Australia is hosting the International Orthoptic Congress (IOC) for the first time in two decades, with Brisbane being home to the global orthoptic community from June 27–29.
The event, hosted by the International Orthoptic Association (IOA) in partnership with Orthoptics Australia (OA), returns in person for the first time since 2016 and has the theme Orthoptics Down Under: A Fusion of Global Expertise.
A media release says the 2025 IOC offers three days of “immersive learning and networking”.
The program features plenary sessions, poster presentations, and keynote lectures, including the prestigious Burian Lecture.
The congress also introduces the inaugural Research Forum, designed to support early-career orthoptists in developing clinical research skills.
Dr Jan Roelof Polling, president of the IOA, said: “The International Orthoptic Congress in Brisbane is not just a long-awaited reunion; it’s a powerful symbol of how far our profession has come.
“The last time the IOC was held in Australia was in 2004, in Melbourne. That was one of my very first congresses as a young orthoptist, eager to learn and inspired by the passion I saw for both research and clinical excellence.
“It’s that same spirit that drives the IOA today. I encourage every young orthoptist to take part, connect with colleagues from around the world, and get involved: You never know where it might take you.”
The release said the congress focus on topics such as neuro-orthoptics, myopia management, and paediatric imaging aligned with pressing research areas and clinical challenges.
“By addressing these subjects, IOC 2025 facilitates the dissemination of cutting-edge knowledge and promotes best practices across the orthoptic community,” it said.
Pre-conference sessions on Thursday 26 June will feature three significant forums. The Zoran Georgievski Education Forum will focus on innovative educational strategies to equip orthoptic students with the essential skills and knowledge to thrive in diverse clinical environments.
This will be followed by a research forum aimed at early-career orthoptists, focusing on developing research skills essential for contributing to evidence-based practice.
The congress will kick off in earnest on Friday 27 June with the much-anticipated Burian Lecture, presented by UK-based Professor Fiona Rowe, who has dedicated her career to scientific and evidence-based clinical research in orthoptics and vision science.
The presentation will look at the role of orthoptists in developing and implementing eye care services for stroke survivors. The day will conclude with the Welcome Reception where delegates can socialise in a more informal setting and enjoy those long-awaited face-to-face conversations.
Day two highlights include a morning symposium which will feature a panel discussion with international speakers including Professor Gill Roper-Hall (Saint Louis University Medical Centre, US) and Mr Martin Wasik (Stoke Mandeville Hospital, UK). Panellists will talk to about challenging cases in the field of neuro-orthoptics.
A collaborative symposium with the Asia-Pacific Strabismus and Paediatric Ophthalmology Society (APSPOS) will round off the sessions on day two, with an all-female panel sharing their expertise in paediatric imaging. The Congress Dinner, on Saturday night, will allow visitors to Brisbane to experience the sparkling night views of the city skyline and Story River, while enjoying an evening of great conversation and delicious food, care of Howard Smith Wharves.
The third and final day of the congress will host another collaborative symposium, this time with the International Strabismological Association emphasising the importance of global collaboration in addressing complex ocular conditions.
The IOC 2025 will also honour contributions to the field with several awards to be given at the end of the congress:
- IOA Research Award: Recognising significant research achievements
- IOA Student Research Award: Celebrating exceptional student research
- IOA Early Career Clinician-Scientist Research Award: Acknowledging emerging clinician-scientists
Additionally, the IOA Education Grant has been awarded to Mr Sutay Bin Jobe from The Gambia, supporting his attendance at the Congress and recognising his dedication to advancing orthoptics in underserved communities.
Symposium speakers:
Burian Lecture – Prof Fiona Rowe
Prof Fiona Rowe is Professor of orthoptics at the University of Liverpool and Director of the VISION research group. She is an editorial board member for the British and Irish Orthoptic Journal, and lead orthoptic editor for the Cochrane Library Eyes and Vision group.
IOA Scope of Practice – Ms Birgit Wahl
Birgit Wahl is currently the head orthoptist at Heidelberg University, Germany. Birgit does research in vocational education and orthoptics/strabismology and is the representative for Germany at the IOA and German delegate for the OCE.
Neuro-orthoptics Symposium – Dr Jan Roelof Polling
Jan Roelef Polling is a postdoctoral researcher focusing on trials for slowing myopia progression. Additionally, he serves as the president of the International Orthoptic Association (IOA) and is a senior orthoptist at the Rotterdam Myopia Control Clinic at Erasmus MC.
APSPOS Symposium: Paediatric Imaging – Dr Caroline Catt
Dr Catt is a paediatric eye surgeon with experience caring for premature babies through to older children and adults. She is a consultant ophthalmologist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Liverpool and Royal North Shore hospitals. Dr Catt is the chair of the Australian and New Zealand Paediatric Ophthalmology Society (ANZPOS).
ISA Symposium: When The Head Posture Is the Main Concern – Prof Jonathan M. Holmes
Prof Holmes is Professor and chair of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the University of Arizona-Tucson, Arizona. He has been one of the leaders of the Paediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group for over 28 years, directing multicentre RCTs and observational studies, and his surgical practice is focused on complex strabismus.
Dr Amanda French
Associate Professor Amanda French is Head of Department of the Discipline of Orthoptics at the University of Technology Sydney. She has over 15 years experience as an academic and a PhD on the epidemiology of childhood refractive errors from the University of Sydney. As a leading researcher in the development of myopia in children, her work emphasises the role of environmental risk factors and public health approaches.
Registrations are open now. Those interested can book their place at ioacongress.org.
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