International speakers 2026

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Ayman Elghonemy

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Ayman Elghonemy

Associate Professor Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus at Memorial Institute Kids Eye Centre (MIKE). Vice Dean of Memorial Institute for Ophthalmic Research (MIOR) For Research & Training affairs. Board member of the Egyptian Association of Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (EAPOS) & Egyptian Strabismological Society (ESS) Member of the scientific council of Egyptian board.

Avinash Gurbaxani

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Avinash Gurbaxani

Avinash Gurbaxani is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital London and Dubai where he specialises in Uveitis , Medical Retina and Cataract surgery. He has over 10 years of consultant experience across both countries delivering expert care for complex inflammatory and retinal diseases. He performs high volume and complex cataract surgery. He has a strong interest in teaching and skills transfer for cataract surgery. He has published widely and is a member of several learned societies

Ahmad Muneer Otri

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Ahmad Muneer Otri

Professor Ahmad Muneer Otri is currently serving as a Senior Consultant in Ophthalmology at The View Hospital in Qatar. He specializes in Glaucoma and Cataract surgeries and has been in the field since 2002, with extensive medical and surgical training in the UK. He is also a Clinical Professor in Surgery at Qatar University. Previous posts and experience: Consultant Ophthalmologist at Coventry University hospital, UK between 2019 and 2024. Surgical Fellowship in Glaucoma and Cataract Surgery, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK Clinical Research Fellowship in Cornea and Anterior Segment at Queens Medical Center, Nottingham, UK Clinical fellowship in Oculoplastic in Birmingham eye center, Birmingham, UK Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London (FRCOphth), UK Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Glasgow (FRCS), UK PhD in Ophthalmology, University of Nottingham, UK

Claudio Trindade

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Claudio Trindade

Dr. Claudio Trindade is an Anterior Segment specialist, based in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. His practice focuses on complex corneal and cataract surgery. Passionate about Innovations and critical thinking, Dr. Trindade has become world renowned for his pioneering work with pinhole optics. He received several awards in 4 continents around the globe, including the coveted Innovator of the Year Award, by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is the youngest ever Ophthalmologist to win the prestigious ASCRS Grand Prize. Dr. Trindade is actively engaged in both research and medical education on a national and international scale. His innovative expertise has made him a sought-after consultant for a several companies.

Daniel Vitor Vasconcelos-Santos

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Daniel Vitor Vasconcelos-Santos

Dr. Daniel Vitor Vasconcelos-Santos obtained his MD and PhD degrees at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, where he also completed his Ophthalmology residency. After fellowships in Retina, Cornea, and Uveitis, he completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Ocular Inflammation, Immunology, and Pathology at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California. He is currently Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at UFMG and Head of the Ophthalmology Service and Uveitis Unit at Hospital São Geraldo / UFMG University Hospital. He is an elected member of the International Uveitis Study Group and the American Uveitis Society, and serves on the executive boards of the International Ocular Inflammation Society (IOIS) and the Global Ocular Inflammation Workshops Society. Dr. Vasconcelos-Santos has dedicated his career to teaching and academia, with more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, 80+ book chapters, 100+ abstracts, and 100+ invited lectures at scientific meetings. His research interests include noninfectious and infectious uveitis, retinal vascular diseases, ophthalmic pathology, experimental models of ocular inflammatory disorders, and telehealth.

Federico Velez

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Federico Velez

Dr. Federico G. Velez is the Leonard Apt Endowed Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology in the Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at the Stein Eye Institute and Doheny Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Dr. Velez serves as Executive Secretary of the Latin American Council of Strabismus (CLADE), Medical Editor of the World Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Newsletter, and Associate Editor of the European Journal of Ophthalmology.
He has delivered more than 500 national and international lectures, including over 50 keynote presentations, and has published more than 250 scientific publications, including peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts.
Dr. Velez has pioneered several surgical techniques for managing complex strabismus and has contributed to the development of surgical guidelines for these challenging conditions.
His contributions to education and ophthalmology have been recognized with numerous honors, including the UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute Best Teacher Award and the AAO and AAPOS Achievement and Senior Achievement Awards.

Giovanni Staurenghi

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Giovanni Staurenghi

Prof. Giovanni Staurenghi is Professor of Ophthalmology, Chair of the University Eye Clinic, and Director of the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” at Luigi Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
He also serves as Director of the Residency Program at the same University.
He earned his medical degree from the University of Pavia in 1986 and completed his residency at the University of Milan in 1990. He was a Research Fellow and Visiting Scientist at the Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston, USA, from 1991 to 1993. He became Associate Professor in 1999 and Full Professor in 2007.
Professor Staurenghi serves as Scientific Advisor to the Digital Angiography Reading Center and Visiting Professor and Consultant for the Belfast Ophthalmic Reading Center. He is a Silver Fellow of ARVO, Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology, and recipient of the Achievement Award of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
His research, publications, and lectures have made significant contributions to the field of retinal diseases, particularly in retinal imaging and treatment. He has received several prestigious honors, including the Coscas Medal, and has delivered distinguished lectures such as the Junius Kuhnt Lecture and the Heinrich Müller Lecture.

Heba Metwally

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Heba Metwally

Dr. Heba Metwally is an Associate Professor and Consultant of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Cataract, and Strabismus. She is the Head and Co-founder of the Memorial Institute Kids Eye Hospital (MIKE) at the Memorial Institute for Ophthalmic Research.
Dr. Metwally is a Leadership Bureau Member of the World Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (WSPOS), a Board Member of the Middle East Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting (MEOM), and a Board Member of the Egyptian Society of Strabismus (ESS).

Harminder Singh Dua

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Harminder Singh Dua

Prof. Harminder S. Dua is Chair and Professor of Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. He is a clinician-scientist with a special interest in the cornea and ocular surface. Prof. Dua has authored more than 500 scientific publications and has received over 170 awards and accolades, including the Rotary Foundation Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award, The Times Higher Education Award for *Research Project of the Year, and the Melvin Jones Fellowship for humanitarian work. He has also been awarded Honorary Fellowships by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the College of Optometrists UK, and the Collegium of the All India Ophthalmological Society. In 2019, he was appointed Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). He has served as President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK, Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Ophthalmology, and High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of Eye. His discovery of the pre-Descemet’s layer (Dua’s layer) in the human cornea in 2013 has had a significant impact on corneal surgery and pathology.

Ioannis Pallikaris

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Ioannis Pallikaris

Prof. Ioannis Pallikaris is a pioneering leader in corneal and refractive surgery and is internationally recognized as the “Father of LASIK.” Since beginning his ophthalmology training in Zurich in 1980, he has been actively involved in both research and clinical innovation, contributing significantly to the advancement of modern refractive surgery.
His doctoral research focused on corneal transplantation and induced astigmatism, laying the foundation for a distinguished academic and scientific career. Throughout the years, Prof. Pallikaris has developed numerous surgical techniques and innovations in corneal and anterior segment surgery that are widely adopted in clinical practice worldwide.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to ophthalmology, he has received more than twenty-five international awards from leading ophthalmic organizations, including the prestigious Barraquer Award. He also served as Dean of the University of Crete (2004–2011) and President of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) (2006–2008).
Prof. Pallikaris continues to drive innovation in ophthalmology through the development of advanced technologies in premium intraocular lenses and customized refractive surgery. His groundbreaking contributions have transformed the field of refractive surgery and continue to influence ophthalmic practice worldwide.

Jia-Horung Hung

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Jia-Horung Hung

Dr. Jia-Horung Hung is an ophthalmologist and physician-scientist specializing in uveitis and ocular inflammatory diseases. He is currently a faculty member at the Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University, where he contributes to both patient care and academic research.
He is an active member of several international societies, including the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS), Foster Ocular Immunology Society (FOIS), International Ocular Inflammation Society (IOIS), European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA), and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). He also served as Founding Secretary General of the Taiwan Ocular Inflammation Society (TOIS) from 2020 to 2023.
Dr. Hung received his MD, PhD from National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan and completed advanced training in uveitis and ocular inflammatory diseases at Stanford University under the mentorship of Professor Quan Dong Nguyen.
His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of ocular inflammation, inherited retinal diseases, and big-data epidemiology. He has published in leading journals, including Survey of Ophthalmology, British Journal of Ophthalmology, JAMA Network Open, and Retina, and serves on the editorial board of Graefe’s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology.
His contributions have been recognized with the Young Investigator Research Award (2021), the Bronze Publication Award (2023), and the International Young Investigator Award (2025).

Levent Akduman

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Levent Akduman

Levent Akduman, M.D., F.A.S.R.S. Dr. Akduman received his medical degree and completed his ophthalmology training in Turkey.
He then pursued two fellowships, specializing in uveitis/inflammatory eye diseases at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, and vitreoretinal surgery at Barnes Retina Institute/Washington University in St. Louis, MO.
He practiced and taught at the Department of Ophthalmology at Saint Louis University for 16 years, where he was recognized with the Teacher of the Year Award three times.
Dr. Akduman has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, contributed to more than 20 book chapters, served as editor or co-editor for three books (Vitreoretinal Surgery-Uveitis-Myopia), and participated in numerous nationwide clinical studies on retinal diseases as a principal investigator or co-investigator.
Dr. Akduman is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Ophthalmology at Saint Louis University.
He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, the American Uveitis Society, the American Society of Retina Specialists, among others.
He has been repeatedly recognized by his peers, being listed among the Best Doctors (2007, 2008, 2017–2021) and named among America’s Leading Doctors by Newsweek in 2025.
Dr. Akduman frequently presents at national and international ophthalmology and retina meetings.
His areas of expertise include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, ocular trauma, macular hole, macular pucker, retinal vascular occlusions, and pathologic myopia.

Mohamed Krema

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Mohamed Krema

Professor Dr. Hatem Krema is the director of the Ocular Oncology program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Canada.
Dr. Krema had his ocular oncology training in the USA, UK, and Canada.
He is interested in translational clinical research in ophthalmic oncology.
His focus is on defining better algorithms for radiotherapy of the ophthalmic cancers, management of treatment-related complications, introduction of innovative surgical techniques, and the role of molecular genomics in the management of ophthalmic tumours.
He is the sole author of the textbook "Principles of Ocular Oncology," and he has a substantial body of peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in the field.
Dr. Krema has been an invited guest speaker and chair moderator at several international conferences, and has been invited to deliver courses and teaching sessions in ocular oncology to residents and fellows in several countries.
He received several teaching awards both nationally and internationally.

Michael Kalloniatis

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Michael Kalloniatis

Michael Kalloniatis, BSc(Optom), MSc(Optom), PhD, FAAO, Glaucoma Diplomate (AAO) Dr. Kalloniatis completed his optometry degree at the University of Melbourne and after completing his Master's degree at the same institute, undertook PhD studies at the University of Houston College of Optometry (UHCO). After postdoctoral training in retinal neuroanatomy at the University of Texas, he returned to Melbourne, where he served as a faculty member in the optometry department and established a neurobiology and visual psychophysics laboratory.
In 2001, he moved to the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where he served as the Robert G. Leitl Professor of Optometry and Vision Science.
During his time at the University of Auckland, he served as head of school and associate dean of research in the faculty of science.
He spent 13 years as director of the Centre for Eye Health at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and he recently moved to a faculty position at University of Houston College of Optometry, where he continues his clinical research on glaucoma and retinal disease and continues his clinical teaching to optometry and vision science students.

Nihal Hassan

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Nihal Hassan

Professor of ophthalmology cairo university and consultant medical retina Upcoming president of Egyptian society of opthalmology 2027 Board member Egyptian investigative society

Mary Qiu

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Mary Qiu

Dr. Mary Qiu is an ophthalmologist who completed her fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic after finishing her residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and completed her undergraduate studies at Stanford University. Dr. Qiu is board certified in Ophthalmology by the American Board of Ophthalmology. Her training at leading academic institutions reflects her commitment to excellence in ophthalmic care and clinical practice.

Paul Harasymowycz

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Paul Harasymowycz

Founder and Medical Director of the Bellevue Ophthalmology Clinics and the Montreal Glaucoma Institute, Associate Professor at the University of Montreal and Adjunct Clinical Professor at McGill University. Dr. Harasymowycz works as a clinician and researcher at The CUO (Centre Universitaire d’Ophtalmologie) and the Guy-Bernier Research Center since 2001. He was Chief of Glaucoma at University of Montreal for over 12 years and a Member of the ASCRS committee for eight years. He is also Medical Director of the Quebec Glaucoma Foundation, created in 2007 in order to promote research on glaucoma and to raise awareness of the disease including early screening of patients at high risk. He focuses his research on glaucoma screening, new diagnostic and ocular imaging technologies, as well as on new surgical treatments for glaucoma and cataract surgery. Moreover, he is often sought out to present and teach new surgical techniques and treatments at national and international congresses and is recognized as an innovator in MIGS techniques. Dr. Harasymowycz enjoys research and over the last 20 years has published over 100 articles in various national and international scientific journals, as well as book chapters. Passionate, he teaches students, residents, fellows, and other health care professionals.

Raed Behbehani

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Raed Behbehani

Raed Behbehani. MD FRCSC Consultant Neuro-ophthalmololgist , Ibn Sina Hospital , Al-Amiri Hospital Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Diplomate American Board of Ophthalmology International fellow ‘North American Neuroophthalmology Society Publication : over 80 peer reviewed articles

Seyhan B. Özkan

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Seyhan B. Özkan

Seyhan B. Özkan graduated from Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara in 1986 and completed her ophthalmology training at S.B. Ankara Numune Hospital Department of Ophthalmology in 1990.
She made her subspecialty training on strabismus and pediatric ophthalmology in Moorfields Eye Hospital with Mr. John Lee and Mr. Peter Fells on 1991-92.
Dr. Özkan worked in S.B. Ankara Hospital till 1995 in Ankara and became Professor of Ophthalmology in 2002 in Aydin Adnan Menderes University Medical School. She was the Director of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Department between 1995 and 2019 and currently she works fulltime in her private clinic.
Dr. Özkan had 132 published papers and 11 book chapters. She made more than 250 talks as guest lecturer in international meetings.
Dr. Özkan served as the Local Organizer in the Meeting of European Strabismological Association (ESA) on 2004 in Izmir, and in the Meeting of International Strabismological Association (ISA) on 2010 in Istanbul.
She served as the Editor of ISA from 2006 to 2014 and she edited two ISA Transactions Books.
Dr. Özkan was the Past President of Strabismological Society of Turkish Ophthalmological Association between 2015-2016.
Seyhan Özkan was the Past President of the European Strabismological Association (ESA) between 2004 - 2009.
She was the Past President of International Strabismological Association (ISA) between 2014 - 2018.
Dr. Özkan is a member of ‘Squint Club’ (American Society for Strabismus Research).

Samantha Goldburg

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Samantha Goldburg

Dr. Samantha Goldburg is an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at NYU Langone Health in New York City. She completed her ophthalmology residency at Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, followed by a glaucoma fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. She has a clinical practice focused on the medical and surgical management of glaucoma and is actively involved in teaching ophthalmology residents. Her clinical interests include non-valved glaucoma drainage devices, tube shunt and trabeculectomy revision surgery, and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery.

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