 18th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society (APVRS 2025) in Manila, held in conjunction with the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Congress (PAO), started with a little Manila rhythm. Banners are up, badges sorted and the bay breeze is already setting the pace. (Day 1 PAO = Day 0 APVRS)
The program zeroes in on what retina practice runs on: equity, access, durability and collaboration. Think of this as your warm-up lap. We highlight the science worth circling on your schedule and share a local’s map so you can move through the city with confidence between sessions.
Your scientific fast-pass
The agenda stays close to clinic reality. Women in Retina starts with leadership and mentorship you can put to work now. The sustainability session zooms in on OR workflows that cut waste while keeping sterility tight. Geographic atrophy (GA) steps off the headline reel and into everyday practice through earlier detection and imaging nuance.
Expect sharp takes on lasers, practical guidance for retina-glaucoma co-management in secondary glaucoma, and fresh updates across diabetic eye disease, trauma, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), medical retina debates and longer-acting therapeutics. Come with questions and plan to leave with answers you can use in clinic.
READ MORE: Retina Roundup: Your APVRS 2025 Scientific Primer
Industry highlights to watch
On the exhibit floor the APAC retina story is front and center. At Roche (Booth D1), the focus stays on polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and diabetic eye disease. One-year SALWEEN data on faricimab in Asian PCV populations point to vision gains and longer intervals that make scheduling easier for clinics and patients.
A few aisles over, Bayer (Booth P1) leans into cell and gene therapy. Recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Fast Track momentum for an investigational inherited retinal diseases (IRD) cell therapy sits alongside a growing set of regional trials, signaling that advanced options for APAC patients are moving from promise to practice.
Regional R&D gets a boost at Santen (Booth B2), where SONIC 2.0 with SERI extends a long-running pipeline across glaucoma, ocular surface disease, presbyopia and myopia, building on SONIC 1.0. At ZEISS (Booth S3), imaging and surgery meet through AI-supported decision tools in clinic and ARTEVO visualization in the OR, linked to EVA NEXUS workflows that help teams stay aligned.
If community access is your priority, Topcon (Booth S2) brings Healthcare from the Eye with AI-assisted screening and partnerships that move advanced diagnostics closer to where patients live.
Plan your booth loop with intention. While you are nearby, note Astellas (GL1), Alcon (S4) and Presentation Stage M for demos and updates that usually spark strong clinical exchange.
Manila, mapped by a local
Within a short walk you can catch a performance at the Cultural Center of the Philippines or watch the colors shift along Manila Bay at MOA. A quick ride puts you at Luneta or the National Museum trio. If time allows, Intramuros offers cobblestones, fortifications and a clear thread through Philippine history.
For curious foodies seeking bold flavors head to Binondo. For a polished evening try BGC with public art and skyline views. Practical notes: ride-hailing apps work well, carry a bit of cash for markets, choose comfortable shoes, plan for December traffic and bring a colleague for photos and company.
READ MORE: Manila Spotlight: Insider Travel Tips and Must-See Attractions for APVRS 2025
What to catch first tomorrow
Start with Women in Retina for leadership, training pipelines and policy that travels across borders, then slide into Sustainability Innovations for evidence that survives the real world. If GA is on your radar, All Eyes on GA will tighten your imaging play and give takeaways you can apply right away. Round it out with Current Roles of Lasers for classic uses, new approaches and an interactive finish.
Mabuhay, see you by the bay
APVRS 2025 is teeing up sharper diagnostics, sturdier treatment plans and systems that reach farther into communities. Manila sets an easy rhythm. Walk Rizal Park, watch the bay turn gold, then bring that clear view back (if it doesn’t rain!) into the conference halls tomorrow.
Editor’s Note: The 18th Congress of the Asia-Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society (APVRS 2025) is being held in conjunction with the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Congress from 12-14 December in Manila, Philippines.