Retina International

25/05/2026

We're looking forward to sharing our work at in Prague!

Our poster, "Emotional and Psychological Wellbeing in People Living with Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs): Results of a Multinational Survey", will be presented by Claire Duggan, our Head of Communications, during the Day 2 Poster Pitch Session on Thursday, 4th June.

This work explores an aspect of inherited retinal diseases that is often under-recognised: the emotional and psychological impact of living with progressive vision loss. By gathering perspectives from people living with IRDs across multiple countries, the study aims to better understand how vision loss affects well-being, independence, relationships, and everyday life.

Date: Thursday, 4 June 2026
Time: Approx. 11:35 CET
Location: Room B2+3 at O2 Universum Congress Centre

If you're attending , we'd love to connect and discuss the findings!

Study authors: Dr Nabin Paudel; Dr Ellen Moran; Avril Daly; Prof. Lauren Ayton AM, Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA)

EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe



[ID: Promotional graphic for highlighting a poster presentation titled “Emotional and Psychological Wellbeing in People Living with Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs): Results of a Multinational Survey.” The graphic includes the poster pitch session details: 4 June 2026, 11:35 CET, Room B2+3, with Retina International branding and the message “See You There!”]

23/05/2026

A gentle reminder to take part in our Retina International website redevelopment survey!

We’re currently working on building a more accessible, user-friendly, and community-focused website, and whether you’re a patient, family member, researcher, clinician, advocate, or member organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Your insights will help us improve accessibility, strengthen how we share information and resources, and create a website that better reflects the needs of the global retinal community.

Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2FcDtO6wLMDh7KgkR26Az1OdaqrYhbIPkEa8ujTX1VEcWbg/viewform

Thank you to everyone who has already shared feedback with us so far!

22/05/2026

A big thank you to Claire Wilmington, a PhD student at University College Cork and a member of the Retorna_EU group, for delivering a fascinating presentation to the team on her PhD research exploring patient preferences around gene therapy for retinal diseases.

Claire is currently undertaking a short placement with Retina International, where she is working closely with patients to help co-design her research methodology while also gaining insight into RI’s research, advocacy, and policy work.

It’s fantastic to see patient perspectives being embedded so thoughtfully into retinal research from the very beginning, and we’re delighted to support Claire during her placement with us!



[Image description: Rl team members seated together, listening to a presentation by Claire Wilmington on her doctoral research exploring patient preferences regarding gene therapy for retinal diseases.]

21/05/2026

Another inspiring session of the Education Hub!

This week’s module focused on Innovation in Retina Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, exploring some of the latest developments shaping the future of retinal research and care.

A huge thank you to Dr Kapil Bharti for his session on stem cell therapy for inherited and age-related retinal diseases, including mechanisms of action and current clinical trials, and to Dr Joe Carroll for sharing insights into innovative imaging modalities in inherited and age-related retinal disease.

We’re also incredibly grateful to all participants for their engagement, thoughtful questions, and continued enthusiasm throughout the programme.

At Retina International, the Education Hub was developed to empower patient advocates with deeper knowledge of retinal science, clinical trials, innovation, regulation, and the future of retinal care, thereby strengthening patient leadership and ensuring that lived experience remains central to research and decision-making.

We now look forward to our final Education Hub knowledge-sharing and closing session on May 29th from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM CET.



[Image descriptions: 1 - Faculty introduction graphic featuring Dr Kapil Bharti and Dr Joe Carroll, with their names, academic affiliations, and the Retina International Education Hub logo. 2 - Online Retina International Education Hub session showing a presentation slide by Dr Kapil Bharti titled “Stem Cell therapy - for inherited and age-related retinal diseases - mechanism of action, current trials,” alongside participant video thumbnails. 3 - Online Retina International Education Hub lecture slide by Dr Joe Carroll titled “Innovative Imaging Modalities in Inherited and Age-Related Retinal Diseases,” featuring participant video thumbnails and the AOIP (Advanced Ocular Imaging Program) logo.]

18/05/2026

We’re delighted to officially welcome Navya Dhir to Retina International as our new Membership Engagement Coordinator!

Navya brings experience across member communications, community engagement, and international network building, and will play an important role in strengthening how Retina International connects and engages with members across our global network.

As our communications work continues to grow alongside the redevelopment of the RI website, Navya will also serve as the primary point of contact for membership-related queries and support.

We’re excited to have her on board and look forward to the work ahead together!

Read more here: https://retina-international.org/navya-welcome/

📩 Membership queries: Membership@retina-international.org
📩 Contact Navya directly: Navya.Dhir@retina-international.org

17/05/2026

As conversations around vision loss and mental wellbeing continue to grow, we’re pleased to share this upcoming webinar from Foundation Fighting Blindness for Mental Health Awareness Month.

At Retina International, this is an area we are also actively exploring through ongoing research into the wider impact of vision loss on mental health, cognitive wellbeing, and quality of life, making conversations like these especially important.

“Mental Health Living and Thriving” will explore emotional resilience, holistic wellbeing, and navigating life with vision loss, led by licensed therapist Matthew Reeves, who also lives with Stargardt disease himself.

Date: Saturday, May 23rd, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM EDT
Location: Virtual

A valuable conversation for the blind and low vision community, families, advocates, and anyone interested in the connection between eye health and mental wellbeing.

Register here: https://www.fightingblindness.org/events/quarterly-vision-webinar-mental-health-living-and-thriving-6840

Join us for our Quarterly Vision Webinar on Mental Health, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, on Saturday, May 23, at 12:00 p.m. ET. We’ll explore the emotional impact of vision loss, along with strategies for resilience, holistic well-being, and building community.

15/05/2026

A look back at a busy and inspiring few days at ARVO Annual Meeting 2026!

From presentations and poster sessions to conversations with researchers, clinicians, and advocates from around the world, ARVO 2026 brought together the global ophthalmology and vision research community to share the latest developments shaping the future of eye health and retinal research.

We were proud to have Dr Kate Fankun Cao representing Retina International and presenting important research exploring the wider impact of vision loss on mental health and cognitive wellbeing using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing - TILDA.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, connected, and shared conversations with us throughout the week in Denver.



[Video Description: A montage of clips from the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. The video opens with 3 stacked clips of the Colorado Convention Centre and ARVO signage before moving through scenes of busy conference halls, presentation rooms, poster sessions, and networking spaces. Researchers and attendees are seen speaking at podiums, presenting scientific posters, and engaging in discussions throughout the venue. A few clips show Retina International researcher Dr Kate Fankun Cao presenting her research. The video captures the atmosphere of a large international scientific conference focused on ophthalmology, retinal research, and eye health.]

12/05/2026

More moments from ARVO Annual Meeting 2026!

Alongside her oral presentation earlier this week, Dr Kate Fankun Cao also presented a poster on behalf of Dr Nabin Paudel exploring the Association Between Vision and Mental Health, using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing - TILDA.

The research highlights the wider impact of vision loss beyond sight alone, reinforcing the importance of more holistic, patient-centred approaches to care and support.

It has been fantastic to share this work with the global ophthalmology and vision research community at ARVO 2026.

07/05/2026

We’re redeveloping the Retina International website, and we want your input!

Help us improve how we share our work by taking a short survey. Your feedback will shape how we design the site, improve accessibility, and build better ways to connect with our members and community.

➡️ Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc2FcDtO6wLMDh7KgkR26Az1OdaqrYhbIPkEa8ujTX1VEcWbg/viewform

Learn more here:
https://retina-international.org/help-shape-the-new-ri-website/

Thank you for helping us create an accessible, modern website that better reflects the voices, priorities, and advocacy of the global retinal community.

06/05/2026

From the stage at ARVO Annual Meeting 2026!

Dr Kate Fankun Cao from Retina International presented her research on the link between Visual Acuity and Cognitive Performance, using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing - TILDA.

It was great to see this work shared with the global ophthalmology community and to be part of the wider conversation on how vision loss impacts overall health and quality of life.



Image 1
[ID: Wide shot of a conference room at the ARVO. Attendees are facing the stage where a presentation slide titled “Results - Vision & Cognition”. The slide includes charts and graphs. Kate stands at a podium on the right. The image is framed with a blue Retina International branded border and the text “ ” at the top.]

Image 2
[ID: Close-up of Kate presenting at the ARVO 2026 Annual Meeting at a podium. The image is framed with a yellow Retina International branded border and the text “ ” at the top.]

Image 3
[ID: Wide shot of a conference session at the ARVO. A presentation slide is projected on a large screen, while Kate stands at a podium to the right. The image is framed with a pink Retina International branded border and the text “ ” at the top.]

03/05/2026

Why is Retina International presenting at ?

Because research isn’t just about data, it’s about people. Our team is using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing - TILDA to show how vision loss affects life beyond the clinic.

Key highlights to look forward to:

- Mental Health: Understanding the emotional impact of vision loss to advocate for better support services.
- Cognitive Health: Exploring the link between sight and brain health to promote holistic care.
- Patient-Driven Advocacy: Turning your lived experience into scientific evidence that influences global policy.

We believe that by sharing these findings with the ophthalmology community, we can help build a future of more personalised, patient-centred care.

See you in Denver! 🛫