Each January, the global ophthalmology community heads to the Big Island to kick off the year with new ideas, clinical insights and forward-looking discussions, and Hawaiian Eye and Retina 2026 is already delivering on that promise. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Waikoloa, this year’s meeting has opened with a strong focus on practical examination skills, evolving patient populations and emerging technologies that are reshaping day-to-day practice.
Early sessions have reinforced the importance of fundamentals, particularly in oculoplastics. Harrison A. highlighted how careful pupil examination and motility assessment remain critical when evaluating patients for ptosis treatment, reminding delegates that meticulous clinical evaluation underpins successful surgical outcomes.
Medical retina and systemic considerations have also featured prominently. William F Mieler explored the ocular manifestations of pregnancy, offering a timely overview of physiological changes and pathology that ophthalmologists should be alert to when managing pregnant patients in both general and specialist settings.
Innovation has been another clear theme. Rajesh P Singh presented updates on geographic atrophy, focusing on how multimodal imaging and artificial intelligence–driven photoreceptor mapping may enhance disease monitoring and inform future treatment strategies. These tools, discussed in the context of rapidly evolving GA therapies, underscore the growing role of advanced imaging and data analysis in retinal care.
This is just the beginning. With a full programme still to unfold, Hawaiian Eye and Retina 2026 is setting the tone for the year ahead, blending practical clinical pearls with a glimpse of what’s next for ophthalmology. We look forward to bringing you more highlights and deeper coverage from the meeting over the coming weeks.
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Citation: Another year of ophthalmic innovation gets underway in Waikoloa. touchOPHTHALMOLOGY. 20 January, 2026.
Disclosure: This article was created by the touchOPHTHALMOLOGY team utilizing AI as an editorial tool (ChatGPT (GPT-4o) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat.) The content was developed and edited by human editors. No funding was received in the publication of this article.
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