As 2024 draws to a close, we’re celebrating a remarkable year of content.

Zurich, Switzerland: From December 12-14, 2024, the Light for Sight Foundation will be hosting the 20th anniversary in bringing an educational platform and scientific dialogue to present and debate the latest and future clinical applications related to corneal cross-linking (CXL).

As global leaders convene at COP29 to address climate change, with health emerging as a key theme, a new study published in Clinical Ophthalmology underscores the pressing intersection between environmental factors and public health. The research highlights a significant link between air pollution and eye health issues, emphasizing the urgent need for action to mitigate these impacts.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2024 meeting in Chicago showcased many advancements in retinal research that show promise for the future.

We have seen plenty of innovation in ophthalmology, with researchers and clinicians making significant strides in how eye conditions are treated and managed. From improving drug delivery methods to harnessing the potential of gene and stem cell therapies, 2024 has been a year of promising progress across multiple areas. As we edge closer to 2025, we are eager to see what advancements will further improve vision and eye care. To envision what lies ahead, we turn to our expert editorial board to share their insights on the developments shaping the future of ophthalmology:

The World Glaucoma Association (WGA) is thrilled to announce the 11th World Glaucoma Congress, scheduled for June 25-28, 2025, in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Held biennially, the WGC is the largest international meeting dedicated to glaucoma, providing a platform for young researchers to present their work and gain recognition within the global glaucoma community.

In this interview, Dr SriniVas Sadda, Director of Artificial Intelligence & Imaging Research at the Doheny Eye Institute, and Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) Geffen School of Medicine, and President of ARVO (2024-2025), discusses the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities in treating retinal diseases. Despite progress, many conditions, such as inherited retinal disorders, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, still lack effective treatments. Dr Sadda shares the latest advancements in diagnostic tools like imaging, which provide a deeper understanding of these diseases at the cellular level and emphasizes the need to expand access to eye care, particularly as the aging population and conditions like diabetes drive up demand. Dr Sadda also highlights ARVO’s role in uniting researchers, clinicians and engineers worldwide to foster collaboration and accelerate progress in addressing these critical issues in vision health.

In a new study published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers explored the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in oculomics for assessing cardiovascular risk factors through retinal imaging, specifically focusing on predicting HbA1c levels. The study demonstrates how AI could change healthcare, especially for diabetes management, by providing non-invasive methods to estimate this critical biomarker.

The EURETINA 2024 Congress, held in Barcelona from September 19-22, brought together leading experts in ophthalmology to share the latest research and innovative treatments for retinal diseases. Among the highlights were several late-breaking abstracts that showcased promising advances in therapeutics for conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), diabetic retinopathy (DR) and  age-related macular degeneration (AMD). These studies not only demonstrated the efficacy and safety of novel treatment options but also addressed critical unmet needs in reducing patient burden and improving long-term outcomes.