We are very excited to announce the launch of Interest in Ophthalmology Association (InOA), a brand-new organisation to unite and support all those interested in eye health and vision sciences, starting in 2026!
What is InOA?
The InOA is a newly formed organisation bringing together medical professionals and students through one single hub. It unites everyone interested in ophthalmology for events, teaching, research and networking. InOA combines two established initiatives under its umbrella:
- NSOC (National Students Ophthalmology Conference) which has been running for 4 years, and
- NOTS (National Ophthalmology Teaching Series), which was initiated last year for students and resident doctors across the world.
What are InOA’s aims?
InOA’s core aim is to create a supported and connected community for everyone interested in ophthalmology. We aim to increase access to high-quality ophthalmology teaching across the globe, something that has a current gap based on NOTS feedback last year. Alongside this, we aim to increase awareness of the specialty by providing meaningful insights into ophthalmology, inspiring future ophthalmologists through events, teaching and collaboration opportunities.
Our plans for 2026 and beyond
We have an exciting year ahead at InOA, with a range of academia and events designed to expand opportunities and support the next generation of ophthalmologists. This includes:
- Two international/national conferences. Following the success of the in-person NSOC in 2025, which brought together an international audience, we are excited to build on this for another high-quality event this year!
- A two-term national teaching series – accessible to all medical professionals and students to get a deeper understanding of ophthalmology
- Multiple in person events, hosted in universities by our new regional reps, helping to promote regional engagement and teaching
- Career talks and specialty insight workshops to support aspiring ophthalmologists and offer guidance to training applications
- Developing a mentorship scheme to connect students and junior doctors with trainees for personalised support and advice
- Developing a research collaboration – we are keen to support those with lack of access to research opportunities and will be working on developing research collaborations within the InOA platform.
Universities covered by InOA:
If you're a university that’s not got a representative, or someone who is interested in collaborating with us, please get in contact!
How to get in touch/keep updated
Follow our Instagram page for updates on events and sessions: @inoa_ophthalmology
Or get in touch via email: inoassosiation@gmail.com
