Back to the Beginning

The inaugural congress of the Societas Ophthalmologica Europaea (SOE) was held in Athens in 1960.

The capital city of Greece is thus not just the cradle of western civilization, but even the “ground zero” of our main educational outreach aimed to cater for all ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists-to-be, regardless of subspecialty and nationality.

The SOE 2027 Congress will be our 25th meeting and thus a much-anticipated anniversary event. The Congress will be in partnership with the Society of Intraocular Trauma (ISOT) and the European University Professors of Ophthalmology (EUPO).

All these are excellent reasons to save the dates June 18-20, 2027, and begin to prepare to be part of a major educational and celebratory experience!

We will have a high bar ahead after the wonderfully executed SOE 2025 Congress in Lisbon where the SOE was delighted to welcome over 2000 participants of whom over 300 were speakers and moderators, representing 73 countries from across the world.

In addition to a broad international scientific programme, wet labs and suturing courses proved to be especially popular; their number will thus increase in Athens. Large format electronic screens were welcomed by poster presenters.

Worth of a special note is the parallel programme that the SOE Young Ophthalmologist Committee organises during our congresses – not only official symposia but also sessions in their YO Lounge, such round tables on future career and mini exchanges.

We appreciate the incredible support by our Portuguese colleagues at SOE 2025 for facilitating excellent networking opportunities. SOE 2027 in Athens will once again present an ideal environment for meaningful interactions with familiar faces and new acquaintances.

I join the Board, Executive and Scientific Advisory Committee in welcoming you to what is once more “the biennial feast of ophthalmology for senior and young colleagues in all disciplines of ophthalmology from Europe and across the world” in beautiful Athens.