Academy 2026 Anaheim Highlights Research, Innovation, and Leaders Shaping the Future of Eye Care

Academy 2026 Anaheim Highlights Research, Innovation, and Leaders Shaping the Future of Eye Care

The Academy 2026 Anaheim, held September 30 – October 3, 2026, was the 104th annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry.

The annual meeting served as a gathering place for leaders across optometry and vision science to share emerging research, examine advances in clinical care and education, and explore developments shaping the future of the profession. The meeting brought together 7,648 registrants, including 4,452 optometrists and vision scientists and 1,161 students, for four days of education, research, innovation and connection.

The Plenary Session was titled “Insights to Action: Research Redefining Clinical Practice Today,” and highlighted seven landmark studies reshaping clinical care across the profession, spotlit by leaders from the Academy’s Sections and Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Presentations included:

Semaglutide and Vision Risk: Translating Emerging Evidence on NAION into Clinical Care

Leonard Messner, OD, FAAO

Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders Section

Interventions of Neurotrophic Keratopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Zanna Kruoch, OD, FAAO, Dipl AAO

Anterior Segment Section

TFOS DEWS III in the Real World: One Year Later from Framework to Chairside Care

James Wolffsohn, PhD, DSc, FAAO, Dipl AAO

Section on Cornea, Contact Lenses, and Refractive Technologies

Wavefront-guided Scleral Lenses: A Technology at the Tipping Point

Jason Marsack, PhD, FAAO

Vision Science Section

CONCUSS Randomized Clinical Trial of Vergence/Accommodative Therapy for Concussion-related Symptomatic Convergence Insufficiency

Tara Alvarez, PhD, FAAO, Dipl AAO

Binocular Vision, Perception, and Pediatric Optometry Section

How ZEDS Is Reshaping Clinical Practice

Christen Kenrick, OD, FAAO, Dipl AAO

Anterior Segment Section

Optimizing Atropine Therapy for Myopia Control: Lessons from the LAMP Phase 4 Study

Shelby Johnson, OD, MPH, FAAO

Myopia Management SIG

The Monroe J. Hirsch Symposium, “Oculomics: Leveraging Ocular Biomarkets to Assess Systemic Health,” explored the emerging field of oculomics and its potential to use ocular biomarkers to provide insights into systemic health, bringing together experts from across vision science and related disciplines. Presenters included Drs. Vivek Srinivasan, Nawajes Mandal, and Doug Borchman with moderators Drs. Andrew Pucker and Erin Tomiyama.

Building on the Academy’s role as a Cochrane Eyes and Vision (CEV) Center for Evidence-Based Vision Care, Academy 2026 Anaheim also featured Eyes on Evidence | AAO + CEV Program Reviews. The session highlighted five recent systematic reviews addressing important clinical questions in areas including presbyopia, pediatric vision and telemedicine for diabetic retinopathy screening. By bringing rigorous evidence into the clinical conversation, the program demonstrated the Academy’s ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based vision care and translating research into meaningful insights for patient care.

A highlight of the meeting was the confirmation of 319 new Fellows. Fellows of the Academy must complete a candidacy process that includes submitting written work demonstrating their skills as an optometrist or vision scientist, and sitting for an oral exam at the annual meeting of the Academy. It is estimated that 10% of practicing optometrists in the United States are Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry (FAAO). Optometrists, scientists, educators, librarians, administrators and editors are eligible to become Fellows of the Academy and earn the right to use “FAAO” after their name.

In addition, an impressive record 19 individuals were awarded Diplomate status by Sections of the American Academy of Optometry. Diplomates are Fellows of the Academy who wish to demonstrate their skill in a specific area. Currently ten Sections offer Diplomate programs: Anterior Segment; Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry; Comprehensive Eye Care; Cornea, Contact Lenses & Refractive Technologies; Glaucoma; Low Vision; Neuro-Ophthalmic Disorders; Optometric Education; Public Health & Environmental Vision; and Vision Science.

The meeting also marked a leadership transition, as Dr. Carl Spear of Pensacola, FL, was inducted as President of the American Academy of Optometry on Thursday, October 1. He will serve his 2027-28 term alongside the following board members: Dr. Andrew Mick (President-Elect), Dr. Chris Wilmer (Secretary-Treasurer), Dr. Jeffrey Walline (Immediate Past President), Dr. Nicholas Colatrella, Dr. Nancy Wong, Dr. Susy Yu, and newly elected board member, Dr. David Berntsen.