VISIONS 2026: United in Vision Schedule

Overview of the United in Vision 2026 Event

Below is a summary of the events. Further details will be shared as they finalize.

Thursday, June 11, 2026	Retina International World Congress Continuous Education Session (invitation only).
Friday, June 12, 2026	United in Vision 2026 – presented by Foundation Fighting Blindness VISIONS Conference and Retina International World Congress.
Saturday, June 13, 2026	United in Vision 2026 – presented by Foundation Fighting Blindness VISIONS Conference and Retina International World Congress.

Current Schedule for Public Events

Our schedule is continually being updated as new sessions, speakers, and events are confirmed. Please check back regularly for the latest information. All Friday and Saturday sessions will take place at the convention center.

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Activity		Location	Start Time	End Time
Legacy and Visionary Circle (invitation only)	Reception	Ballroom Foyer Space/Omni	5:30 p.m.	6:00 p.m.
	Dinner	Texas Ballroom F/Omni	6:00 p.m.	8:00 p.m.
Chapter Community Workshop	Leveraging Community Impact Looking to learn more about what is happening in your local community? Stop by our Community Workshop where you’ll connect with local chapter leaders and community members who are already making an impact. Learn how our chapters show up locally, what opportunities exist to get involved, and how you can plug in based on your interests and skills. Whether you’re brand new or just curious, this is a welcoming space to ask questions, build connections, and take the first step toward meaningful engagement. This session is open to all conference participants. Register today to join.	Texas Ballroom GHIJ/Omni	8:00 p.m.	9:30 p.m.

Friday, June 12, 2026

Activity		Location	Start Time	End Time
Registration Desk Open		13th Street Lobby	7:00 a.m.	8:00 p.m.
Kickoff and Welcome		Ballroom ABC	8:30 a.m.	9:00 a.m.
Technology Session	Innovating Access: AI That Moves and Grooves, With You Speakers: Ed Summers, Jeff Wissel	Ballroom ABC	9:00 a.m.	10:15 a.m.
Concurrent Science Sessions	Optogenetics for Sight Restoration Speakers: Peter Francis, MD, PhD; Sara Thomasy, PhD	201A	10:30 a.m.	11:35 a.m.
	Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Speakers: Brian Ballios, MD, PhD; David Gamm, MD, PhD	201B
	Genetic Therapies: Gene Therapy and Genome Editing Speakers: Leah Bryrne, PhD; Peter Quinn, PhD; Erwin van Wijk, PhD	202A
	Genetic Testing and Counseling Speakers: Kari Branham, MS, CGC; Linda Reis, MS, LCGC	202B
	Eye Health and Nutrition Speakers: Sheldon Rowan, PhD; Jason Comander, MD, PhD	202C
Concurrent Adapting & Thriving Sessions	Life Together: Exploring the Benefits of Intersectionality in Personal Relationships Speakers: David Martin, Christy Vanek	202D	10:30 a.m.	11:35 a.m.
	Bridging the Gap: What Questions to Ask Your Retina Specialist Speaker: Mark Pennesi, MD, PhD, FARVO	201C
	How Could Braille Be Helpful To You? Speaker: Neva Fairchild	203A
Luncheon Keynote Speaker	Anastasia Pagonis Paralympic gold and bronze medalist, world record–holding swimmer, and advocate.	Ballroom ABC	12:00 p.m.	2:00 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Opens		Exhibit Hall A	2:00 p.m.	7:30 p.m
Concurrent Science Sessions	Gene Agnostic Therapeutic Approaches Speakers: John Ash, PhD; Jami Kern, PhD	201B	3:10 p.m.	4:15 p.m.
	Optogenetics for Sight Restoration Speakers: Mark Pennesi, MD, PhD, FARVO; Sara Thomasy, PhD	201A
	Emerging Technologies: Retinal Prosthetics, Whole Eye Transplant, n=1 Therapies, Virtual Reality in Clinical Trials. Speakers: Colas Authie, PhD; Lauren Ayton. PhD; Chad Jackson, PhD; Erwin van Wijk, PhD	202A
Adapting & Thriving Sessions	A New Way to Swing: Staying in the Game with Vision Loss Speaker: Bob Banks, President, USBGA	202C	3:10 p.m.	4:15 p.m.
	Employment for All: Building Accessible Career Pathways Speakers: Mike Hess & John Samuel	202B
	Low Vision Aids and Devices. Everything You Wanted to Know About Low Vision Devices. Speaker: Stephanie Schmiedecke Barbieri, OD, FAAO, ABCMO, Dipl. AAO, FNAP	201C
Science Plenary Session	From Bench to Bedside: It Takes a Global Village Speakers: Shannon Boye, PhD; Dan Chung, DO, MA; Rusty Kelley, PhD; Jo Milne	Ballroom ABC	4:20 p.m.	5:25 p.m.
Welcome Reception		Exhibit Hall A	5:45 p.m.	7:00 p.m.
Mix & Mingles	Retinitis Pigmentosa	Ballroom ABC	7:00 p.m.	9:00 p.m.
	Usher Syndrome	201B
	Stargardt Disease	201C
	Leber Congenital Amaurosis	202A
	Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Geographic Atrophy	202B
	Other Disease Types	202C
	Thyroid Eye Disease	201A
	Young Adults	202D
	Couples or Singles	203A

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Activity		Location	Start Time	End Time
Registration Desk Open		13th Street Lobby	7:00 a.m.	5:00 p.m.
Breakfast		Ballroom Lobby	7:30 a.m.	8:45 a.m.
Exhibit Hall Open		Exhibit Hall A	8:00 a.m.	1:30 p.m.
Clinical and Research Updates	Usher Syndrome Speaker: Mariya Moosajee, PhD	202A	9:00 a.m.	10:25 a.m.
	Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) Speakers: Jason Comander, MD, PhD; Jillian Pearring, PhD	201A
	Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) Speakers: Robert Koenekoop, MD, PhD, FARVO; Michel Michaelides, MD	201C
	Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Stargardt Disease & Macular Dystrophies Speakers: Oleg Alekseev, MD, PhD; Janet Sparrow, PhD; Christopher Toomey, MD, PhD	201B
	Other Retinal Diseases (CHM, BCM, XLRS) Speakers: Leah Byrne, PhD; Dominik Fischer, MD, PhD	202C
Concurrent Science Sessions	Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Speakers: Brian Ballios, MD PhD; David Gamm, MD, PhD	203A	10:30 a.m.	11:40 a.m.
	Genetic Testing and Counseling Speakers: Kari Branham, MS, CGC; Linda Reis, MS, LCGC	201A
	Access to Innovation and Therapies Speakers: Dan Chung, DO, MA; Todd Durham, PhD; Michel Michaelides, MD; Juliana Sallum, MD, PhD	201B
Adapting & Thriving Sessions	Addressing O&M Barriers and Expanding Access to Services Speakers: Leslie Hoskins, Alyssa Otis	202D	10:30 a.m.	11:40 a.m.
	Community Access Case Studies: Successes and Challenges in Art Museum Programming Speakers: Melissa Sztuk, Kimball Art Museum; Alli Rogers Andreen, Amon Carter Museum of American Art; Melissa Brito, Emily Schiller, Dallas Museum of Art	202A
	Safety Starts Here: Universal Design for the Blind Speaker: Amy Wilson, Founder & CEO, Safety Positive Foundation	201C
Boxed Lunch		Ballroom Lobby	11:45 a.m.	1:00 p.m.
Mental Health Session	Breaking Barriers Speakers: Silvia Cerolini; Lea Gaffen-Kessel, LCSW; Ethan Lester, PhD	Ballroom ABC	1:15 p.m.	2:30 p.m.
Awards	Lulie's Next Chapter Awards	Ballroom ABC	3:05 p.m.	3:25 p.m.
Closing Session	Hopes and Challenges for the Coming Years Speakers: Jason Menzo, Avril Daly, Michel Michaelides, MD	Ballroom ABC	3:25 p.m.	3:55 p.m.
	Closing Reception "Boots, Bites & Beverages". We invite you to embrace your inner Texan and wear your favorite cowboy boots, hat, bandana, or other Western-inspired flair.	Ballroom Lobby	4:00 p.m.	5:45 p.m.

*The Retina International Youth Council (RIYC) is a special interest group representing young adults and parents of minors affected by retinal degenerative conditions. The Council members come from all over the world, from Brazil to Bulgaria to Australia, and are between the ages of 18 and 35. The RIYC serves to bring the perspective of young people to the Executive Team and Governance bodies of RI. RIYC members take part on a voluntary basis, and are occasionally requested to represent RI at relevant meetings and events.

Curious which sessions to attend? Here are a few recommendations.

TRACKS	Newly Diagnosed	Early/Mid-Stage Disease	Late-Stage Disease	No gene known
Concurrent Session I	Genetic Therapies; Genetic Testing and Counseling; OR Eye Health and Nutrition	Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine; Genetic Therapies; Genetic Testing and Counseling; OR Eye Health and Nutrition	Optogenetics; Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine; OR Genetic Testing and Counseling	Optogenetics; Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine; Genetic Testing and Counseling; OR Eye Health and Nutrition
Concurrent Session II	Gene Agnostic Therapeutic Approaches; OR Emerging Technologies	Gene Agnostic Therapeutic Approaches; OR Emerging Technologies	Optogenetics; Emerging Technologies	Gene Agnostic Therapeutic Approaches; Optogenetics; OR Emerging Technologies
Plenary	From Bench to Bedside: It Takes a Global Village	From Bench to Bedside: It Takes a Global Village	From Bench to Bedside: It Takes a Global Village	From Bench to Bedside: It Takes a Global Village
Concurrent Session III	Disease-Specific Meeting of Choice	Disease-Specific Meeting of Choice	Disease-Specific Meeting of Choice	Disease-Specific Meeting of Choice
Concurrent Session IV	Genetic Testing and Counseling; OR Access to Innovation and Therapies	Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine; Genetic Testing and Counseling; OR Access to Innovation and Therapies	Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine; OR Genetic Testing and Counseling	Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine; Genetic Testing and Counseling; OR Access to Innovation and Therapies