The future of Glaucoma 360: Residents and retina

The continuation of this interview with Andrew Iwach, MD, a co-founder of the Glaucoma 360 conference encourages residents to attend the meeting as the event is a valuable learning experience as they develop their understanding of glaucoma and can stand at the forefront of innovation in this field or research and development. The meeting serves as both an educational platform and a fundraising event for a non-profit organization.

Iwach emphasizes the importance of user-friendly and practical approaches in the scientific community. They note that the typical process from idea to peer-reviewed publication can take 3-5 years, which the Glaucoma 360 event aims to address by being ahead of the curve. He also shares his personal experience of consistently learning new things by attending the annual meeting over the past 28 years.

Another key aspect of the event is the intersection between glaucoma and retina. For the past 10 years, the meeting has included a lecture by retinal specialists, and in 2026 the organizers will be adding a half-day program specifically focused on retina. This new "Glaucoma 360 Plus" program will be led by retina specialists J. Michael Jumper, MD and Gaurav K. Shah, MD, FASRS.

The website for the event is currently open for registration, and Iwach encourages early registration for the 2026 CME programs. The ongoing commitment to this annual event demonstrates its importance as a platform for learning, collaboration, and advancing the field of glaucoma. Overall, the interview highlights the Glaucoma 360 event as a unique and valuable opportunity for residents, fellows, and clinicians to engage with the latest developments, research, and best practices in glaucoma and related specialties.