ASOT 2026 Ophthalmic Trauma Symposium
The Ophthalmic Trauma Playbook: Best Practices from Initial Response to Long-Term Recovery
Held in conjunction with the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting
Friday, October 9, 2026 | 12:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
JW Marriott New Orleans, 614 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA
| Start Time | End Time | Lecture | Speaker(s) |
| 12:30 PM | 12:35 PM | AAO Presidential Address Trauma Readiness: Education and Systems |
Chris Rapuano, MD |
| 12:40 PM | 1:43 PM | RESPONSE: Minutes Moderator - Kristen M. Hawthorn, M.D., Howerton Eye |
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| 12:40 PM | 12:55 PM | Overview of arc of ophthalmic trauma management | Kristen M. Hawthorne, M.D., Howerton Eye |
| 12:45 PM | 12:55 PM | The initial evaluation, damage control, and the role of local emergency providers | Boonkit Purt, M.D., F.A.C.S. President, American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma Ophthalmologist US Army, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University |
| 12:57 PM | 1:07 PM | Anesthesia/Analgesia in eye emergencies for exam and procedures | Katherine S. Cox, M.D., FASA Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Director for Anesthesiology Residency Program, Tulane University School of Medicine |
| 1:09 PM | 1:19 PM | Risk, liability, responsibility | Michelle Pineda, M.B.A. Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company Anthony J Hackett, D.O. Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Texas A&M University Vashisht College of Medicine Charleston West, D.O. Internal Medicine, San Antonio, TX |
| 1:21 PM | 1:31 PM | Orbital compartment syndrome, canthotomy, cantholysis, full-thickness lid splitting | ASOPRS Nominee |
| 1:33 PM | 1:43 PM | Chemical Burn and Irrigation | Mohammed Solemani, M.D., F.I.C.O. Professor of Ophthalmology, Chief of Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive surgery, University of Southern California |
| 1:43 PM | 1:53 PM | Break | |
| 1:58 PM | 3:18 PM | RESPONSE: Hours (Damage control and interventions) Moderator - Hossein K. Nazari, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Vitreoretinal Service, University of Minnesota Medical School |
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| 1:58 PM | 2:08 PM | Anterior segment trauma | Jennifer Yeong-Hua Li, M.D. Clinical Instructor, University of Michigan Health | Michigan Medicine, Secretary Cornea Society |
| 2:10 PM | 2:20 PM | Posterior segment trauma | Royce W. S. Chen, M.D.
Jean Sheng Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at CUMC, Vice Chair of Education, Residency Program Director, Vitreoretinal Surgery and Uveitis, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, President-Elect, Vit-Buckle Society |
| 2:22 PM | 2:32 PM | Neuro-ophthalmic trauma | Valerie I. Elmalem, M.D. Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Chief of Neuro-ophthalmology, Mount Sinai Health System, Associate Medical Director, NYEE Carle Place, Neuro-ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai, North American Neuro-Oophthalmology Society |
| 2:34 PM | 2:44 PM | Pediatric ophthalmic trauma | TBA |
| 2:44 PM | 2:54 PM | Orbital Trauma | Richard C. Allen, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, American Society of Baylor College of Medicine, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
| 2:56 PM | 3:06 PM | Nasolacrimal system trauma | TBA |
| 3:08 PM | 3:18 PM | Skin Substitute | Zhenyang James Zhao, M.D. Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery |
| 3:20 PM | 3:40 PM | Break | |
| 3:45 PM | 4:19 PM | RESPONSE: Days Moderators - Grayson W. Armstrong, M.D., M.P.H. Director, Ophthalmology Emergency Service, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Instructor in Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School Fasika A. Woreta, M.D., M.P.H. Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine |
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| 3:45 PM | 3:55 PM | Traumatic cataract management | James Auran, M.D. Professor of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Attending physician, Department of Ophthalmology, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem, Assistant Program Director, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Ophthalmology Residency Executive Vice President, American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma |
| 3:57 PM | 4:07 PM | Traumatic glaucoma management | Jonathan S. Myers, M.D. Chief, Glaucoma Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Professor, Ophthalmology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Ze Zhang, M.D. Associate Professor, Glaucoma Service, Tulane, GME Residency Program Director |
| 4:09 PM | 4:19 PM | Early vitrectomy and pole-to-pole surgery | José Dalma-Weiszhausz, M.D. Professor, National Autonomous University of Mexico, International Ocular Trauma Society, American Society of Retina Specialists |
| 4:19 PM | 4:34 PM | Break | |
| 4:39 PM | 4:45 PM | RESPONSE: Weeks | |
| 4:39 PM | 4:49 PM | Secondary intraocular lenses |
Roberto Pineda II, M.D. Thomas Y. and Clara W. Butler Chair in Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye & Ear, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology Harvard Medical School, American Society of Cataract and Reefractive Surgery |
| 4:51 PM | 5:01 PM | Delayed vitrectomy | TBA |
| 5:03 PM | 5:13 PM | Proliferative vitreoretinopathy prevention & management | Dean Eliott, M.D. Director, Emeritus, Retina Service, Fellowship Director, Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Stelios Evangelos Gragoudas Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School |
| 5:15 PM | 5:25 PM | Subspecialty resources: Panel discussion Highlight subspecialty and trauma society resources/initiatives/meetings |
Stuart R. Seiff, M.D. The Pacific Center for Oculofacial and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Plus other subspecialty society reps |