About the Doug Coster Lecture
The Doug Coster Lecture is one of the most prestigious keynote presentations in the field of cornea and refractive surgery within Australia and New Zealand. Named in honour of Professor Doug Coster, a pioneering figure whose career has been dedicated to advancing corneal science and improving surgical outcomes, this lecture celebrates cutting-edge research, clinical excellence, and educational leadership in ophthalmology.
Professor Doug Coster has been internationally recognised for his seminal work in corneal transplantation, keratoconus, ocular surface disease, and his passion for education. His contributions have shaped the landscape of modern corneal and refractive surgery, leaving a lasting legacy in patient care and surgical innovation. The lecture series, established to acknowledge his extraordinary achievements, continues to attract world-renowned specialists who share their insights on the latest advancements and future directions in the field.
Held annually during the Australian and New Zealand Cornea Society Meeting, the Doug Coster Lecture is a highlight of the program. Each invited speaker is carefully selected for their global impact in areas such as biometry, artificial intelligence in ophthalmology, endothelial keratoplasty, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and keratoconus detection and management.
The Prestige of the Doug Coster Lecture
Receiving an invitation to deliver the Doug Coster Lecture is considered a mark of distinction. Lecturers join an elite roster of experts whose research and clinical practice have transformed corneal and refractive surgery. This tradition not only reflects the esteem of the Australian and New Zealand ophthalmic community but also contributes to the global conversation in eye care.
Many past speakers have taken the opportunity to explore the natural wonders of Australia and New Zealand, often accompanied by family, making the journey both professionally rewarding and personally enriching.
Below is a historical list of Doug Coster Lecturers and their lecture topics:
| Year | Location | Speaker | Lecture Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Adelaide | Prof. Lawrie Hirst | All you ever wanted to know about ocular surface dysplasia. |
| 2003 | Adelaide | Prof. Geoff Crawford | AlphaCor: The development and outcome of a synthetic corneal replacement. |
| 2004 | Melbourne | Prof. Doug Coster | A journey in corneal research. |
| 2005 | Sydney | Prof. John Armitage | Corneal graft failure in the short and long term. |
| 2006 | Perth | Prof. Charles McGhee | From optics to Zernicke: evolution in our understanding of corneal topography. |
| 2007 | Auckland | Prof. Kerryn Williams | Gene therapy for the cornea: will it really help your patients? |
| 2008 | Brisbane | Prof. Minas Coroneo | The sun and the eye. |
| 2009 | Adelaide | Dr. Michael Thiel | The development of antibody fragments for ocular therapy. |
| 2010 | Melbourne | Prof. Rasik Vajpayee | Lamellar corneal transplantation: a great revival! |
| 2011 | Sydney | Prof. Donald Tan | A plea for endothelial protectionism in endothelial keratoplasty: How do we make EK better? |
| 2012 | Auckland | Prof. Mark Terry | Endothelial keratoplasty: current techniques and results with DSAEK. |
| 2013 | Adelaide | Prof. Frank Larkin | Prospects for gene treatments in corneal disorders. |
| 2014 | Brisbane | Prof. Mark Daniell | Can you be a physician scientist in the 21st century? |
| 2015 | Perth | Prof. Julie Daniels | Is biomimicry the key to corneal regeneration? |
| 2016 | Melbourne | Prof. Kerryn Williams | Putting some science into the art of corneal transplantation. |
| 2017 | Brisbane | Prof. Shigeru Kinoshita | Future treatment for corneal endothelial dysfunction. |
| 2018 | Sydney | Assoc. Prof. Jod Mehta | Corneal endothelial cell engineering - it’s not just culture. |
| 2019 | Adelaide | Dr. Paul Badenoch | Reflections on diagnostic ocular microbiology. |
| 2020 | Auckland | Prof. Fung-Rong Hu | Infectious keratitis: clinical features, risk factors and management. |
| 2021 | COVID | No meeting | - |
| 2022 | COVID | No meeting | - |
| 2023 | Perth | Prof. Gerard Sutton | The road best travelled to a bioengineered cornea. |
| 2024 | Melbourne | Prof. Stephanie Watson | Corneal disease and surgery: Finding the evidence to improve outcomes. |
| 2025 | Brisbane | Mr. Sheraz Daya | Clear and in Shape - Principles and Practice |
For more on advances in cornea surgery, refractive surgery, keratoconus management, and ophthalmic innovation, explore the other pages on our site or get in touch with us.