American Academy of Ophthalmology

01/08/2026

Don’t miss the Jan. 15 deadline. The Knights Templar Eye Foundation offers $100K grants to help young ophthalmologists advance pediatric eye care research. Submit your application today:

The Knights Templar Eye Foundation is committed to support research that can help launch the careers of clinical and basic researchers focused on the prevention and cure of potentially blinding diseases in infants and children. We support clinical or basic research on conditions that can or may even...

01/08/2026

The abstract submitter for instruction courses and new Skills Transfer labs closes next week! Hurry to submit abstracts for:
• Instruction courses and new Skills Transfer labs
• AAOE® instruction courses
• AAOP™ instruction courses

Abstracts that incorporate case-based presentations, discussion, and audience participation are strongly encouraged. Get more information, see FAQs, review suggested course topics, and more: https://ow.ly/Om5L50XT9x4
Submit by Jan. 13!

01/08/2026

Screening plus treatment equals better outcomes. In , programs show how combining the two on a population level reduces burden and vision loss.

An in-depth look at diabetic retinopathy in Morocco, exploring screening models, AI-assisted detection, specialized retina centers, and treatment...

01/07/2026

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has opened the search for a new Editor-in-Chief for Ophthalmology, one of the field's most prestigious journals. This is an opportunity to shape the future of ophthalmic research and guide the publication that sets standards for clinical excellence and innovation in eye care.

The successful applicant will demonstrate the ability to recognize important contributions to the field of ophthalmology, oversee journal editorial activities, and enable the editorial board and reviewers to execute efficient scholarly peer review.

Read: https://ow.ly/99Sr50XKB3U

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is seeking an editor-in chief for Ophthalmology, the Academy's flagship peer-reviewed journal.

01/07/2026

Purpose drives practice. In , isn’t just clinical — it’s community and mission. That mindset can energize your own career too.

A day in the life of ophthalmology in Nepal reveals purpose-driven care, surgical precision, community connection, and global collaboration shaping...

01/06/2026

Alcon is recalling certain Custom Pak Ophthalmic Procedure Packs due to pouches with potentially incomplete seals, which could compromise the sterile barrier. Alcon has issued letters to affected customers regarding removal of these products.

Use of non-sterile surgical products may increase the risk of microbial contamination and subsequent ocular infection, which may necessitate additional medical attention.

As of December 18, no serious injuries or deaths have been reported associated with this issue.

Read: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/medical-device-recalls-and-early-alerts/custom-surgical-pack-recall-alcon-removes-custom-pak-ophthalmic-procedure-packs

Alcon recalls Custom Pak Ophthalmic Procedure Packs due to incomplete seals that may compromise sterility. Check lot numbers, recall instructions. 

01/06/2026

Judy E. Kim, MD, and Michael W. Stewart, MD, share their thoughts on therapies, focusing on guidelines, strengths, and limitations, and more. Claim CME credit today. https://ow.ly/Zh8A50XH7wb

01/05/2026

Drs. Whitney Sambhariya and Courtney Kraus discuss a classic pediatric cataract extraction without intraocular lens (IOL) placement in a 6-month-old infant with a patchy lamellar cataract and prominent posterior capsule opacity.

Watch:

Dr. Whitney Sambhariya discusses a classic pediatric cataract extraction without intraocular lens (IOL) placement in an infant with a patchy...

01/03/2026

A 24-year-old hypermetrope presented with a superonasal scotoma and bullous inferotemporal retinoschisis (A). Autofluorescence and OCT showed shadowing over the inferotemporal macula due to overhanging schitic retina (B, purple bracket). Six years later the schisis collapsed (C) from formation of outer layer breaks, delineated on autofluorescence and OCT (D, color-matched asterisks and arrows). There was reduced schisis cavity fluid (red dot), without subretinal fluid. The superonasal scotoma persisted. Outer layer break formation allows movement of the schisis fluid to the subretinal space where it may be resorbed by the retinal pigment epithelium pump. Pump failure may lead to schisis detachment.

From “Spontaneous Collapse of Retinoschisis Due to Formation of Outer Layer Breaks” by Amreen Qureshi, MBBS, FRCOphth, Shivesh Varma, MBBS, FRANZCO, Daniel Chiu, MBBS, FRANZCO. Published by Ophthalmology Retina online on May 12, 2025.

Read: https://ow.ly/qWOA50XATK4

01/02/2026

We are pleased to announce that Christopher J. Rapuano, MD has begun his term as President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology for 2026. Dr. Rapuano, a nationally and internationally recognized expert in corneal diseases and refractive surgery, brings decades of leadership, clinical excellence, and commitment to ophthalmic education to this role.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Rapuano has served in numerous leadership capacities within the Academy, including Senior Secretary for Clinical Education and as a member of the Board of Trustees, shaping high-impact educational initiatives, practice guidelines, and professional development resources for ophthalmologists.

Under his leadership, the Academy will continue advancing our mission to protect sight and empower lives by advocating for patients and ophthalmologists, leading cutting-edge education, and strengthening the profession at home and abroad.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Rapuano as he leads the Academy into a year of growth, innovation, and service.

Read: https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/christopher-j-rapuano-md-begins-term-as-president

12/30/2025

Champagne cork eye injuries are rare, but when they occur, the damage can be devastating: the eye can split open, bones around the eye can fracture, it can cause bleeding inside the eye or the retina to detach from the back of the eye.

Considering the physics involved, it’s not hard to see how a flying cork can blind. The average bottle of champagne holds about 90 psi of pressure, enough to shoot the cork from the bottle at more than 30 mph. The cork is also perfectly sized to evade the protective bones around the eye and deliver a direct hit to the eye’s delicate structure.

Check out our video for a foolproof technique for opening a bottle of champagne. Though poor technique is more likely to waste bubbles and ruin the carpet than cause an eye injury, proper technique will help you avoid both.

12/29/2025

An asymptomatic 19-year-old woman presented for a new chorioretinal scar. Fundus examination showed bilateral macular retinal pigment epithelium mottling and a chorioretinal scar in the left eye. Hypopigmented lesions were noted around the arcades and nasal to the optic nerve (A), appearing hyperautofluorescent on fundus autofluorescence (B). Macular OCT demonstrated temporal hyperreflective dots, foveal outer nuclear layer/external limiting membrane hyperreflectivity, and perifoveal photoreceptor disruption (C). Genetic testing identified 2 pathogenic variants (including c.2588G>C [p.Gly863Ala], a hypomorphic allele) and 2 variants of uncertain significance in ABCA4. Although perifoveal macular atrophy is typical in ABCA4-associated retinopathy, subtle foveal outer retinal hyperreflectivity may be seen in mild disease, possibly attributed to the hypomorphic pathogenic variant.

From “OCT Findings in a Patient with Mild ABCA4 Stargardt Disease” by James T. Kwan, MD, Peter Y. Zhao, MD, Michelle C. Liang, MD. Published by Ophthalmology Retina online on May 14, 2025.

Read: https://ow.ly/wtOu50XATx4