Dr Brendan Cronin to Participate in CAIRS and Corneal Surgery Education at ESCRS 2026

This September, I’ll be heading to London for the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), one of the major international meetings in cataract, refractive and corneal surgery.

I’m also very pleased to be joining Lions World Vision Institute’s international expert instructor faculty, alongside my Brisbane colleague Dr David Gunn and corneal surgeons from around the world.

A particular focus of the educational program will be CAIRS – Corneal Allogenic Intrastromal Ring Segments – as well as endothelial keratoplasty training.

Teaching CAIRS at ESCRS

The Lions World Vision Institute program includes OptiGraft® CAIRS Wet Labs with the Experts together with CAIRS Surgical Planning sessions.

CAIRS is an interesting development in the management of selected irregular corneas because it uses donor corneal tissue to alter corneal shape.

Rather than relying on a synthetic intracorneal segment, CAIRS uses processed allogenic corneal tissue that is implanted within channels in the patient’s own cornea.

The procedure is particularly relevant to our work with keratoconus and corneal ectasia, where improving the shape of an irregular cornea may help improve visual function in appropriately selected patients.

Why Surgical Planning Matters

With keratoconus, there is no single treatment plan that suits every patient.

Two patients may both have a diagnosis of keratoconus while having very different corneal shapes, thickness profiles, prescriptions and visual symptoms.

That is why detailed corneal imaging is such an important part of treatment planning.

For CAIRS, surgeons need to consider factors such as the position and pattern of corneal steepening, corneal thickness and the appropriate placement of the tissue segments.

These are exactly the types of practical discussions that make hands-on workshops and surgical planning sessions valuable.

More Than a Single Procedure

It is also important to understand that CAIRS does not replace every other treatment for keratoconus.

For someone with progressive keratoconus, the priority may be to stabilise the cornea, commonly with corneal cross-linking when appropriate. Other patients may require specialised contact lenses to achieve their best vision.

CAIRS may be considered as part of that broader management pathway in selected patients where changing the corneal shape may be beneficial.

Understanding how these different treatments complement one another is an important part of modern corneal surgery.

Sharing Experience With Surgeons From Around the World

ESCRS brings together thousands of ophthalmologists and eye-care professionals, creating an environment where surgeons can compare techniques, challenge ideas and learn from one another.

I’m looking forward to contributing to the CAIRS educational sessions and working alongside an international faculty of surgeons.

Meetings like ESCRS provide a valuable opportunity to share what we are doing here in Australia while also bringing home new perspectives on the management of complex corneal disease.

Ultimately, continuing surgical education is about making thoughtful, evidence-based decisions for our patients – particularly when managing conditions as individual as keratoconus.

Concerned About Keratoconus?

If you have been diagnosed with keratoconus, have experienced changing astigmatism or have been told you have an irregular cornea, a specialist assessment can help determine whether the condition is stable and which treatment options may be appropriate.

Contact our team to arrange a consultation with Dr Brendan Cronin.