(PRESS RELEASE) Due to epidemiological projections, government regulations and public health mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 — including social distancing, limited crowd sizes and face coverings — the American Academy of Ophthalmology has been forced to cancel its in-person annual meeting this year.
The academy will present a virtual-only event. Though the format will change, AAO 2020 will deliver the critical scientific and clinical information that you expect from the most important ophthalmology meeting of the year.
And, as every year, the academy’s PR team is here to help you make the most of your chance to connect with ophthalmology’s top leaders.
This is only the second time in 124 years that the academy has canceled its annual meeting; the other time was in 1945 at the height of World War II.
The academy has deep expertise in presenting a virtual event, having done it the past seven years in conjunction with the in-person meeting. Staff and physician volunteers have been planning a virtual option for months. And now we have four more months to focus on a dynamic and exciting experience for presentations, skills transfer and networking — and even some virtual fun.
Although not finalized, it anticipates that it will be held on or near the original dates of Nov. 13-16, 2020.