Where all of ophthalmology meets, the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting hosts an in-person and virtual meeting experience with access to AAO, AAOE®, and AAOP™ instruction courses, symposia, including the popular Academy Café sessions, original paper sessions, poster podium presentations, poster discussion sessions, video program, American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses (ASORN) Program.

The in-person meeting offers the ultimate networking experience to view the latest products and services in the Expo and to gain skills in hands-on sessions.

Other learning opportunities require an individual ticket or separate registration, including: AAOE® Friday Intensives; AAOE® Coding Camp; AAOE® Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Coding; AAOP™ Friday Intensives; Skills Transfer labs; Subspecialty Day meetings.

The SMO annual meeting is held in conjunction with the annual AAO meeting.

The Military Health System Research Symposium (MHSRS) is the Department of Defense’s premier scientific meeting that focuses specifically on the unique medical needs of the Warfighter. It is a joint symposium that provides a collaborative environment for military medical care providers with deployment experience, military scientists, academia, and industry to exchange information on research and health care advancements within the areas of Combat Casualty Care, Military Operational Medicine, Clinical and Rehabilitative Medicine, and Military Infectious Disease Research Programs. 

The American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma (ASOT) was founded in 2020 to become a central leader in improving all aspects of national ophthalmic trauma care. The annual meeting offers updates in clinical ophthalmic trauma, multiple panel discussion, Kuhn Award Lecture, Poster/Abstract Session, and a premier hands-on training experience designed for upper-level residents, fellows, and ophthalmologists.

The Advocacy Ambassador Program provides residents and those in fellowship training an opportunity to participate in the Academy’s annual Mid-Year Forum with seasoned advocates and Academy leaders.

SMO is proud to sponsor its military residents to participate in Congressional Advocacy Day, which includes scheduled visits to Capitol Hill and programs in leadership, engagement, advocacy and practice management.

Overview: This event provides ophthalmologists, optometrists, and refractive surgery staff members the opportunity to share the most recent advances in refractive surgery and provide a venue for all team members to share information on treatments, safety efforts, and to optimize standards for all refractive surgery performed in the DOD/DHA. 

Target Audience: Ophthalmologists; Optometrists; Nursing and Surgical Staff/Ophthalmic Technicians within the Defense Health Agency

Learning Objectives: Promote and share advances in refractive surgery treatment and management. Examine refractive surgery case studies. Share treatment and modalities for complications that occur after refractive surgery. Promote safe and effective treatment