The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2025 Annual Meeting was held at the Salt Palace Convention Centre in Salt Lake City, US. This prestigious event brought together experts in vision and ophthalmology from around the world for a week of insightful discussions, presentations and networking.
The meeting’s opening keynote lecture, entitled ‘Keeping an Eye on AI’, was delivered by Mutale Nkonde, who provided a thought-provoking perspective on the ethical considerations of AI in research. Nkonde’s address challenged attendees to critically examine how AI is shaping the future of research in science.
Each day of the conference featured poster sessions, showcasing the latest research from a wide range of presenters, including students, clinicians and scientists from across the globe. These posters covered diverse topics such as cornea, retina, glaucoma, optics, genetics and AI.
In addition, the meeting hosted oral paper sessions, where experts presented their research across various subfields. These sessions were moderated to encourage interactive discussions and allow for deeper exploration of the pressing issues facing vision science.
The conference also honoured distinguished figures in the field with award-winning lectures. Notable highlights included:
- The Proctor Medal Award Lecture (Christine Curcio, Cynthia Owsley), on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), highlighting precision prevention and early intervention strategies.
- The Friedenwald Award Lecture (Connie Cepko), which explored the intricate retinal cell interactions responsible for processing light, with a particular emphasis on how retinal structures are formed and patterned across different species.
- The Weisenfeld Award Lecture (Geeta K Vemuganti), covering the dual role of stem cells in both treatment and disease progression. The lecture discussed the use of cultivated limbal stem cells for treating severe limbal stem cell deficiency and explored the role of small extracellular vesicles in the metastasis of retinoblastoma.
- The Cogan Award Lecture (Alex Hewitt), highlighting the importance of early detection in glaucoma, focusing on the irreversible optic nerve damage caused by the disease.
The closing keynote, entitled ‘Vision Research: Creating New Pathways in a World Built for Sight’, featured a dynamic panel of speakers, including researchers, visually impaired scientists, and patients. This session emphasised the importance of advancing assistive technologies while ensuring that individuals with visual impairments play a central role in their development. The panel stressed the need for a more inclusive approach to both research and design.
In conclusion, the ARVO 2025 Annual Meeting was an exceptional event, providing an unparalleled opportunity to explore the latest advancements in vision science and ophthalmology. The meeting also served as a global platform for networking, collaboration and the exchange of invaluable insights, further solidifying ARVO’s position at the forefront of innovation in the field.
