Debate, discovery, and the future of ophthalmology: A preview of COPHy 2026

Now in its 17th year, the Congress on Controversies in Ophthalmology (COPHy) convenes in Kraków, Poland, on 20–21 March 2026—two days in which some of the world’s leading ophthalmologists will take sides, make cases, and challenge assumptions across retina, neuro-ophthalmology, glaucoma, and uveitis. Here is what to expect.

Friday, 20 March: Controversies take centre stage

COPHy 2026 opens with a session that sets the tone for everything that follows. Titled "Big Controversies in Retina and Beyond in 2026," the opening Hall A programme—chaired by Baruch Kuppermann (United States), Anat Loewenstein (Israel), and Zofia Anna Nawrocka (Poland)—gets underway at 09:00 with welcome remarks before moving swiftly into substantive science.

The session's keynote is delivered by Stanislao Rizzo of Italy, whose lecture on the role of artificial intelligence in modern vitreo-retinal surgery promises to frame a recurring theme of the congress: how rapidly evolving technology is reshaping clinical decision-making. Two structured debates follow. The first asks whether premium intra-ocular lenses can be considered for patients with macular disease, with Nawrocka arguing in favour and William F. Mieler (United States) taking the opposing position. The second debate tackles sustained delivery for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), with Kuppermann making the case for and Loewenstein against.

After a mid-morning break, the programme moves into Medical Retina 1, focused on neovascular ("wet") AMD management and chaired by Kuppermann and Christiana Dinah (United Kingdom). Three debates anchor the session. Jean Francois Korobelnik (France) and Jordi Mones (Spain) square off over whether the risk of conversion to wet AMD should influence the use of complement inhibitors in treating geographic atrophy. Korobelnik and Loewenstein then revisit the treat-and-extend debate in the context of sustained drug delivery. Finally, David Almeida (United States) and Loewenstein consider the near-term potential of gene therapy in the management of nAMD — a question gaining increasing urgency as early-phase trial data continues to emerge.

The afternoon opens with Surgical Retina 1, "Controversial Approaches to Common Surgical Questions," chaired by Mieler, Rizzo, and Nawrocka. Rizzo and Mieler debate internal limiting membrane removal in vitrectomy for epiretinal membranes. Nawrocka and Jerzy Mackiewicz (Poland) then take opposing sides on whether methotrexate injections improve outcomes in proliferative vitreoretinopathy-associated retinal detachment. The session closes with a debate on pars plana vitrectomy for symptomatic vitreous floaters, with Francesco Boscia (Italy) arguing in its favour and Mieler raising objections.

Friday's final Hall A session brings the Vision Academy in Retina 2026, chaired by Loewenstein and Kuppermann, under the theme "Confronting Challenges in an Evolving Retinal Disease Management Landscape." A spotlight briefing on imaging biomarkers in nAMD is delivered by Thibaud Mathis (France), followed by a focused debate on whether anti-VEGF therapy can be safely discontinued in patients with nAMD that remains inactive at the maximum injection interval. Korobelnik argues yes; Paolo Lanzetta (Italy) counters. The session closes with a panel discussion on the current status and impact of AI in the screening, diagnosis, and management of retinal diseases — drawing together Korobelnik, Mathis, and Lanzetta.

Hall B on Friday opens earlier, at 08:00, with a session of the Polish Ophthalmology Society (PTO), chaired by Nawrocka and Ewa Izabela Mrukwa-Kominek. The debates — on femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, the future of penetrating keratoplasty, and comparative irradiation methods for uveal melanoma — reflect the breadth of clinical priorities represented within the Polish ophthalmological community.

The afternoon in Hall B is given over to neuro-ophthalmology, with Andrew G. Lee (United States) chairing both sessions. Neuro-Ophthalmology 1 examines the afferent pathway, including debates on sulfa allergy risk in idiopathic intracranial hypertension treatment with acetazolamide — contested by Alex Sinclair (Albania) and Lee — and the contentious question of whether GLP-1 agonists cause non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, debated by Leonie Keidel (Germany) and Lee. The session also includes afferent case presentations. Neuro-Ophthalmology 2 turns to the efferent pathway, with debates on scanning all third nerve palsies regardless of pupil involvement, surgical management of IIH with severe visual loss, and further case presentations.

The first day concludes with a Welcome Reception in the Supporters and Exhibitors Area from 18:00.

Saturday, 21 March: Expanding the scope

Saturday broadens the congress agenda to encompass diabetic eye disease, glaucoma, uveitis, and novel technologies, while sustaining the debate format that defines COPHy's identity.

Hall A begins at 08:00 with Medical Retina 2, devoted to diabetic macular oedema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy, chaired by Francesco Bandello (Italy) and Bozena Romanowska-Dixon (Poland). The opening debate cuts to the heart of a pressing clinical and regulatory conversation: can artificial intelligence safely replace human graders in diabetic retinopathy screening? Goran Petrovski (Norway) says yes; Dinah says no. Two further debates examine novel topical steroids as a treatment option for diabetic macular oedema and the potential of sustained drug delivery systems in this indication — debated by Baruch Kuppermann and Bandello, and Patricia Udaondo (Spain) and Sobha Sivaprasad (United Kingdom), respectively.

Medical Retina 3, "Novel Technologies and Therapies in Retinal Diseases," follows after the mid-morning break, chaired by Jakub Kałużny (Poland), Boscia, and Andrzej Grzybowski (Poland). The session addresses retinal vein occlusion management with long-acting anti-VEGF agents — Izabella Karska-Basta (Poland) versus Dinah — before moving on to gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases, debated by Max Gerhardt (Germany) and Lanzetta. The session closes with a debate on photobiomodulation as the preferred treatment for intermediate dry AMD, with Udaondo and Mones on opposing sides.

The afternoon's main scientific event in Hall A is Surgical Retina 2, "Controversies in the Utilisation of Cutting-Edge Vitreoretinal Surgical Technology," chaired by Mieler, Boscia, and Jerzy Nawrocki (Poland). The session opens with a keynote surgical lecture on flaps for macular hole, moderated by Nawrocki. Two debates follow: the first on heads-up digital imaging in vitrectomy surgery, argued by Stratos Gotzaridis (Greece) and Mieler; the second on preoperative intravitreal anti-VEGF injection prior to surgery for diabetic traction retinal detachment, with Boscia and Lanzetta taking opposing positions.

Saturday's final Hall A session, Medical Retina 4, turns to non-neovascular AMD, chaired by Mario D. Toro (Italy) and Boscia. Three debates close out the scientific programme: whether deep learning algorithms should guide personalised treatment decisions in geographic atrophy progression (Udaondo versus Loewenstein); whether cataract surgery should be delayed in patients with non-neovascular AMD (Toro versus Sivaprasad); and whether complement inhibition will remain the mainstay of geographic atrophy management in the future (Lanzetta versus Sivaprasad).

Hall B on Saturday is devoted to glaucoma and uveitis in parallel with the retinal programme. Glaucoma 1, chaired by M. Francesca Cordeiro (United Kingdom) and Mrukwa-Kominek, opens with a debate on population-wide glaucoma screening (Barbara Cvenkel, Slovenia, versus Jacek Szaflik, Poland), followed by debates on whether early glaucoma detection should prioritise structure over function (Cordeiro versus Bartlomiej Kaluzny, Poland) and whether GlaucOMICS should guide treatment decisions in clinical practice (Szaflik versus Cvenkel).

Uveitis 1, chaired by Bahram Bodaghi (France), runs in the same morning block. Sara Touhami (Samoa) and Sabina Sapeta (Poland) debate whether systemic therapy is the best option for uveitic macular oedema. Touhami and Sofia Androudi (Greece) then address prophylactic laser retinopexy and early pars plana vitrectomy for preventing retinal detachment in acute retinal necrosis. Bodaghi and Inês Leal (Portugal) close the session with a debate on mandatory HLA testing in the investigation of posterior uveitis.

The afternoon in Hall B features Glaucoma 2, with Qëndresë Daka (Republic of Kosovo) and Tomasz Żarnowski (Poland) debating whether surgical training should focus on minimally invasive glaucoma surgery rather than traditional procedures, followed by debates on novel pressure-lowering pathways versus traditional IOP-lowering medications and whether trabecular MIGS should be the first surgical option for all glaucoma patients.

Uveitis 2, chaired by Jarmila Heissigerova (Czech Republic) and Androudi, brings the congress to a close. The session addresses post-operative macular oedema managed as a uveitis, the use of biosimilars in uveitis, and whether inflammatory choroidal neovascularisation may be treated by anti-VEGFs alone — with Leal and Androudi debating the last of these.

Editor's Note: This content was generated with the assistance of AI.