Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Welcome Reception (Optional)
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Networking Reception for Attendees, Faculty, and Industry Partners
Thursday, July 16, 2026
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM | Breakfast
7:30 AM – 8:20 AM | The Role of Exercise in the Prevention and Mitigation of Eye Disease | A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO | COPE # Pending
This course will examine the benefits of exercise for the prevention and mitigation of multiple eye diseases and systemic conditions related to these. Specific recommendations based on evidence will be presented for diabetes/DR, AMD, glaucoma, OSD, and more
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Clinical Myopia Management and The Science Behind It | Aaron Salzano, OD, FAAO, FOVDR | COPE # Pending
Myopia management has become a large part of primary care. With the rapid expansion of available modalities, it can be difficult for practitioners to stay up to date. This lecture aims to provide an overview of available myopia control options, looking at the pros and cons of each while also discussing which parents may be the best, or worst, candidates for each choice. Attention will be paid to the mechanisms of preventing myopia onset and progression so that attendees can better prepared to educate patients and parents.
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM | Beyond POAG: A Stepwise Approach to the Angle | Dr. Faran Vafaie, OD, MS | COPE # Pending
This course covers the full spectrum of primary angle closure disease — from risk stratification and gonioscopic technique to mechanism-directed treatment including LPI, iridoplasty, and lens-based surgery with MIGS. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for identifying occludable angles, interpreting anterior segment OCT, and applying current trial evidence to individualized patient management.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Lies and Damn Lies About Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy | A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO | COPE # Pending
Patients and health care providers alike frequently believe half-truths and outright falsehoods about both diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. This course will expose these beliefs for the flapdoodle they are based on a critical analysis of the evidence.
Friday, July 17, 2026
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM | Breakfast
7:30 AM – 8:20 AM | What the Hallucination is Going On Here? | Breanne B. McGhee, OD, MS, FAAO | COPE # Pending
This case-based course will explore the epidemiology, prevalence, differential diagnoses, diagnostic factors, and treatment of some common and rare visual hallucinatory symptoms that patients may present with.
8:30 AM – 9:20 AM | Highlights of TFOS DEWS III | Etty Bitton, BSc, OD, MSc, FAAO, FBCLA & Lyndon Jones, DSc PhD FRSC FCAHS FCOptom | COPE # Pending
Dry eye disease (DED) remains one of the most frequent and challenging conditions encountered in
optometric practice. With the release of the TFOS DEWS III reports (July 2025), 1-5 clinicians now
have updated, evidence-based guidance to refine how they diagnose and manage DED. In this
interactive, clinically focused session, attendees will be presented with the revised definition,
diagnostic and evidence-based management algorithms from TFOS DEWS III, in addition to clinical
cases to highlight how to implement these guidelines in practice.
9:30 AM – 10:20 AM | Beyond the Typical: Oral Agents for Diabetic Retinopathy | A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO | COPE # Pending
This course considers a variety of oral therapies that have evidence for delaying the onset and/or mitigating the progression of diabetic retinal disease. Practical strategies for implementing these therapies into eye care practice will be discussed
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM | Diabetes Case Studies with an Eye to the Future | A. Paul Chous, MA, OD, FAAO
This session will consider the epidemics of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy via a series of illustrative patient case examples. Accepted and novel strategies for prevention and treatment of both will be discussed.
Saturday, July 18, 2026
6:30 AM – 7:30 AM | Breakfast
7:30 AM – 8:20 AM | Practical Management of Diplopia | Aaron Salzano, OD, FAAO, FOVDR | COPE # Pending
Diplopic patients can be time consuming and difficult to manage, from determining the etiology to assessing the best treatment in order to relieve symptoms. By exploring multiple case reports, this lecture aims to provide practical advice for managing diplopia of various origins, considering nuances of care depending on the initial case presentations.
8:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Optometry & Women’s Health | Breanne B. McGhee, OD, MS, FAAO | COPE # Pending
This lecture outline offers an immersive and thorough exploration of the profound connections between a range of gynecological diseases and ocular health. It delves deep into the intricate connections between various common gynecological conditions, such as pregnancy, gynecological-related cancers (ovarian/uterine cancers), menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and their profound impact on ocular health.
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM | Demodex Blepharitis: What Works, What Doesn't, and What You're Missing | Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO | COPE # Pending
Explore the diagnosis and management of Demodex blepharitis, including prevalence, risk factors, differential diagnosis, and treatment options. This course reviews conventional therapies, emerging clinical data on lotilaner ophthalmic solution 0.25%, and practical strategies to identify what may be missed in everyday clinical practice.
11:30 AM – 12:20 PM | The Friday Afternoon Emergency | Dr. Faran Vafaie, OD, MS | COPE # Pending
This case-based session walks through a wide spectrum of urgent presentations, from red eye and elevated IOP to sudden vision loss and papilledema, using a practical triage framework to guide decisions about who to manage, who to refer, and who to send to emergency. Attendees will leave with greater confidence in the urgent care decisions that define the Friday afternoon walk-in emergency.
Optional Workshop (Cost $35 USD) | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | From Theory to Treatment: Plasma Pen for Dry Eye | Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO | COPE# Pending
This course reviews the use of plasma-based therapy in the management of dry eye and ocular surface disease. Attendees will gain an understanding of how the treatment works, appropriate patient selection, and how it can be incorporated into clinical practice.
Sunday, July 19, 2026
7:30 AM – 8:20 AM | Navigating the Glaucoma Patient’s Journey From OCT to OR | Dr. Faran Vafaie, OD, MS | COPE # Pending
This course builds the diagnostic and clinical foundation needed to confidently interpret peripapillary OCT, recognize secondary glaucomas, and understand when and how surgical intervention fits into the patient's care pathway. Through case-based learning, attendees will develop the skills to navigate the full glaucoma management continuum — from early detection to surgical co-management.
8:30 AM – 9:20 AM | Cracking the Code on Corneal Infections: From Diagnosis to Treatment | Breanne B. McGhee, OD, MS, FAAO | COPE # Pending
Corneal infections are significant threats to ocular health, potentially leading to vision loss if not promptly diagnosed and appropriately managed. Emphasis will be placed on distinguishing bacterial, fungal, viral, protozoan etiologies, recognizing risk factors, and tailoring treatment to specific pathogens. This case-based lecture will explore clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and evidence-based management strategies.
9:30 AM – 10:20 AM | Perioperative Care: From Referral to Recovery | Dr. Faran Vafaie, OD, MS | COPE # Pending
This session provides a practical, comprehensive review of perioperative care — from crafting a high-quality surgical referral, to recognizing preoperative risk factors, to confidently managing postoperative patients and knowing when to act. Attendees will leave better equipped to function as true surgical partners, not just referring providers.
10:30 AM – 11:20 AM | Time to Focus: An Accommodative Case Series | Aaron Salzano, OD, FAAO, FOVDR | COPE # Pending
Accommodative disorders are prevalent in optometry clinics, yet testing for accommodative disorders are often underutilized and prescribing can be challenging for practitioners. Through several case reports, this lecture aims to provide practical clinical pearls for elucidating accommodative dysfunction for practitioners in most settings, from primary to specialty care.
11:30 AM – 12:20 PM | Retinal Disease & Imaging: What Every OD Should Know | Bisant A. Labib, OD, FAAO, Dipl. AAO | COPE # Pending
Explore essential updates in retinal disease diagnosis and management, with a focus on imaging technologies every optometrist should know. Dr. Bisant Labib will review clinical pearls for recognizing retinal pathology, interpreting imaging, and applying practical strategies to support timely diagnosis, co-management, and improved patient outcomes.