The Rector of the University of Oviedo, Vicente Gotor, accepted this morning the Medal of the Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Institute, a distinction the entity has created to celebrate the 125 anniversary of ophthalmological practice by this medical family from Oviedo. Vicente Gotor pointed out, after accepting the prize, that Asturias "owes a great debt to the Fernández-Vega Ophthalmological Institute".

The Rector was in charge of opening the refresher course Queratoplastias y Terapias Regenerativas de la Córnea, which is held in the entity's assembly hall. Also the directors of the course, José Alfonso and Jesús Merayo, from the Institute, spoke in the ceremony. The former showed his satisfaction for considering that "the Fernández- Vega Ophthalmological Institute is fulfilling its expectations in the three areas they work on: assistance, teaching and research". Merayo, on the other hand, put special emphasis on this course being part of the continuous training program of the University of Oviedo as part of the frame agreement signed between the academic institution and the Foundation for Ophthalmological Research.

In his speech, Luis Fernández- Vega pointed out that today everything related to Ophthalmology "is object of attention in our Institute, where both clinical and basic research play a very important role, not to mention teaching in all its aspects". He also added: "All in all, the role of the University of Oviedo has always been fundamental. With it we have signed a frame agreement and other specific ones which make the collaboration in research projects and teaching activities possible".

Fernández- Vega also stated that the clinical and surgical activity of this Institute "generates a high teaching capacity postgraduate students can benefit from and is offered in the shape of Master's degrees in ocular surface and cornea, retina, glaucoma, clinical optometry, ophthalmological nursing and university expert courses for short stays with us".

For his part, the Rector declared that he receives the medal with honour and pride, "because it also ackowledges the collaboration existing between institutions which watch over research and, in short, improve society's life quality. A lot of actions have been carried out by the University of Oviedo and the Fernández- Vega Ophthalmological Institute, without going very far, this current academic year, but above all, I am pleased with its collaboration as member of the Campus of International Excellence, specially linked to the Cluster of Biomedicine and Health".