The Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS) evolved from the Asia-Pacific Intraocular Implant Association (APIIA) founded by Prof. Arthur Lim to reflect the dynamic developments in cataract and refractive surgery at the turn of the millennium.
In 1987, Prof. Lim foresaw the importance of these developments in Asia, and the society has since witnessed rapid growth under the leadership of Past Presidents Professor Graham Barrett, Clinical Associate Professor Ronald Yeoh, Professor Hiroko Bissen-Miyajima, Dr Abhay Vasavada, Professor Yao Ke and current leadership under Dr Pannet Pangputhipong.
The APACRS holds its annual meeting with regional organizations in the Asia-Pacific region. The society's primary function is the dissemination and promotion of advances in the various fields of anterior segment ophthalmic surgery in the Asia-Pacific region.
Over the years, the APACRS has developed various instruments to fulfil this function. Among them is EyeWorld Asia-Pacific, an international anterior segment ophthalmology news magazine. The magazine keeps readers abreast of the latest developments in ophthalmology while hewing to a perspective that is always relevant to the particular needs, cognizant to the nuances of the Asia-Pacific region. Now in its 20th year, the magazine is read by over 60,000 ophthalmologists in over 100 countries around the world.
Published quarterly, the EyeWorld Asia-Pacific comes in 4 editions - Asia-Pacific, China, India and Korea and each issue is also freely accessible online at eyeworldap.apacrs.org and via the APACRS website www.apacrs.org
The APACRS is a leading organization representing cataract and refractive surgeons - a forum for regional interaction working in close partnership with regional and international cataract and refractive surgery societies in providing ophthalmic education.
The Asia-Pacific Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (APACRS) permanent secretariat was established in January 2003. Located at the Singapore National Eye Centre, the Secretariat is responsible for the organization of the Society's day-to-day activities.