Moroccan eye surgeons in London sign a new global cataract reference

This update focuses on Moroccan cataract surgery. Two Moroccan eye surgeons have helped publish in London a major global reference on cataract surgery, a scientific milestone that also feeds into medical training in Morocco.

A London milestone for Moroccan cataract surgery

Springer Nature has released a substantial textbook entitled Cataract Surgery: Practice, Technique and Innovation, co-edited by Drs Rachid Tahiri and Otman Sandali together with Egyptian professor Ashraf Armia. The book was officially launched last weekend in London, on the sidelines of the 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS).

The congress gathered around 16,000 eye-care professionals from across the globe. For Moroccan doctors, both in the country and abroad, this recognition by one of the world’s leading scientific publishers is a strong signal of credibility.

A 932-page work with 120 chapters and 200 contributors

The new Moroccan cataract surgery reference published by Springer runs to 932 pages and 120 chapters. It brings together around 200 experts from five continents, offering a panoramic view of current practice in a field that remains central to preventing avoidable blindness.

The textbook covers the whole surgical journey: preoperative assessment, indications, operative techniques, intraocular lenses and the management of complex cases. A significant section is devoted to innovation, including robotics and the integration of artificial intelligence inside the operating theatre.

According to early figures shared by the publisher, the book has already recorded around 15,000 online accesses within a few weeks, a solid performance for such a specialised medical publication.

International careers with roots in Casablanca

Both Rachid Tahiri and Otman Sandali are well known in international ophthalmology circles, particularly in cataract and retinal surgery.

• Dr Rachid Tahiri graduated from Paris VII medical faculty.
• He was top of his residency class at Casablanca’s Ibn Rochd University Hospital in 2002.
• He holds the European Board of Ophthalmology diploma.

His co-editor, Dr Otman Sandali, has followed a similar path of sub-specialisation and regular scientific publishing, building strong ties with leading European professional societies.

What does this change for Moroccans living abroad?

For Moroccans abroad, this development does not immediately alter their day-to-day access to care. But the Moroccan cataract surgery expertise showcased in this book strengthens the reputation of Moroccan teams within the health systems where they and their families are treated.

In Casablanca, the editorial project goes hand in hand with an economic and academic ambition: to build a stronger training platform around cataract surgery and new vision technologies. In the medium term, this can benefit:

• expats whose parents or relatives choose to undergo eye surgery in Morocco;
• young Moroccan doctors trained to international standards, including those returning from abroad;
• healthcare investment projects in eye care, often driven by Moroccans living overseas.

The editors insist on integrating the latest techniques, such as robotics and AI, which are highly relevant to a new generation of Moroccan specialists in Morocco and in their host countries.

A positive signal for Moroccan medical research

Beyond cataract surgery itself, this Springer publication sends an encouraging message: doctors trained in Morocco, then specialised abroad, can now co-lead a major global work while keeping Casablanca as a key base.

For Moroccan doctors abroad considering a full or partial return to the health sector back home, this kind of career path shows that it is possible to combine an international trajectory, serious scientific work and a concrete contribution to the development of care in Morocco.

The next step will be to see how this textbook is used in Moroccan training programmes and operating rooms, and which partnerships it may trigger with hospitals and universities where many Moroccan medical professionals currently practise around the world.

For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.

For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.