The 3rd Congress of the Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society, held in Brisbane from June 29 to July 1, 2025, marked a major milestone in international collaboration in paediatric eye care. This year’s congress was uniquely co-hosted with the annual meetings of the Australia and New Zealand Strabismus Society and the Australia and New Zealand Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Society, bringing together an exceptional gathering of expertise from across the globe.

With the theme “Inspiring Collaboration,” the congress facilitated dynamic exchanges among paediatric ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists, and vision scientists. The shared knowledge and diverse perspectives enriched every session, further strengthening the global paediatric eye care community.
Notably, this was the largest paediatric ophthalmology and strabismus conference ever held in Australia, a testament to the dedication of the local organising committee, which included:
Prof Frank Martin, President of APSPOS
Prof Shuan Dai, Convenor of the conference
Dr Caroline Catt, Chair of ANZPOS, Co-Convenor
Dr Deepa Taranath, Chair of ANZSS, Co-Convenor

Together, they welcomed a record number of delegates and curated a program that balanced academic rigour with clinical relevance.
Preceding the APSPOS congress, the International Orthoptic Congress was held from June 27–29, setting the tone for interdisciplinary engagement. Dr Deepa Taranath represented APSPOS and chaired the Pediatric Ophthalmic Imaging session. The session featured leading orthoptic and ophthalmic professionals, including Katie Geering, Stephanie Crofts, Dr Susie Luu, Dr Caroline Catt, and Dr Rasha Altai.
A standout event of APSPOS 2025 was the Live Case Session on June 30, moderated by Dr Deepa Taranath and Prof Shuan Dai. Patients were examined live on stage by expert panels, creating a rare opportunity for real-time learning and discussion around diagnosis and management.

Another memorable moment was the multidisciplinary Ophthalmology-Radiology session, “How We See It!”, co-chaired by Dr Deepa Taranath, Dr Susie Luu, and Dr Manjushree Bhate on July 1. This session was especially meaningful as Dr Deepa Taranath’s husband, A/Prof Ajay Taranath, was one of the speakers. He was joined by renowned radiologists A/Prof Karuna Shekdar and Dr Ashish Atre, alongside ophthalmologist Prof Toshiaki Goseki — a proud moment that blended professional collaboration with personal pride.
From the IOC to APSPOS, these back-to-back meetings reflected an unwavering commitment to advancing paediatric eye care, both regionally and globally.