The Asia Pacific Paediatric Retina Association (APPREA) was inaugurated on 7 November 2024 by retinal specialists from across the region, in response to a clear and unmet need for a dedicated regional voice in paediatric retinal disease.
Paediatric retinal disease sits at an awkward intersection — too rare for general retina meetings to cover well, too specialised for paediatric ophthalmology curricula to do justice. Across the Asia-Pacific the picture is uneven: some centres lead the world in retinopathy of prematurity care; others struggle for basic equipment. APPREA was founded to close those gaps.
Our founding President, Prof. Rajvardhan Azad, surveyed retinal specialists across the region in 2024 and found strong appetite for a dedicated society — including a regional journal, a permanent secretariat, and a regular conference cadence. The inaugural Round Table Council Meeting in November 2024 ratified the constitution and elected office bearers.
| Founded | 7 November 2024 |
|---|---|
| Term | 3 years |
| Conference cadence | Every 18 months |
| Membership | Life only Opening shortly |
| President | Prof. Rajvardhan Azad |
| Secretary General | Prof. Peiquan Zhao |
The constitution of the Asia Pacific Paediatric Retina Association was drafted by the founding council and unanimously endorsed at the inaugural Round Table Council Meeting on 7 November 2024. The full text is held by the Office of the Secretary General. What follows is a public-facing summary of its principal Articles.
The Association is named the Asia Pacific Paediatric Retina Association (APPREA), a non-profit professional society. Its working domicile is the office of the sitting Secretary General; a permanent secretariat is to be established in due course.
To advance the prevention, diagnosis, and management of paediatric retinal disease across the Asia-Pacific; to develop region-relevant consensus and clinical guidance; to foster education, training, and research; and to connect specialists, trainees, and patient families across the region.
Membership is life-long by a one-off subscription, with no recurring dues. Two tiers: Full (ophthalmologists with an interest or expertise in paediatric retina) and Associate (trainees). The Council may admit Honorary members in recognition of distinguished contribution.
The Executive Committee comprises the President, Secretary General, three Vice Presidents, Scientific Secretary, two Deputy Secretaries General, two Deputy Scientific Secretaries, Treasurer, and Advisors. Office bearers serve a single term of three years, with succession determined at the close of each cycle.
The Council includes the Executive Committee, one country representative for each participating Asia-Pacific nation, and Councillors at Large nominated by the President. The Council is the highest decision-making body of the Association.
APPREA holds a scientific congress every 18 months, rotating across host countries to share organising load and broaden participation. The host is confirmed by Council at the preceding congress. The Scientific Secretary chairs the programme committee.
The Council may charter consensus working groups on clinical questions of regional importance. Working groups draft position statements, consult the membership, and publish endorsed output as APPREA consensus papers.
The Treasurer keeps accounts of subscriptions, congress income, and grants, and reports annually to Council. Independent audit is commissioned at the close of each three-year term. Congress finances are administered by the host country with Council oversight.
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of voting Council members at a duly convened Council meeting, on at least 30 days' notice of the proposed amendment.
In the event of dissolution, residual assets shall be transferred to a kindred non-profit body active in paediatric ophthalmology or paediatric retina, by Council resolution.
Held on 7 November 2024 at the China Grain Hotel during the inaugural APPREA congress in Shanghai, hosted by Prof. Peiquan Zhao. The meeting endorsed the constitution, elected office bearers, and set the venues for the next two congresses.
Establish a regional society for paediatric retina, with a constitution, office bearers, conference cadence, and membership model.
Three-year term · 18-month conference cadence · life-only membership · second congress in 2026 · third in 2027.
Constitution unanimously endorsed; full slate of office bearers and council members elected from across 15+ countries.
