Galmont Hotel, Galway / May 13-15, 2026 / Pics: Boyd Challanger
Wednesday, May 13
Cataract Symposium
Keynote speakers at the Cataract symposium on Wednesday, May 13 (l-r): Professor Uday Devgan, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Devgan Eye Surgery, Los Angeles; Dr Ger Comer, Consultant Ophthalmologist, HSE West / North West; Professor Alvin Young, Clinical Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong; and session chair Mr Rory Murphy, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin
Mooney Lecturer: Professor Keith Barton
Professor Keith Barton (right), Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and Professor of Ophthalmology at University College London, is pictured with Mr Gerry Fahy, President of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists
Prof Keith Barton delivered the Annual Mooney Lecture at the ICO Annual Conference on Wednesday, May 13 entitled ‘The Challenge for Surgeons Managing Glaucoma’.
Prof Barton is known throughout the world for complex glaucoma surgery and as an innovator who has pioneered surgical treatments for advanced and complex glaucomas, as well as minimally invasive techniques. He has been instrumental in landmark trials that have defined the evidence base for glaucoma drainage devices and refined the indications for lasers and trabeculectomy. He co-designed the Paul Glaucoma Implant and has dedicated his career to refining GDD implantation to achieve physiological intraocular pressure control early after surgery.
In 2018, Prof Barton co-founded the International Glaucoma Surgery Registry, a free to use, anonymised web-based registry for glaucoma surgery. This registry provides surgeons with audit data of their individual outcomes compared to the registry as a whole and offers wider international real world data across the entire spectrum of glaucoma surgery.
Professor Keith Barton, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London and Professor of Ophthalmology at University College London, is pictured presenting the Mooney Lecture “The Challenge for Surgeons Managing Glaucoma” at the Irish College of Ophthalmologists Annual Conference
Effective and Sustainable Teams
Keynote speakers at the Effective and Sustainable Teams session on Wednesday, May 13, were Mr Stuart Lancaster, Head Coach of Connacht Rugby; Dr Monique Hope-Ross, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, author and Director of Medicine at Healthbuddi Life Sciences; and session chair Professor Conor Murphy (centre), Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin
With experience at the highest levels of professional rugby, Stuart Lancaster delivered a wealth of insight into cultivating culture, sustaining excellence, and leading through challenges and change. The lessons in leadership, teamwork, communication and continuous improvement resonated strongly within healthcare and clinical practice.
Dr Monique Hope-Ross’s talk explored resilience from a biological perspective, focusing on how everyday behaviours influence cellular function and, in turn, how we think, feel and perform. Rather than approaching resilience as a psychological construct, the lecture examined three core physiological systems: circadian rhythm, sleep, and metabolic flexibility and how each plays a fundamental role in regulating energy, recovery, and the body’s ability to respond to stress.
Thursday, May 14
European Society of Ophthalmology Lecture 2025
Dr Ann O’Connell (centre), Consultant Ophthalmologist for HSE South East and University Hospital Waterford, who presented the European Society of Ophthalmology (SOE) Lecture 2026 at the ICO Annual Conference in Galway is pictured with Mr Gerry Fahy, President of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists and Dr Emer Henry, ICO Programme Director for Medical Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist at University Hospital Waterford
Dr Ann O’Connell’s lecture, ‘Medical Retina – A Three-Pronged Approach’, was delivered on Thursday, May 14 at the ICO Conference where over 250 ophthalmologists gathered to hear the latest clinical developments in the specialty from eye experts at home and abroad.
Dr O’Connell was among the first graduates of the ICO national specialist training programme in Medical Ophthalmology. Her presentation highlighted practical, up to date clinical pearls in inflammatory eye disease, medical retina, and inherited retinal disorders. These insights were gathered during her fellowship training at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, with a focus on improving diagnostic accuracy and management.
Alongside her subspecialty medical retina practice at University Hospital Waterford, Dr O’Connell leads area community services in paediatric ophthalmology and medical glaucoma.
Glaucoma Symposium
Keynote speakers at the Glaucoma symposiu: Dr David Gildea (centre), Consultant Ophthalmologist, HSE Dublin South; Professor Uday Devgan (right), Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Devgan Eye Surgery, Los Angeles; and session chair Mr Edward Dervan, Bon Secours Hospital, Dublin
The Glaucoma Symposium at ICO 2026 highlighted both surgical complexity and evolving models of care. Professor Uday Devgan led an interactive session on combining cataract and glaucoma surgery, focusing on complication management and decision-making. Professor Keith Barton presented on challenging glaucoma cases, encouraging discussion around surgical strategy and outcomes. Dr David Gildea, Consultant explored the growing need for innovative service delivery, including hub-and-spoke models, virtual clinics, and multidisciplinary involvement to meet rising demand.
Keynote speakers at the Glaucoma symposium on Thursday, May 14 (l-r); Dr David Gildea, Consultant Ophthalmologist, HSE Dublin South; and Prof Keith Barton, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
Speakers at the Glaucoma symposium, ICO Annual Conference, Thursday, May 14: Prof Keith Barton, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London; and Professor Uday Devgan (right), Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Devgan Eye Surgery, Los Angeles
Managing Neuropathic Pain in Ophthalmology
Keynote speakers at a dedicated session on Managing Neuropathic Pain in Ophthalmology held on Thursday, May 14: Dr Conor Hearty (left), Clinical Lead for Pain Medicine, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin; Dr Fionnuala Kennedy, Medical Ophthalmology Trainee, Irish College of Ophthalmologists; with session chair Mr David Gallagher (centre), Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
Dr Conor Hearty’s talk, ‘The Invisible Scar: Chronic Pain in the Post Surgical Eye,’ focused on the often under-recognised burden of chronic ocular pain. He explored the concept of “the invisible scar” in the post-surgical eye, highlighting the complexity of persistent pain and the importance of multidisciplinary pain management. Dr Hearty is the Dean of the Faculty of Pain Management at the Mater Hospital, and has spent over a decade leading multidisciplinary pain services. He is a key figure in the development of national medical training standards.
ICO Medical Ophthalmology Trainee, Dr Fionnuala Kennedy, provided an overview of neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) following refractive surgery, focusing on its recognition and management in routine clinical practice.
The talk integrated key elements of corneal neuroanatomy and the mechanisms of peripheral and central sensitisation. Dr Kennedy presented practical case-based insights into neuropathic corneal pain, outlining mechanisms of sensitisation, clinical recognition, and a structured approach to assessment, including the use of diagnostic anaesthetic challenges, serum drops, and timely referral pathways.
The session reinforced the need for early identification and collaborative care in managing neuropathic ocular pain.
Clinical Seminar: Everyday Hot Topics in Paediatric Ophthalmology
Keynote speakers at a dedicated paediatric ophthalmology clinical seminar on Thursday, May 14 (l-r): Ms Arundhati Dev Borman, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin; Dr Bobby Tang, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda; Ms Kathryn McCreery; and Ms Treasa Murphy, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons at Children’s Health Ireland
The “Everyday Hot Topics in Paediatric Ophthalmology” provided a practical overview of current challenges and advances in children’s eye care. Ms Arundhati Dev Borman’s presentation covered evidence-based management of refractive error and amblyopia, including CHI prescribing protocols and modern amblyopia treatment strategies. Ms Treasa Murphy presented guidance on referral pathways for paediatric strabismus surgery covering the major subtypes of childhood eye misalignment: infantile esotropia, partially accommodative esotropia, convergence excess esotropia, constant and intermittent exotropia, and acute acquired comitant esotropia. Ms Murphy’s talk highlighted that timely, criteria-driven surgical referral, after appropriate optical and medical management, optimises binocular outcomes and minimises long-term visual and psychosocial impact.
Dr Bobby Tang explored the diagnosis and management of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis, emphasising the importance of early symptom recognition and appropriate management strategies for moderate to severe cases to prevent long-term visual damage. Dr Tang also discussed the establishment of a nationwide digital Retinopathy of Prematurity screening programme aimed at improving equitable access to specialist care for premature infants across Ireland.
Currently, many neonatal units lack access to ophthalmologists trained to provide ROP screening, resulting in uneven service distribution across the country. In 2025 alone, up to 100 premature infants had to be transported in incubators from their local neonatal units to central hospitals for screening examinations. By incorporating advanced retinal imaging technology and an integrated digital workflow, the programme will allow high-quality retinal images to be captured locally and securely reviewed by specialist clinicians. Ultimately, the programme aims to provide equitable, high-quality ROP screening for premature infants across Ireland while reducing unnecessary transfers and improving clinical outcomes for some of the country’s most vulnerable newborns
In her talk on Myopia Management, Ms Kathryn McCreery addressed the growing importance of its prevention and treatment. She focused on interventions such as low-dose atropine therapy, specialised lenses, and the need for greater educational support for parents, caregivers, and educators regarding lifestyle factors to reduce progression and future sight-threatening complications associated with myopia. High myopia in adults is associated with an increased risk of macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataracts. Reducing the incidence in our population will hugely benefit the eye health of future generations in Ireland and must be a public health priority.
ECLO Service: Enhancing Patient Independence Through Vision Ireland and Accessible Technology
Keynote speakers at a dedicated patient focused session ‘ECLO Service: Enhancing Patient Independence Through Vision Ireland and Accessible Technology’ on Thursday, May14 (l-r): Ms Elaine Power, South East Technology Trainer, Vision Ireland; Ms Hilary Devlin, Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO), CHI at Temple Street and Crumlin Hospitals; and Ms Claire Dowling, ECLO at University Hospital Waterford
The focus was on the importance of referral pathways, ensuring that when medical or surgical options are exhausted, patients receive support to access practical tools and services that enable independence in everyday life. The session highlighted how mainstream technology, such as smartphones with built-in accessibility features, and specialist assistive technology can help people manage everyday life more independently.
Friday, May 15
Oculoplastics Symposium
Keynote speakers at the Oculoplastic Symposium held on Friday, May 15 (l-r); Ms Clare Quigley, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin; Ms Elizabeth McElnea, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, University Hospital Galway; session chair Mr Gerry Fahy, President, Irish College of Ophthalmologists and Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Blackrock Health, Galway; and and Mr Jimmy Uddin, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London
The Oculoplastics session brought together leading experts to discuss advances and diagnostic challenges in orbital and periocular disease. Mr Jimmy Uddin, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London explored unusual causes of ptosis, evolving phenotypes of thyroid eye disease, and the latest therapeutic developments transforming patient care. Ms Elizabeth McElnea, University Hospital Galway, presented a case-based overview of orbital disease, highlighting the importance of recognising systemic associations and multidisciplinary management. Ms Clare Quigley, Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, provided updates on periocular infection and inflammation, including insights into VEXAS syndrome, diagnostic advances, and emerging clinical research in orbital cellulitis treatment.