AAO 2025: Imagine what can happen during this collective experience

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting and expo are fast approaching on October 18 and will run through October 20 at the Orange County Convention Center West in Orlando.

In a runup to the main meeting, the Subspecialty Day programs are scheduled for October 17 and 18. Day 1 features glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology and pathology, refractive surgery, retina day 1, and day 2 cornea, oculofacial plastic surgery, and retina day 2. All events are held in the Orange County Convention Center.

Other gatherings of interest are the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives Practice Management Program and the American Academy of Ophthalmic Professionals Clinical Teams Program, which are scheduled for October 17 to 20.

Those interesting in attending the AAO in person can register here.

AAO also offers the option to attend virtually and those interested can register here.

The virtual meeting platform opens Tuesday, October 14.

Main Meeting Highlights

Attendees have exhaustive educational opportunities from which to choose that include instruction courses, paper sessions, poster sessions, skills transfer courses, Academy Café, Ask the Experts, podium posters, and symposiums, all of which are sprinkled throughout the meeting.

The following is just a few of the available highlights on each day. All times are expressed in Eastern Daylight Time.

Friday, October 17

• Troutman Award Lecture: Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Using Dehydrated Versus Standard Organ Culture-Stored Donor Corneas: Prospective Randomized Trial from 11:57 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.
• The Charles L. Schepens MD Lecture: How to Describe New Diseases, the Same Skills Necessary to Become an Outstanding Clinician from 9:23 to 10:35 a.m.
• The 2025 American Glaucoma Society Subspecialty Day Lecture: Truly Personalized Glaucoma Care from 11:30 a.m. to 1:43 p.m.

Saturday, October 18

• Opening Session and Annual Business Meeting from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
• Dr. Allan Jensen and Claire Jensen Lecture: Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Ethics, and the Future of Ophthalmology from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• C. Stephen and Frances Foster Lecture: “Bedside” to “Bench” and Back from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Jackson Memorial Lecture: Using Genetics for Glaucoma Screening and Risk Stratification from 9:46 to 10:11 a.m.
• William F. Hoyt Lecture: What Have We Learned from the Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Treatment Trial? from 2:57 to 3:15 p.m.
• Michael F. Marmor Lecture in Ophthalmology and the Arts from 10:14 to 10:39 a.m.
• Robert N. Shaffer Lecture: Glaucoma at the Center of the Earth from 2:53 to 3:08 p.m.

Sunday, October 19

• YO Program Part 1 Private, Independent and Powerful: The Future of Solo Practice symposium from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m.
• Zimmerman Lecture: Discovery from 2:50 to 3:13 p.m.
• Castroviejo Lecture: Innovation in Ophthalmology: Advances in the Management of Endothelial Dysfunction from 10:38 to 10:58 a.m.
• Parker Heath Lecture: Innovations in Ophthalmology and Global Health Policy: Shaping the Future of Global Eye Care from 8:45 to 9:00 a.m.
• Jones/Smolin Lecture: Viral and Other Infectious Culprits of Conjunctival Tumors at 8:55 a.m.
• Charles D. Kelman Lecture: Lecture Title: Perfect Prediction—Are We There Yet? at 4:40 p.m.
  Marshall M. Parks Lecture: High Pressure Situations: When Optic Discs Don’t Follow the Rules from 12:23 to 12:43 p.m.

Monday, October 20

• Scientific Findings from the RPB/AAO Award for IRIS Registry Research symposium from 9:45 to 11:00 a.m.
• Wendell L. Hughes Lecture: Prioritizing Anatomy and Knowledge of Surgical Techniques to Fuel Innovations from 10:33 to 10:48 a.m.
• Whitney G. Sampson Lecture: Role of Corneal Nerves in Wound Healing and Disease from 8:45 to 9:05 a.m.
• Ruedemann Lecture: Orbital Socket and Implant Management: Lessons Learned From Guatemala to Ukraine from 12:19 to 12:39 p.m.

Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The list of exhibits is available on the AAO website.

Evening Events

A special event, Illuminate, is scheduled for Saturday, October 18, from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Live! at the Point Orlando, at 9101 International Drive.

Illuminate, aka Illuminate the Night in Orlando, creates a block party-style event, according to AAO, that will allow attendees to “reconnect, recharge, and revel in good company, all while supporting ophthalmic education.”

Attendees can enjoy cocktails and appetizers while visiting four themed venues: Houndsmen Lounge, PBR Cowboy Bar, Shark Bar, and Sports and Social.

This year, AAO will celebrate honorees Christie L. Morse, MD, and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation for their leadership and commitment to improving vision.

Tickets for Illuminate can be purchased tickets while registering for AAO 2025.

On Sunday, October 19, attendees can enjoy Universal Islands of Adventure from 5:00 p.m., and then from 8:00 to 11:30 p.m., AAO invites conference attendees to “unlimited access to the most amazing theme park rides and attractions in Orlando,” during which time three lands are reserved for conference attendees.

Tickets can be purchased while registering for AAO 2025.

Camp AAO

Camp AAO is a childcare opportunity offered by the AAO. Parents of children aged 6 months to 12 years can take advantage of this service

The camp is described as “a safe, nurturing environment located near the Orange County Convention Center. Children will have the opportunity to participate in arts and crafts, a variety of active games, and additional activities.”

Parents must provide food for their children at the time they are dropped off or parents can bring food during the day.

Registration and payment for Camp AAO are required by October 9.