Events / Upcoming
Vision Health Canada’s 2026 Conference Series
One Voice. Clear Focus. Collective Action.
Vision Health Canada’s premier conference series is home in Toronto.
Join the vision health community in gaining crucial insights into the childhood myopia epidemic and Stargardt disease.
Don’t delay, in-person seating is limited. Early registration is recommended. Secure your seat at the table: REGISTER TODAY!
Important Notice: All Vision Health Canada Conferences will now start at 9:00 a.m. with doors opening for breakfast at 8:15 a.m.
Vision Health Canada’s 2026 Conference Series
The Diabetes and Diabetic Retinal Disease Conference
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
North York Central Library, located in North York City Centre, 5120 Yonge St., North York, Ontario
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for a complimentary continental breakfast. Lunch will also be served.
Vision Health Canada, now in partnership with Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, can offer ACVREP™ continuing education credits for certified conference registrants.
Vision Health Canada’s 2026 Conference Series
Theme: Diabetes and the Eye, Seeing the Signs, Saving the Sight
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. S. Robert Levine, Founder and CEO of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative (MTM Vision), leads a discussion on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as MTM Vision’s work toward a world without vision loss caused by diabetes.
Dr. Shane Green, Senior Vice-President of Mission at Diabetes Canada, discusses diabetes and its impact on Canadians.
Dr. David Wong, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto), discusses the current research landscape of diabetic retinal disease in Canada, including therapies and modalities currently under development for treatment and early diagnosis of DR.
Ryan Hooey from Keeseekoowenin First Nation in Manitoba is Manager of Health Care Operations at Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC) and a Research Associate at the University Health Network (UHN). He has been living with type 1 diabetes since age 7 and has also had DR causing blindness for the past 13 years. Ryan will discuss how the diseases have affected his life.
Patient Panel and Dr. S. Robert Levine Interview and Q&A Session — Moderated by Dr. Keith Gordon, Vice-President of Research at Vision Health Canada.
Josie McGee, Vice-President of Health Care Innovation at VLRC, discusses the use of screening tools for early diagnosis of DR.
The final program schedule will be available on October 28, one week prior to the conference.
Thank You to Our Participating Sponsors
Presenting Vision Health Canada’s
2027 Conference Series
One Voice. Clear Focus. Collective Action.
AMD and Low Vision Awareness Month Conference 2027
Thursday, February 25, 2027
Toronto Public Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario (east side of Yonge, just north of Bloor)
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for a complimentary continental breakfast. Lunch will also be served.
Theme: Understanding Glaucoma and How Patients Navigate the Healthcare System
Program Highlights:
An in-depth look at glaucoma, including treatments, medications, surgery, new devices, and the use of eye drops.
Discussions led by doctors specializing in glaucoma care and treatment.
A patient panel sharing lived experiences with glaucoma and navigating vision loss.
An overview of Vision Health Canada’s report on how patients living with blindness and partial sight interact with the healthcare system.
Healthy Vision Month Conference 2027
Thursday, May 13, 2027
Toronto Public Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario (east side of Yonge, just north of Bloor)
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for a complimentary continental breakfast. Lunch will also be served.
Theme: Important Advances in Vision Health
Program Highlights:
A comprehensive look at the advancement and use of medical devices in Ophthalmology and Optometry.
How assistive technologies are providing increased accessibility, independence and a better quality of life for blind and partially sighted Canadians.
The impact of biosimilar medications on the treatment of eye disease.
Addressing the impact of AI in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in eye care.
World Sight Day Conference 2027
Thursday, October 14, 2027
Toronto Public Reference Library, Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario (east side of Yonge, just north of Bloor)
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for a complimentary continental breakfast. Lunch will also be served.
Theme: To Be Announced
Vision Health Canada
Vision Health Canada (VHC) is committed to advocating for a future without vision barriers. This will be achieved through ongoing collaborative leadership in policy reform, research, advocating for improved treatments, technological innovation, and community empowerment, all while working to position Canada as a global leader in achieving vision health equity. VHC is dedicated to supporting those with lived experience — our families, our friends, our neighbours, and our co-workers who are blind, DeafBlind, or partially sighted — to ensure a quality of life equivalent to that of our fellow Canadians and to transform vision health across Canada.
During our 2026 conference series, VHC has moved beyond just discussion to deliver practical strategies based on the latest data and driven by a shared commitment with our community to a future where no Canadian faces preventable blindness. Together, we will continue to spark the translation of research into practice and policy into action.