The COS Annual Meeting will take place from June 19 – 22, 2025 in beautiful Vancouver, BC.

Join us at the Vancouver Convention Centre where ophthalmologists and eye care professionals from across the spectrum of vision health, from research to patient care, will come together. 

This meeting boasts an outstanding international and Canadian faculty presenting the latest in ophthalmic research and practice. The COS Annual Meeting and Exhibition includes invited lectures, scientific papers, wet labs and workshops, as well as networking opportunities and an extensive exhibition of ophthalmic equipment and services.

The Call for Abstracts is now open, to submit an abstract or find out more, click HERE.

Learning objectives:

By participating in this year’s meeting, attendees will:

• Integrate into their practice, knowledge and skills gained from the sharing of Canadian and international research and scientific studies
• Discuss recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases
• Compare and contrast core concepts, new advances and clinical experiences by networking with colleagues and internationally renowned keynote speakers
• Enhance or develop new skills through innovative hands-on learning experiences in Self-Assessment Program (SAPs) and Surgical Skills Transfer Course (STCs)
• Appraise new and innovative technology and discuss developments in treatment and medical devices with industry representatives in the Exhibition Hall

For more information such as program scheduling, registration, and travel, click HERE.

The field of ophthalmology is constantly evolving, with new techniques, technologies, and best practices emerging regularly. To help ophthalmologists stay at the forefront of their profession, we are proud to introduce “EyeNovation: International Webinar Series for Ophthalmic Expertise.”

This innovative webinar series aims to connect ophthalmologists from around the world, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration. Each webinar will feature renowned experts presenting on cutting-edge topics and sharing their invaluable experiences.

We are thrilled to announce our inaugural webinar, “Pearls from the Trenches: What I’ve learned from doing complex cases,” presented by esteemed ophthalmologist Dr. Steven Safran. With years of experience tackling challenging ophthalmic cases, Dr. Steven Safran will share the lessons he has learned and provide practical insights to enhance attendees’ clinical practice.

The webinar will take place on September 30th from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST and will include a live Q&A session, allowing attendees to engage directly with Dr. Safran.

By attending this webinar, ophthalmologists will:

1. Gain valuable insights from a leading expert in the field
2. Learn practical strategies for managing complex ophthalmic cases
3. Connect with colleagues from around the globe
4. Enhance their clinical knowledge and skills

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from the best and advance your ophthalmic expertise while also gaining section 1 MOC credits. Register now to secure your spot in the inaugural EyeNovation webinar.

Stay tuned for future webinars in the EyeNovation series, as we continue to bring you the latest advancements and expert perspectives in ophthalmology. Together, we can improve patient care and push the boundaries of what is possible in this dynamic field.

Wills Eye Hospital and the University of Toronto are excited to bring you the next installment of the Cornea Surgical Video Learning Series:

Date: Thursday, September 19th 2024
Time: 19:30 – 21:00 EST
Location: Virtual

Keynote Presentation:
Professor Michael Snyder, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati

Guest panelists: Joshua Teichman, MD FRCSC and Randal Ulate, MD (University of Toronto),
Zeba Syed, MD and Brenton Finklea, MD (Wills Eye Hospital)

Surgery Case Presentations: Rohini Sigireddi, MD (Wills Eye Hospital), Mor Baraket, MD(University of Toronto)

Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ABOjHTL9Rmu7NS9Oh9V1Ag

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

The evening will as usual be recorded and placed online for viewing.

If you would like to visit any of our prior series, please see the link here:

https://ophthalmology.utoronto.ca/subspecialty-rounds

CME credits are available for the following:

· Royal College Maintenance of Certification Section 1: 7.5 hours (1.5 Section 1 hours per session)

· American Medical Association Category 1: 7.5 credits (1.5 Category 1 credits per session)

· European Union for Medical Specialists UEMS-EACCME®: 7.5 credits (1.5 ECMEC credits per session)

The August 2024 CJO is now available online. Here are some of the highlights: 

Resident Perspectives + visual abstract: Our talented team of residents have summarized 3 articles from this issue with a focus on what’s most relevant to ophthalmology learners here in Canada and around the globe. In addition, our August visual abstract provides a visual summary of an article on the Epidemiology of ocular emergencies in a large Canadian eye centre.

Reviews and Original Research Articles:

• Advances in conjunctival melanoma: clinical features, diagnostic modalities, staging, genetic markers, and management
• Advances in multimodal imaging for diagnosis of pigmented ocular fundus lesions
• Research productivity of first-year Canadian ophthalmology residents: a 12-year trend
• Visualization of preretinal membranes using trypan blue in patients with traction retinal detachments
• Artificial intelligence chatbot performance in triage of ophthalmic conditions
• Retinal and choroidal microvascular changes during pregnancy detected with OCTA

Research Letters, Photo Essays and Case Reports:

• Performance of three artificial intelligence chatbots on Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program materials
• Scleral patch graft for emergency open-sky repair
• Cavitary ciliary body melanoma with extensive pigment dispersion
• Acute macular neuroretinopathy following uncomplicated epiretinal membrane removal
• Bilateral circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas in 2 patients: a rare finding
• 532-nm laser for sub-internal limiting membrane hemorrhage associated with retinal macroaneurysms
• Syndromic PRD: case report of McArdle retinopathy and review of literature

Follow the CJO on social media:

Facebook: CanJOphth

Instagram: @cjo_jco

LinkedIn: CJO – JCO

Twitter: @CanJOphth

Researchers at LMU Munich are looking for ophthalmology professionals for an online qualitative study on artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology. To understand ophthalmology professionals’ perceptions of AI and to identify relevant factors for a successful integration of AI tools in clinical practice, the research team conducts online interviews (20-25 min) with ophthalmology professionals (e.g., ophthalmologists, ophthalmic nurses/technicians/assistants, optometrists). Participation does not require any previous experience or knowledge of AI. Participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card and the chance to win another $50 gift card. Ophthalmology professionals interested in participating can access more information and sign up HERE.

Date: September 23 – 27, 2024

Location: Montreal, QC (in-person)

The Cours de révision en ophtalmologie (CROUM) is a refresher course for French-speaking ophthalmologists and ophthalmology residents from around the world who would like to improve their knowledge. This intensive, 5-day training is being offered by the University of Montreal in Montreal, QC.

The program offers a thorough and modern review of the clinical sciences of ophthalmology, including all of the latest knowledge in the field. While the relevant, basic sciences are covered, the approach remains practical and applicable to your patients. To view more about the program, click HERE.

To view more information about registration for this program, click HERE.

Please note that this course will only be offered in French.

Date: August 24th – 25th, 2024

Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM IST

The 4th Global Neuro-Ophthalmology Case Festival is a two-day celebration of learning, focused on common, complex, and important neuro-ophthalmology disorders with diverse speakers and expert panelists.

The Case Festival will be available for free on YouTube.

Click HERE to access the August 24th livestream

Click HERE to access the August 25th livestream.

COS is now accepting abstracts for the 2025 COS Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia! The abstract submission deadline is Thursday, October 03, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. 

Abstract can be submitted in the following format:  

• Paper: oral presentation.  
• ePosters: an electronic on-demand ePoster showcased in the Exhibit Hall throughout the Annual Meeting and accessible via the Annual Meeting app. 
• Surgical Videos: Show off your surgical skills by submitting a video. Surgical videos will be displayed alongside the ePosters (maximum five (5) minutes in duration).  

The COS Annual Meeting historically boasts an 80+% acceptance rate with abstracts making up over 50% of all presentations. With so many abstracts, it is important to set your research apart! Follow these keys to a successful submission when drafting your abstract or editing your video: 

• Follow all abstract guidelines; read and understand the rejection criteria.  
• List all authors/producers and declare all financial interests for each author/producer. 
• Indicate that ethics approval has been obtained, where required. 
• Submit your abstract to the appropriate subspecialty category. 
• Include a short descriptive title and avoid gratuitous statements and irrelevant information. 
• Provide an abstract that is clear, concise, and free of errors. 
• Papers and ePosters:
  • In the body of your abstract, include study details under the headings: Purpose, study design, methods, results and conclusions. Abstracts with “results pending” or “conclusions to be discussed” will not be accepted. Information about sample size, study duration, follow-up, techniques used, etc. should be included. 
• Surgical Videos:
  • Submit a video that is well-edited, clear and easy to follow.  
  • In the body of your written abstract, include an outline of key areas featured in your surgical video.  

To learn more and to submit your abstract, follow the link here: https://cos-sco.secure-platform.com/2025/

The AES committee has developed another powerful program this year for the Symposium taking place September 27 & 28, 2024 in Halifax. Our goal is to provide a world-class educational experience reviewing current clinical management of eye disease. This year the main focuses of the symposium are glaucoma, oculoplastics, retina, and neuro-ophthalmology which includes the Dr. Aditya Mishra Memorial Lecture; all presented over 2 days for ophthalmologists, optometrists, students, and ophthalmic personnel and includes a vibrant trade show.

Featured speakers include:

• Dr. Sunir J. Garg, Thomas Jefferson University, Retina
• Dr. Bernard Robert Hurley, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Retina
• Dr. Jennifer Lim, University of Illinois, Retina
• Dr. Daniel Gold, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Neuro- Ophthalmology
• Dr. Imran Jivarj, Eye Institute of Alberta and Edmonton, Oculoplastic Surgery and Neuro-Ophthalmology
• Dr. Rachel Sobel, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Oculoplastics
• Dr. Malik Kahook, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Glaucoma
• Dr. Jody Piltz- Seymour, Glaucoma Care Center at Valley Eye Professionals, Glaucoma
• Dr. Matt Schlenker, University of Toronto, Glaucoma
• Dr. Clara C. Chan, University of Toronto, Cornea
• Dr. Mahshad Darvish, McGill University, Cornea
• Dr. Adam Muzychuk, University of Calgary, Cataract
• Dr. Amandeep S. Rai, University of Toronto, Cataract 

For more information and to register: www.atlanticeye.ca