ESCRS 2026 opens in London: Day 1 highlights, week ahead

Day 1 of the 44th Congress of the ESCRS is underway at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre, where the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons has convened delegates from around the world for five days of clinical sessions, surgical education and networking along the banks of the River Thames.

The congress, running 11 to 15 September, opened Friday morning with ESCRS iNovation Day, a full day of programming aimed at clinicians, entrepreneurs, industry leaders and investors. The day’s sessions cover emerging technologies and treatment pathways across the anterior segment, including artificial intelligence and robotics, with live pitches from emerging companies and the Innovators Den serving as a centrepiece.

Friday also carries several dedicated programme tracks running in parallel: Cornea Day, organized with EuCornea; Glaucoma Day, organized with the European Glaucoma Society, from 08:00 to 14:00; WSPOS Day, organized with the World Society of Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus; and the Global Refractive Summit. The ESCRS Annual General Meeting also takes place Friday morning, from 08:00 to 10:00.

The congress’ official Opening Ceremony, combined with the Ridley Medal Lecture 2026, runs from 10:00 to 11:00, bringing scientific and humanitarian highlights from the ESCRS community together with a London-themed segment tying the meeting to its host city. In his welcome message for the congress, ESCRS president Burkhard Dick noted that London is the city where the first intraocular lens was implanted, and, per that same welcome message, previewed a scientific programme that builds on the momentum of the 2025 Copenhagen congress—including Main and Research Symposia, Arena Debates, the Global Refractive Symposium, near-live surgery and instructional courses.

The day’s programme also includes the first of four Independent Medical Education symposia running across the week, focused on developments in refractive surgery, from 16:00 to 17:00; a run of rapid-fire ‘Surgical Pearls’ video sessions at 08:30 and 09:45; and the 3D Operating Microscope Showdown from 14:30 to 17:30, described by organizers as a first-of-its-kind session comparing surgical microscopy and visualization systems without industry marketing framing.

The week ahead

Saturday, 12 September, opens early with a 5K charity run/walk along the Royal Docks at 7:00, supporting ESCRS's Building our Sustainable Society (BoSS) initiative. The ESCRS Simulation Training Lab, offering hands-on device time for trainees and early-career ophthalmologists, runs Saturday through Monday. The day's IME symposium addresses best practices for complex phaco cases.

Sunday, 13 September, brings the AI Summit (10:15–12:00), examining current and emerging AI applications in ophthalmic practice, and an IME symposium on presbyopia management with simultaneous-vision IOLs. A BoSS symposium on psychological safety and inclusive leadership runs from 11:00 to 12:30, followed by a joint BoSS/Orbis networking session at 13:00. In the evening, Ophthalmic World Leaders hosts its signature networking event at the Dockyard Vaults in St Katharine Docks, from 18:00 to 19:30.

Monday, 14 September, opens with a BoSS course on recognizing and addressing bullying and harassment in ophthalmology workplaces, from 9:00 to 11:00.

The congress concludes Tuesday, 15 September.

Throughout the week, the scientific programme includes Free Paper and Poster sessions, video competitions and case reports spanning cataract, cornea, glaucoma and refractive surgery, alongside instructional courses, wet labs and the Near-Live Surgery programme featuring eight surgeries filmed in presenters’ own clinical settings.

Full session listings are available through the online congress programme.