ICO Annual Conference 2026

Introduction

The Irish College Annual Conference 2026 will take place at the Galmont Hotel in Galway City from Wednesday 13th May to Friday 15th May, 2026.

Dedicated sessions will focus on Cataract, Glaucoma, Ocuplastic, Managing Neuropathic Pain in Ophthalmology, Effective and Sustainable Teams and Top Ten Tips.

Professor Keith Barton, Glaucoma Specialist at Moorfields Eye Hospital and Professor of Ophthalmology at University College London, will present the Annual Mooney Lecture 2026.

Other key features on the scientific programme include workshops, paper and poster presentations and ICO medal awards, and the annual European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) Lecture 2026 presented by Dr Ann O'Connell, Consultant Ophthalmologist, HSE South East.

Wednesday 13th May

9.00am	Short Presentations Co-Chairs: Ms Emily Hughes and Mr Khalid Kamel Factors Associated with Postoperative Best-Corrected Visual Acuity Following Cataract Extraction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Renuka Chintapalli Endophthalmitis Incidence after Vitrectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Risk Factors and Prevention Strategy Robert McGrath Treatment Burden Associated with Intravitreal Injections: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Eye Centre in Ireland Anne Marie O’Leary Audit of the Value of an Autonomous Vessel Vector Change Detection Algorithm for Optic Disc Haemorrhage in Retina Photographs from a Diabetic Screening Population Kate Coleman Corneal Transplantation Practices in the Republic of Ireland: 14-Year Data from the National Corneal Transplant Registry Emmanual Neves Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Outcomes in Pregnancy: A Review of the Pregnancy Pathway in the Irish National Diabetic Retinal Screening Programme Mouayad Masalkhi Non-Attendance Rates of Patients Attending Treatment Centres for Diabetic Retinopathy Stephen Kelly Periocular Primary Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review of Surgical Treatment Aisling McGlacken-Byrne A Systematic Review Assessing the Effects of Myopia and Myopia Treatment on Quality of Life in Africa, Asia, and Latin America Emilie Mahon A Multicentre Retrospective Analysis on the Efficacy and Safety of Glaucoma Drainage Devices in Ireland Caoilfhinn Tan
10.30am	Refreshments
11.00am	Cataract Symposium Chair: Mr Rory Murphy Best of Cataract Coach – Recovering from Complications Professor Uday Devgan Devgan Eye Surgery, Los Angeles Professor Uday Devgan: Ask Me Anything The Cataract Coach Podcast Series Cataract Surgery in Challenging Corneal Conditions Professor Alvin Young Chinese University of Hong Kong A Cataract Pathway – the Galway Experience Dr Geraldine Comer HSE West/North West
12.30pm	Lunch
1.30pm	Top Ten Tips Chair: Ms Clare McCloskey Top Ten Tips with Examples of Paediatric Ophthalmology MDT Working Ms Sarah Chamney Children's Health Ireland Top Ten Tips in Strabismus Mr Edward Loane Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin Pterygium Surgery Professor Alvin Young Chinese University of Hong Kong When the Eye is on Fire – Tips in Managing Acute Uveitis Dr Mairide McGuire HSE West/North West
2.30pm	Mooney Lecture Introduced by Mr Gerry Fahy, President, Irish College of Ophthalmologists The Challenge for Surgeons Managing Glaucoma Professor Keith Barton Moorfields Eye Hospital, London Educational glaucoma surgery and clinical content Trabs, SLT & Elton John
3.30pm	Refreshments
4.00pm	Short Presentations Co-Chairs: Ms Nikolina Budimlija and Prof Uday Devgan A Comparison of Traditional Hospital vs Direct Optometrist Referrals to a Community Cataract Clinic Tim Keogh Five-Year Surgical Outcomes of Scleral-Fixated Intraocular Lens Implantation at Waterford University Hospital Sarah Powell Incidence, Severity, and Management of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) at Cork University Hospital in the Period July 2024–July 2025 Muzan Badreldin Diagnostic Outcomes of Glaucoma Referrals to a Tertiary Long-Wait Clinic Elizabeth Tallon Macular GCIPL Thickness on Spectral-Domain OCT as an Early Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Narrow Systematic Review Ahmed Abdalla Lacrimal Gland Biopsy: Diagnostic Yield and Safety Profile from a 14-Year Retrospective Audit in a Tertiary Referral Centre Caoimhe Normile A Review of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) Outcomes in an Ophthalmology Clinic (2024–2025) Charlotte Morrissey One Year On: Real-World Response to Intravitreal Aflibercept 8mg in Previously Non-Responsive Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration Patients Natalie Ng Quality Improvement Project: Optimising the Urgent Referral Pathway for New Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD) Patients at the RVEEH Denis Nevrov Upper Eyelid Gold Weight Implantation for Lagophthalmos: Post-Operative Outcomes and Complications K. Veitch Incision and Insight: Orbital Biopsies Adan Khan An Audit of Documentation Quality in Ophthalmic Botulinum Toxin Injection Clinics Ciaran Doyle Demand for Intravitreal Therapy in a Tertiary Irish Medical Retina Service: A Service Evaluation Lowri Edwards Can We Reliably Differentiate Orbital Lymphoma from Inflammatory Disease Before Biopsy? Kit May Chow Photodynamic Therapy in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy: Can We Predict Outcomes with Patient History and Multimodal Imaging? Alan Hopkin Challenges in Performing and Teaching Phacoemulsification for Advanced Cataracts in Rural Kenya Dara Kilmartin
5.00pm	Effective and Sustainable Teams Chair: Professor Conor Murphy The Cellular Foundation of Resilience Dr Monique Hope-Ross Surgeon, Author and Director of Medicine, healthbuddi Life Sciences Building Long Term High Performing Teams Mr Stuart Lancaster Coach, Connacht Rugby

Thursday 14th May

8.00am	Sponsored Breakfast Session Chair: Mr Mark Cahill Dr Patricia Uadondo Valencia, Spain
9.00am	Short Presentations Co-Chairs: Professor Colm O’Brien and Dr Fiona Harney Evaluating MicroRNAs and Other Molecular Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Uveitis: A Scoping Review Protocol Ray Abbas Characterising MicroRNA Expression on the Ocular Surface in Response to Cyclosporine A 0.1% Treatment in Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye Disease Emily Greenan Functional Annotation of Glaucoma Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) Loci Implicates the Involvement of Cell Cycle and Proliferation Related Genes in Disease Pathogenesis Conor Kearns A Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Examiner Feedback and Decision-Making in the Ophthalmology Objective Structured Examinations (OSEs) Alison Greene Development of a Scaled-Up GelMA-Based 3D Lamina Cribrosa Model Using Digital Light Processing Bioprinting Basem Fouda Investigating the Expression and Role of Hic-5 (TGFB1I1) in Human Glaucomatous Lamina Cribrosa Cells Ross Layden Stickler Syndrome in Ireland: Cohort Insights Driving a National Care Pathway Bridget Moran Carer Experience Using Visual Social Stories with Autistic Patients at RVEEH Ian Brennan Awareness of Sepsis Recognition and Early Management amongst Ophthalmologists in Ireland Sean Casey Impact of Reversible Visual Impairment on Cognition and Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity Mark Cahill
10.30am	European Society of Ophthalmology Lecture Introduced by Ms Louise O’Toole Medical Retina – a Three Pronged Approach Dr Ann O’Connell Consultant Ophthalmologist, University Hospital Waterford and HSE Waterford
11.00am	Refreshments
11.30am	Glaucoma Symposium Chair: Mr Edward Dervan Combining Surgery: Cataract and Glaucoma Professor Uday Devgan Devgan Eye Surgery, Los Angeles Challenging Cases Professor Keith Barton Moorfields Eye Hospital, London Glaucoma – A Hub-and-Spoke Model of Care Dr David Gildea HSE Dublin South
1.00pm	Lunch
2.00pm	Clinical Seminar: Everyday Hot Topics in Paediatric Ophthalmology Refractive Error and Amblyopia Management Miss Arundhati Dev Borman Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin When to Refer for the Surgical Management of Childhood Squint and CHI Pathway Ms Treasa Murphy Children's Health Ireland Management of Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis - Allergic and Staphylococcal Dr Christine Bourke Consultant Ophthalmologist, Children's Health Ireland, Crumlin, Dublin; Dublin Midlands IHA Tele Retinopathy of Prematurity Project Dr Bobby Tang Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda Myopia Management Ms Kathryn McCreery Children's Health Ireland Update on New Children's Hospital Ms Sarah Chamney Children's Health Ireland
3.00pm	ECLO Service: Enhancing Patient Independence Through Vision Ireland and Accessible Technology Ms Janice Brady University Hospital Waterford Ms Elaine Power South East Technology Trainer, Vision Ireland Ms Claire Dowling Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO) University Hospital Waterford Ms Hilary Devlin Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO), CHI at Temple Street and Crumlin Hospital
4.00pm	Refreshments
4.30pm	Sponsored Session – Vitreo Retinal Complex Cases Review Chair: Miss Marie Hickey Dwyer Miss Marie Hickey Dwyer University Hospital Limerick Mr Arijit Mitra Birmingham Eye Centre Miss Angela Rees Mater Hospital

Friday 15th May

8.00am	Sponsored Breakfast Session
9.00am	ICO Annual General Meeting Chair: Mr Gerry Fahy, President, Irish College of Ophthalmologists
9.30am	Managing Neuropathic Pain in Ophthalmology Chair: Mr David Gallagher Dr Conor Hearty Department of Pain Medicine, Mater Hospital Dr Fionnuala Kennedy Medical Ophthalmology Trainee, Irish College of Ophthalmologists
10.30am	Short Presentations Co-Chairs: Ms Deirdre Townley and Mr Barry Power Real-World Outcomes from the iTrack Global Data Registry of Ab-Interno Canaloplasty Combined with Cataract Surgery Keith Barton Barriers and Enablers to Medication Adherence & Compliance in Glaucoma – A Scoping Review Protocol Áine Kelly Patient and Public Involvement in Autoimmune and Inflammatory Ocular Disease Research: A Scoping Review of Current Practice and Clinical Relevance Joan Ní Gabhann Demographics & Immunosuppressant Usage in 913 Adult Uveitis Patients from a Single Centre in the United Kingdom Hana El Diwany Assessing Visual Acuity Reporting Quality in Ophthalmic RCTs Over Time Avantika Saaish & Yong Bin Lim
11.00am	Refreshments
11.30am	Oculoplastics Symposium Chair: Mr Gerry Fahy, President, Irish College of Ophthalmologists Occam's Razor or Hickam's Dictum? How to Spot the Unusual in Oculoplastics & Orbits? Mr Jimmy Uddin Moorfields Eye Hospital, London Thyroid Eye Disease Update - a Golden Age of Therapeutics? Mr Jimmy Uddin Living better with TED Orbital Disease Uncovered - from Frequent Presentations to Systemic Stories Ms Elizabeth McElnea University Hospital Galway Periocular Infection and Inflammation: Practice Update. Ms Clare Quigley Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin
1.00pm	Presentation of ICO Medals for Best Paper and Best Poster
	Conference Close

Posters

ICO Annual Conference 2026 Posters

Risk of Retention or Breakage of 25 Gauge Light Pipe During Endonasal Dacryocystorhinostomy: A Salient Case Report
Yasmin McGrath Chen
Clinical Audit on Visual Outcomes of Patients Who Underwent Cataract Surgery at Charter Medical Private Hospital Mullingar
Misbah Naeem
Clinical Audit on Waiting Time for Cataract Surgery in Charter Medical Private Hospital
Misbah Naeem
Early-Onset Bilateral Cataracts After Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: A Case Report
Natalie Lane
Ten-Year Visual Acuity Outcomes Following Laser Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy: A Closed-Loop Audit and Literature Review from an Irish Tertiary Ophthalmology Service
Richard Farnan
A Retrospective Clinical Audit Measuring Compliance with National IIH Guidelines
Richard Farnan
Under-Recognition of Visual Impairment in Hip Fracture Patients: A Retrospective Review in a Regional Trauma Unit
Richard Farnan
Are Plastic Eye Shields Necessary After Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery? A Large Multi-Site Case Control Study
Alexander Silvester
Topical Antibiotics Are Not Required Following Uncomplicated Cataract Surgery
Alexander Silvester
Percentage of Patients Having Second Eye Surgery on the Same Day as Their Post-Op Review of Their First Eye in Charter Medical Private Hospital
Misbah Naeem
Anterior Capsular Schisis During Cataract Surgery: A Case Series and Review of Intraoperative Management
Dearbhla Treacy
SF6 Gas Entrapment in Berger’s Space: A Rarely Documented Complication of Pneumatic Retinopexy
Marcus Conway
Tuberculous Retinal Vasculitis: A Case Report and Literature Review
Joe Keenan
Putting a SUS in Suspicious Stroke – Susac’s Syndrome: A Case Presentation
Muhammad Fauzi
A Case Series of Endogenous Endophthalmitis: Aetiology, Management and Outcomes
Luke O’Brien
The Posterior Chamber of Secrets: Ocular Dirofilariasis
Danyal Memon
Refractive Outcomes Following Cataract Surgery: A Comparison of SRK/T and Barrett Universal II Formulae
Denis Nevrov
The Small Eye with a Big Problem: Uveal Effusion Syndrome and Secondary Angle Closure in Nanophthalmos
Sarah Powell
Flashes and Floaters in Eye Casualty: Incidence of Sight-Threatening Retinal Pathology in a Tertiary Centre Audit
Izatti Fadzil
BALAD of a Thin Macula: Loss of the Outer Retina Following Bacillary Layer Detachment in Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment
Liam Mulcahy
Investigating the Association Between Impaired Lung Function and Glaucoma
Daniela De Paula
Switching to an Aflibercept Biosimilar – a Real-World Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy
Alexander Silvester
The Burden of Treatment – a Quality-of-Life Questionnaire on Patients Undergoing Long-Term Intravitreal Injections for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration at University Hospital Waterford
Julie Stokes
Active Triage Through Local Category Assignment in New Paediatric Referrals: A Proposed Audit
Aniela Krezel
Management of Post-Traumatic Hyperopia and Corectopia with a Hyperopic Implantable Collamer Lens: A Case Report
Shane Smith
Current Investigative and Management Practices for Giant Cell Arteritis among Irish Ophthalmologists
Ian Brennan
Sequential Histologically Distinct Eyelid Malignancies in Sjögren Syndrome: Implications for Surveillance
Ian Brennan
Post-Operative Prescribing Practices Following Strabismus Surgery among Irish Ophthalmologists
Ian Brennan
A Signalling Network Model of Lamina Cribrosa Fibrosis
Basem Fouda
Case Report of Normal Pressure Glaucoma in a Young Female with Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Type 4
Lauren Devitt
Keratopathy in Single Large-Scale Mitochondrial DNA Deletion Syndrome (SLSMDS): A Report of Two Cases and Review of Literature
Michelle Dunne
Severe Right Odontogenic Orbital Cellulitis Complicated by Bilateral Orbital Involvement and Intracranial Extension
Lauren Devitt
The Quiet Vitreous & The Aggressive Retina: A Case of Fingolimod-Related Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis
Sarah Powell
Routine administration of sub-tenon triamcinolone at the time of uncomplicated phacoemulsification and IOL insertion for patients with diabetes mellitus – can it affect post-operative central macular thickness and therefore cystoid macular oedema and diabetic
Kirsty Veitch
Bilateral Endogenous Endophthalmitis Due to Candida dubliniensis in a Patient with High-Grade Lymphoma: A Rare Case with Favourable Visual Outcome
Muhammad Saad
Orbital Compartment Syndrome with Retrograde Anterior Chamber Haemorrhage via a PAUL Glaucoma Implant Tube: A Novel Complication in Uveitic Glaucoma Surgery
Charles Proxenos
Management and Outcomes of Ocular Ischaemic Syndrome (OIS): A 6-Year Retrospective Audit of Carotid Imaging Pathways
Conor Kearns
Mycobacterium Abscessus in an Exposed Scleral Buckle: A Rare Case Report
Fionnuala Kennedy
The Impact of a Text Reminder System on Non-Attendance Rates for Intravitreal Injection Appointments at Galway University Hospital: An Audit
Fionnuala Kennedy
Itch, Scratch, Detach: Retinal Detachment in Severe Atopic Dermatitis
Aoife Smyth
Rate of Visual Field Progression Using Mean Deviation in Glaucoma: A Clinical Audit of Humphrey Visual Fields
Izatti Fadzil
QuantiFERON Testing for Uveitis: Indications and Appropriateness in a Tertiary Eye Service
Liam Connolly
Retinal Displacement Following Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Repair
Aisling McGlacken-Byrne
Visual Recovery Through Art: A Patient’s Perspective Post Bevacizumab Injections for Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Jane Loughrey
Importance of Detecting Late-Onset Stargardt’s Disease
Marcus Conway
Achromatopsia Diagnosis in Trisomy 21 Provides a Reassuring Prognosis and Hope for Future Treatment
Natalie Ng
Splice-Altering Variants and Their Influence on Phenotype in VEXAS Syndrome
Clara O’Carroll
Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency Secondary to Addison’s Disease: A Case Series of Three Patients
Azza Mohamed
Paediatric Corneal Hypoesthesia: Expanding the Ocular Spectrum of PHACES
Deirdre Harford
Laws and Literature of Children and E-Scooters: A Case Study
Deirdre Harford
Resolution of Subretinal Fluid in Optic Disc Pit Maculopathy after Cessation of Topical Latanoprost: A Case Report with Imaging
Fionnuala Kennedy
Cyclosporine as a Steroid-Sparing Agent in Thyroid Eye Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Kit May Chow
Inherited Retinal Degeneration in Focus: A Contemporary Database Report
Bridget Moran
Sectoral Retinitis Pigmentosa with Slow Progression Due to a Hypomorphic CDH23 Variant in the Irish Population
Bridget Moran
Review of the Pre- and Post-Operative OCTs of Patients That Underwent Full-Thickness Macular Hole (FTMH) Repairs from August 2024 to February 2026
Charlotte Morrissey
Clinical Outcomes Following Cataract Surgery Using the RayOne Galaxy Non-Diffractive Spiral-Optic IOL: A Retrospective Analysis of Prospectively Collected 3-Month Outcomes
Áine Kelly
The Role of Early Multidisciplinary Intervention for Paediatric Patients with Genetic Eye Diseases
Therese Kelly
Provision of Low Vision Services Across ERN-EYE: A Cross-Sectional European Survey
Elizabeth Tallon
Neurodegeneration and Retinal Ganglion Cells in Glaucoma: Cellular Pathways and Therapeutic Approaches
Sumyial Khalid
Acute Rate of Optic Nerve Head Swelling is Associated with Worsening of Visual Outcomes in Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy
Brian Woods
Appropriate Timing of Anti-VEGF Injection Before a Vitrectomy is Patient Dependent
Sarah Hayes
Glaucoma Surgical Innovations: What is the Evidence on Their Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety? A Systematic Review
Philip McCullough
A Simulation-Based Mastery Learning Model for Lateral Canthotomy and Cantholysis
Haaris Shiwani

News & Events