Join Our Exclusive Webinar for COS Members and Residents

COS is pleased to provide this Advocacy and Government Relations webinar for the upcoming Federal Election. This event was offered exclusively to COS members and Residents on April 16th, 2025. 

We are living in unprecedented times—facing evolving healthcare challenges, an aging population, and a rapidly changing political landscape. With the upcoming federal election serving as a pivotal moment for Canadians, this is a unique opportunity to unite in shaping the future of vision health and ophthalmology.

This accredited webinar designed to equip you with the skills and key messages needed to advocate effectively with local and provincial policymakers. Your voice is critical in ensuring that ophthalmology and vision health remain a priority on the national agenda.

Did you miss this webinar? Not to worry! A recording is available for our members and residents to view below.

Nina Ahuja, MD
COS Chair, Council on Advocacy
COS Board of Directors

Dr. Ahuja leads the COS Advocacy Council and advises the Board of Directors on COS’ advocacy and government relations initiatives. She recently developed a framework for implementing Canada’s National Eye Care Strategy, along with other key submissions to the federal government.

Learn more about COS’ advocacy work here.

Brett Hartley, Manager, Public Affairs
Impact Public Affairs

Brett Hartley is a seasoned government relations professional with a deep passion for Canadian politics, public policy, and relationship-building. With over a decade of political experience, including significant time on Parliament Hill, he has worked closely with municipal, provincial, and federal officials to drive impactful initiatives and deliver meaningful results for both policymakers and clients.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

1. Understand how to effectively communicate key issues to government officials and policymakers
2. Learn best practices for securing and conducting successful meetings with elected officials
3. Gain insights into the current political landscape and how it affects our ophthalmology profession

Submitted by: Félix Plamondon

2025 ASOT Eye Trauma Annual Meeting

The American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma (ASOT) invites physicians around the world to participate to their fourth meeting on eye trauma. Many learning opportunities on sports eye injuries, prevention and management of ophthalmic trauma will be offered throughout the meeting.

Date: May 9 – 10, 2025

Location: Houston Methodist Institute for Technology, Innovation and Education (MITIE) in Houston, Texas (6670 Bertner Avenue).

Important Information: The Annual Meeting registration closes on May 5^th. There is a maximum of 40 attendees that can register for the damage control and reconstruction skills transfer lab (wet lab course). The early-bird pricing for registration ends on April 21^st. This activity is recognized by the American Medical Association and can be counted for a maximum of 8.25 AMA PRA Category 1 credit.

Learning Objectives:

• Enhance your management and control of ocular trauma by learning or practising sophisticated surgical techniques with the wet lab course offered at the meeting.
• Stay updated on the newest breakthrough in ocular trauma by learning advancements from expert’s conferences and training throughout the two days.
• Connect with people in the field of eye traumatology around the globe to make great contacts for further collaboration.

Get all the details for the registration process and full schedule of the meeting here: https://theasot.com/2025-annual-meeting-information-page/

We’re excited to announce that our webinar, “EyeNovation: International Webinar Series for Ophthalmic Expertise” series, ‘The SIRE Sign and Functional Vision in Geographic Atrophy Treatments‘, was presented by Dr. Robyn Guymer on April 10, 2025, from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET.

Professor Robyn Guymer is a Professor of Ophthalmology at Melbourne University, deputy director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia, and a senior retinal specialist at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

A leading clinician scientist, she researches Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and has co-authored over 400 peer-reviewed papers. Her work focuses on early AMD treatments, novel imaging biomarkers, and surrogate endpoints for early intervention trials.

She has led industry-sponsored trials, serves on pharmaceutical advisory boards, and is part of international macular disease groups. An inaugural fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, she was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia in 2018 and inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2021.

By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

1. Understand the relevance and importance of the SIRE sign
2. Understand how functional vision has been tested in current GA trials
3. Understand the issues around showing a functional change in vision in geographic atrophy

If you missed this webinar, not to worry! The recording is available below:

The first issue of the Video Journal of Cataract, Refractive, & Glaucoma Surgery is live! They begin their 41st year with the new program entitled: Innovative Devices From Around The World.

To view more, please visit: http://www.vjcrgs.com/ and view the table of contents below!

Join us from Thursday, September 11 – Saturday, September 13, 2025

This year’s topic is Uveitis – Cells, Haze, and Macular Edema: Seeing the Bigger Picture

Over the course of 2.5 days, the program will delve into the realm of ophthalmology with top experts, captivating lectures, interactive learning and cutting-edge insights that will elevate your learning and practice. Seize this opportunity to enrich your knowledge and skills in this vital field, all while earning Section 1 MOC credits! 

Learning Objectives

At the end of the symposium, participants will be able to:

1. Assess and differentiate between common and uncommon presentations of uveitis, and apply appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies to enhance patient care.
2. Analyze recent advancements in uveitis research, including novel therapies, immunosuppressive treatments, and emerging diagnostic techniques, and integrate new findings into clinical decision-making.
3. Describe the complexities of uveitis and its impact on vision and overall health, demonstrate effective patient communication strategies, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive, patient-centered care plans.

CanMEDS: Medical Expert, Scholar, Communicator

Target Audience: This symposium is designed for attendance by ophthalmologists, ophthalmology fellows and residents, optometrists, orthoptists, medical students, technologists, nurses, and other allied health professionals.

Get a sneak peek at the preliminary program! Click here for more information.

Location: Westin Ottawa, 11 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1N 9H4

For more information, please visit the Sally Letson Symposium Website.

QUESTIONS? For inquiries relating to the scientific program and CPD credits, please contact Jill Garner [email protected]

The podcast features guest speakers from across Canada and innovative practitioners from around the world discussing diverse topics and how they impact ophthalmology. Topics range from emerging techniques and technologies to building individual resilience as Canadian physicians. Through it all, this podcast aims to build connections within the ophthalmological community, share our experiences, and to truly promote the value the profession brings to the lives of patients.

Location: Virtual – access the course HERE

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a cicatricial autoimmune disease primarily affecting mucous membranes of the conjunctiva, oral cavity, nasopharynx, oesophagus and genitals. Ocular involvement occurs in approximately 80% of cases, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis to prevent irreversible damage and potential blindness.

Authors: Melissa Lu (MD), Fady Sedarous (MD, FRCSC), Mona Harissi-Dagher (MD, FRCSC)

Learning objectives: Upon completion of this module, learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnostic and treatment principles of ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (OMMP), enabling them to apply this knowledge in clinical practice.

Target audience: Ophthalmology residents and ophthalmologists.

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) and the Canadian Society of Oculoplastic Surgery (CSOPS) are dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of patient care and professional practice within the fields of ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery. The growing use of plasma technology in blepharoplasty and its promotion through various media, including social media influencers, calls for clear guidance and information for both our members and the public. The joint position statement is available to read below:

To access the French version, click here | Pour accéder à la version française, cliquez ici

Join your fellow members of the U of T and SickKids Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences communities for a full day of professional development and networking opportunities. This conference honours the late Dr. Jack S. Crawford, former Ophthalmologist-in-Chief for the Hospital for Sick Children, whose career was dedicated to advancing the specialty of pediatric ophthalmology and the care of children’s eye problems.

The 35th Annual Jack Crawford Day will focus on the theme “Every Angle, Every Child: Recent Advances in Kinder Eye Care.” The day will include topics relevant to both pediatric and general eye specialists including pediatric refractive surgery, intrascleral fixation IOL in children with zonular deficiency, minimally invasive glaucoma surgery in children, tips and pearls from 42 years in strabismus practice, 2025 PEDIG updates, virtual reality perimetry, anti-VEGF and systemic implications for ROP, pneumatic retinopexy and a few more

Date: April 4th, 2025 from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (E.T)
Location: The Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning Auditorium in Toronto, ON (686 Bay Street)

Speakers: Drs. Sean Donahue, Manoj Parulekar and Stephen Kraft
In-person and online registration is available for this event.

For more information, such as registration, click HERE.