American Academy of Ophthalmology

09/01/2026

Dr. Abdelsattar Farrag aims to add structure to the plethora of imaging modalities and results available and to prevent “Random Scrolling Syndrome”: Verify (patient information), Indication (why a test was ordered), Scan quality (exclude artifacts), Identify normal (recognize normal anatomy), Observe (describe precisely), Name the diagnosis (synthesize across modalities).

Learn more: https://www.aao.org/education/basic-skills/vision-method-structured-approach-to-multimodal-op

This video introduces a 6-step approach to systematic imaging interpretation: Verify (patient, date, eye, modality), Indication (why this test was ordered), Scan quality (exclude artefact), Identify n

09/01/2026

An OR fire during a blepharoplasty. A globe perforation during a block. Both likely preventable with a brief preoperative conversation. Read the two closed legal claims and the checklist of what to share.

Ophthalmologists often know critical patient risk factors that anesthesia providers don't. Learn why proactive preoperative communication — backed by two closed malpractice claims — is an essential su

08/30/2026

New Name. Bolder Mission.

For more than 25 years, the Academy’s Surgical Scope Fund has helped protect patients by defending the highest standards of surgical eye care, achieving a 90% success rate in hundreds of legislative battles nationwide.

Now, that work continues under the Safe Surgery Action Fund, with an expanded mission to defend physician-led surgical eye care through legislative, regulatory, legal and public advocacy.

Hear from Academy CEO Stephen D. McLeod, MD, about this important change and what it means for the future of patient safety.

Learn more: aao.org/ssaf

08/29/2026

The countdown is on! is coming to New Orleans in just six weeks.

Choose from 500+ sessions, including instruction courses, posters, labs and Learning Lounges. Then network with ophthalmologists from around the world and build community at Illuminate.

Join us Oct. 9–12 and discover why ophthalmologists return year after year. Register before rates increase on Sept. 10.

Register: aao.org/register

Andrea Tooley, MD

08/29/2026

What's new in this week?

From sports-related retinal injuries to the readability of patient ophthalmic letters, here's what you need to know: https://ow.ly/TQRs50ZCsR7

More retinal injuries due to sports are being seen in the United States, and patient-oriented ophthalmic letters are often written at higher reading levels than is optimal.

08/27/2026

5 trainees from the Philippines, Guatemala, Chicago, Rochester, and Galveston share what they took home from GOS 2026 in Philadelphia. Their advice for anyone on the fence: just go.

Five trainees from the Philippines, Guatemala, Chicago, Rochester, and Texas share how they ended up at GOS 2026 in Philadelphia and what they're taking home — from hackathon breakthroughs to a renewe

08/25/2026

You know things about your patient that the anesthesia team doesn't — a tremor, a long axial length, an inability to lie flat. OMIC's Linda Harrison, PhD, uses two closed malpractice claims to show what happens when that information stays in the chart during .

Ophthalmologists often know critical patient risk factors that anesthesia providers don't. Learn why proactive preoperative communication — backed by two closed malpractice claims — is an essential su

08/24/2026

Heading to The European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) annual meeting in London? Make sure to visit the Academy Booth (F.217) from 11–14, Sept.

Explore our latest offerings, sign up or renew your Academy membership, learn about in New Orleans, snap a selfie for a chance to win prizes, and get access to exclusive booth offerings. There's lots to discover at the Academy Booth. Don’t miss out!

Plus, attend the Academy-sponsored session “Artificial Intelligence Across Ophthalmic Subspecialties: From Retina to Refractive Surgery” on 14, Sept.

Learn more at: aao.org/meetings/where-we-exhibit

08/22/2026

A 55-year-old man presented with progressive vision loss in the right eye (OD). Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/400 OD and 20/20 in the left eye. Anterior-segment examination revealed numerous superficial, centrally located brown deposits OD (A), raising concern for primary corneal melanoma. After fluorescein staining, a retained contact lens with pigmented deposits was identified and removed (B). Microscopic evaluation revealed lightly pigmented reflective fungi on the lens surface (arrows) and penetrating the lens (arrowheads), associated with pigmentation of the lens (asterisk) (C; unstained preparation, ×400). Periodic acid-Schiff stain highlighted fungi (D; ×400).

From “Pigmented Fungal Colonization of Contact Lens Mimicking Corneal Melanoma” by Lily C. Farrell, MD, Bela J. Parekh, MD, Tatyana Milman, MD. Published by Ophthalmology online on March 19, 2026.

Read: https://ow.ly/yEfl50ZiR87

08/22/2026

Decisions made in Washington can shape what happens in your exam room.

OPHTHPAC is ophthalmology’s political action committee. It supports federal candidates who understand the issues affecting ophthalmologists, their practices, and the patients they serve.

This election year, the OPHTHPAC Committee came together in San Diego to help strengthen ophthalmology’s voice. You don’t have to serve on a committee to be part of the conversation.

What policy issue has the greatest impact on your ability to care for patients? Tell us below.

Learn more at aao.org/OPHTHPAC