Doctor Giuseppe Guarnaccia is the director of ESASO and professor of retina affections in the specialized school in ophthalmology of the University Hospital San Raffaele of Milan. He is a specialist in cataracts, glaucoma and retinal diseases. Throughout his professional career he has held various positions of coordination and direction, such as the Ophthalmological Operations Center, in Paola-Cetraro, or in the Surgery Department of the Bianchi Melacrino Morelli Hospital, in Reggio Calabria. As an ophthalmologist, he has performed over 12,000 surgeries. He has also organized 10 international ophthalmology conferences and has received awards such as the Anassilaos Prize in the category of science, or the Italian national prize of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).
When you were studying medicine, why did you choose to be an ophthalmologist?
I have always been passionate about optical physics. I even did an astronomy course for a whole year! That’s why I decided to be an ophthalmologist.
What are the main challenges that ophthalmology faces today concerning avoidable blindness?
There are many, but I will highlight three — first, the new technologies and their medical application. Second, the ability to properly diagnose and at the same time the diseases that patients have or can have. Finally, the pharmaceutical evolution, with all the medicines that there are and that can be developed in the coming years.
What are the main objectives of ESASO?
ESASO is based on three pillars: teaching, researching new technologies to cure and study, and research through the network of professionals linked to ESASO, which makes it the best international center.
What are the future plans of ESASO?
We are developing work laboratories for ophthalmologists. They will also be used by pharmaceutical companies to train their technicians and therefore have new professionals with high professional qualifications. This will bring added confidence to ophthalmologists when it comes to working with them.
How did you get to know the work of the Eyes of the world Foundation?
Thanks to Dr. Corcóstegui, president of the scientific council and vice president of ESASO, one of the best retinologists in the world and an excellent person.
How does ESASO collaborate with the Foundation?
ESASO supports with ophthalmologists the training projects of local ophthalmologists in the countries in which the Eyes of the world Foundation carries out its task.
What are the future projects that ESASO and Eyes of the world will develop?
We will continue betting on collaborating in the countries in which Eyes of the world develops its task. We will continue to offer assistance to hospitals in these regions, sending high-qualified ophthalmologists to provide the best expertise and at the same time we will continue to promote the subspecialties trainings, in Lugano, of professionals from those countries.