ROP Update 2026 – Meeting Founded by Dr. Glaser Reaches Truly Global Representation

ROP Update 2026 – Truly Global Representation

Dr. Glaser founded the first major ongoing National meeting on ROP in 2014 (ROP Update), with the goal of bringing increased education and awareness of the latest advancements in ROP diagnosis and treatment to pediatric eyecare professionals.

The 7th Biennial Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) Update now stands as a truly global summit, as it gathered elite medical pioneers from across five continents and eight countries to collaborate on the future of pediatric eyecare.

The distinguished speaker lineup featured prominent faculty residing and working in the United States, Mexico, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Uganda, and Australia. By bridging geographical boundaries – from leading North American academic centers and European research institutions to front-line clinical programs in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia – this event delivered an unmatched international perspective on ROP challenges, screening models, and evolving treatment paradigms across diverse healthcare ecosystems.

Distinguished Academic & Clinical Ranks

This year’s program featured an extraordinary concentration of medical authority, with attendees learning directly from the individuals shaping modern ophthalmology textbook standards.

  • Department Chairs & Division Chiefs: Multiple Department Chairs of Ophthalmology and Division Chiefs of Pediatric Ophthalmology who steer institutional policy and clinical direction.
  • Endowed Chairs: Prominent researchers holding prestigious endowed chairs, such as the Mabel E. Leslie Endowed Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology, the John and Melinda Thompson Chair in Vision Research, and the William S. Hagler, MD Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology.
  • Full Professors & Directors: Dozens of full and clinical professors, research directors, and chief medical informatics officers who drive both clinical practice and peer-reviewed literature.

Comprehensive Multi-Generational & Technological Insight

This year’s speaker lineup balanced pioneering “early adopters” who helped establish foundational ROP protocols, with cutting-edge researchers investigating the next frontier of digital medicine.

  • Historical Context & Trial Pioneers: Speakers who served on the original International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ICROP) committees and leaders tracking multi-decade clinical trial data.
  • Advanced Surgical Masters: Renowned vitreoretinal surgeons who specialize in highly complex pediatric retinal detachments and surgical innovations.
  • Technological Visionaries: Industry-leading experts conducting active research into Artificial Intelligence (AI) diagnostics, Ultra-Widefield OCT imaging, and the scaling of global Telemedicine networks.

Real-World, Front-Line Execution

Beyond pure academics, the speakers at ROP Update 2026 possess profound, hands-on experience operating on the front lines of global health.

  • Founders and directors of massive regional screening frameworks, such as the acclaimed KIDROP program and the Gujarat ROP Project in India, which have revolutionized remote screening.
  • Clinicians treating patients in resource-limited environments, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, offering valuable blueprints for adapting high-quality care to varied clinical settings.
  • Independent practice owners and billing/informatics specialists who understand the daily operational, administrative, and legal realities of managing an ROP service.

Elite Institutional Leadership

This year’s speakers represent a “who’s who” of premier medical institutions, Ivy League universities, and specialized eye centers worldwide. Presenters came from top-tier organizations, including:

  • Harvard Medical School / Boston Children’s Hospital
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Duke Eye Center
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (University of Miami)
  • Wills Eye Hospital
  • University of London (UK)
  • Makerere University (Uganda)
  • Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Italy)
  • The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
  • Private Pratices & Medical Centers Worldwide