Scientific Program

Hall A
Hall A
Hall B
Supporters and Exhibitors Area

Hall A

09:00-10:30
BIG CONTROVERSIES IN RETINA AND BEYOND IN 2026
Chairs:
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
Zofia Anna Nawrocka , Poland
09:00-09:10
09:00-09:10
Welcome Remarks
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
Zofia Anna Nawrocka , Poland
09:10-09:25
Keynote Lecture: Role of AI in Modern Vitreo-Retinal Surgery
Stanislao Rizzo , Italy
09:30-10:30
Debate 1: Premium intra-ocular lenses can be considered for patients with macular disease
09:30-09:40
Yes
Zofia Anna Nawrocka , Poland
09:40-09:50
No
William F. Mieler , United States of America
09:50-10:00
Discussion
10:00-10:30
Debate 2: Sustained Delivery for NVAMD will be the preferred therapy in the future
10:00-10:10
Yes
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America
10:10-10:20
No
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
10:20-10:30
Discussion
10:30-11:00
Coffee Break, Visit Exhibition, View ePosters
11:00-12:30
MEDICAL RETINA 1 | Neovascular (“Wet”) AMD Management
Chairs:
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America
Christiana Dinah , United Kingdom
11:00-11:30
Debate 1: Should the risk of converting to wet AMD influence use of complement inhibitors in treating GA?
11:00-11:10
Yes
Jean Francois Korobelnik , France
11:10-11:20
No
Jordi Mones , Spain
11:20-11:30
Discussion
11:30-12:00
Debate 2: Treat and extend will continue to be the preferred treatment strategy in the era of sustained drug delivery
11:30-11:40
Yes
Jean Francois Korobelnik , France
11:40-11:50
No
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
11:50-12:00
Discussion
12:00-12:30
Debate 3: Gene therapy in the (near) future will play a central role in the management of neovascular Age Relate Macular Degeneration
12:00-12:10
Yes
David Almeida , United States of America
12:10-12:20
No
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
12:20-12:30
Discussion
12:45-13:45
Industry Sponsored Luncheon Symposium
14:00-15:00
Industry-Sponsored Dessert Symposium
15:00-16:30
SURGICAL RETINA 1 | Controversial Approaches to Common Surgical Questions
Chairs:
William F. Mieler , United States of America
Stanislao Rizzo , Italy
Zofia Anna Nawrocka , Poland
15:00-15:30
Debate 1: In vitrectomy surgery for epiretinal membranes (ERMs), it is essential to remove the internal limiting membrane (ILM) in order to maximize visual improvement and limit recurrences.
15:00-15:10
Yes
Stanislao Rizzo , Italy
15:10-15:20
No
William F. Mieler , United States of America
15:20-15:30
Discussion
15:30-16:00
Debate 2: Are methotrexate injections needed to improve outcomes in PVR RDd?
15:30-15:40
Yes
Zofia Anna Nawrocka , Poland
15:40-15:50
No
Jerzy Mackiewicz , Poland
15:50-16:00
Discussion
16:00-16:30
Debate 3: Pars plana vitrectomy is safe and effective in the management of myodesopsia (symptomatic vitreous floaters).
16:00-16:10
Yes
Francesco Boscia , Italy
16:10-16:20
No
William F. Mieler , United States of America
16:20-16:30
Discussion
16:30-17:00
Coffee Break, Visit Exhibition, View ePosters
17:00-18:00
VISION ACADEMY IN RETINA 2026 | Confronting challenges in an evolving retinal disease management landscape
Chairs:
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America
17:00-17:05
17:00-17:05
Introduction to the Vision Academy
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
17:05-17:10
17:05-17:10
Rapid-fire presentation: Spotlight briefing: Imaging biomarkers in the management of nAMD
Thibaud Mathis , France
17:10-17:15
17:10-17:15
Q&A
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America
17:15-17:35
Debate: anti-VEGF therapy can be discontinued in patients with nAMD that remains inactive with treatment at the maximum injection interval
17:15-17:21
Yes
Jean Francois Korobelnik , France
17:21-17:27
No
Paolo Lanzetta , Italy
17:27-17:32
Discussion (panel)
17:32-17:35
Vision Academy recommendations
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
17:35-17:55
Panel discussion / Q&A
Moderators:
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America
17:35-17:55
Current status and impact of AI use in screening, diagnosing and managing retinal diseases
Jean Francois Korobelnik , France
Thibaud Mathis , France
Paolo Lanzetta , Italy
17:55-18:00
17:55-18:00
Session Close
Anat Loewenstein , Israel
Baruch Kuppermann , United States of America

Hall B

08:00-09:00
Polish Ophthalmology Society (PTO)
Chairs:
Zofia Anna Nawrocka , Poland
Ewa Izabela Mrukwa-Kominek , Poland
08:00-08:06
Introduction
08:06-08:24
Debate 1: Is femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery advantageous?
08:06-08:12
Yes
Jacek Szaflik , Poland
08:12-08:18
No
Bartlomiej Kaluzny , Poland
08:18-08:24
Discussion
08:24-08:42
Debate 2: Has penetrating keratoplasty gone to the past?
08:24-08:30
Yes
Anna Machalinska , Poland
08:30-08:36
No
Dariusz Dobrowolski , Poland
08:36-08:42
Discussion
08:42-09:00
Debate 3: Which irradiation method for uveal melanoma is better: brachytherapy or proton therapy?
08:42-08:48
Yes brachytherapy
Natalia Mackiewicz-Jezior , Poland
Bozena Romanowska-Dixon , Poland
08:48-08:54
Yes protonotherapy
Magdalena Dębicka-Kumela , Poland
Bozena Romanowska-Dixon , Poland
08:54-09:00
Discussion
11:00-12:30
NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY 1 | The Afferent Pathway
Chairs:
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America
11:00-11:30
Debate 1: Should we worry about “sulfa allergy” in IIH treatment with acetazolamide (Diamox)
11:00-11:10
Yes
Alex Sinclair , Albania
11:10-11:20
No
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America
11:20-11:30
Discussion
11:30-12:00
Debate 2: Do GLP-1 agonists cause NAION?
11:30-11:40
Yes
Leonie Keidel , Germany
11:40-11:50
No
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America
11:50-12:00
Discussion
12:00-12:30
Case Presentations: Afferent
Moderators:
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America
12:45-13:25
Industry Sponsored Luncheon Symposium in Hall A
14:00-15:00
Industry-Sponsored Dessert Symposium in Hall A
15:00-16:30
NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY 2 | The Efferent Pathway
Chairs:
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America
15:00-15:30
Debate 1: Should we scan all third nerve palsies regardless of the pupil?
15:00-15:10
Yes
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America
15:10-15:20
No
Leonie Keidel , Germany
15:20-15:30
Discussion
15:30-16:00
Debate 2: IIH with severe visual loss is a surgical disease
15:30-15:40
Yes
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America
15:40-15:50
No
Alex Sinclair , Albania
15:50-16:00
Discussion
16:00-16:30
Case Presentations: Efferent
Moderators:
Andrew G. Lee , United States of America

Supporters and Exhibitors Area

18:00-19:00
Welcome Reception