The 2026 American Glaucoma Society (AGS) annual meeting kicked off last week in Rancho Mirage, California, with four days focused on the latest clinical and scientific advances in glaucoma research and clinical practice.
Unable to attend? Not to worry—our Eyes On Eyecare team was on-site and has an overview of what you missed.
Let’s start with the highlights from Surgical Day.
Divided into two sections, this year’s Surgical Day focused on surgical technique and patient outcomes—including a surgical video competition.
On the agenda: AGS members shared their top practical approaches to optimizing procedures such as trabeculectomy, tube shunts, minimally-invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), and other interventional techniques.
Talk topics.
The day’s five sections covered tricky treatments and paper presentations on topics such as:
- Uveitis and glaucoma: Dealing with the surgical challenges
- Aqueous misdirection: When and how to make the connection
- Hazy options: Surgical management considerations with corneal pathology
- Laser speckle contrast imaging: Novel methods for real-time assessment of episcleral venous flow and MIGS efficacy
- Diurnal fluctuation before and after SLT: 18-month outcomes
- Rapid reoperation following goniotomy: An AAO IRIS Registry and Epic Cosmos study
- Comparison of refractive outcomes of cyclophotocoagulation versus tube shunt surgery in patients 85 years and older
- Artificial intelligence for predicting progression and guiding surgical care in glaucoma
- How is a MIGS approved by the FDA? Challenges and pitfalls
- Too much exposure (of the tube): Ways to cover it up
See here for the full program of sessions and paper presentations (including a look at the other symposiums and paper presentations).
Any notable callouts from these presentations?
We’ll focus on two of those aforementioned topics:
- Catherine Johnson, MD, MPH, of the University of Buffalo, presented Diurnal Fluctuation of IOP Before and After SLT: 18 Month Outcomes.
- This examined the short-term IOP fluctuation before and after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), including diurnal variation and out of clinic pressure peaks.
- Naomi Gutkind, MD, presented Rapid Reoperation After Goniotomy: An IRIS and Epic Cosmos Study.
- While early return to the OR after goniotomy is uncommon, when early failure occurs, about 80 percent of surgeons perform conjunctival filtering surgery, mostly tube shunts.
- However, according to the study’s findings, in moderate glaucoma, anterior chamber washout may actually perform better than jumping to a tube or trab.
How about lectures?
During the Clinician Scientist Lecture, presented by Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD of Stanford University, he shared that, “We are, I always say, in the most innovative field in all of medicine.”
Dr. Goldberg’s lecture outlined glaucoma care focused on neuroprotection and neuroenhancement, highlighting evidence for a therapeutic window between cell injury and cell death, and gene therapy targeting optic nerve astrocytes.
- See here for the full list of honored guests and lecturers.
And what went down at the Glaucoma Innovation session?
Several technologies focused on changing treatment, drug delivery, and outflow intervention took center stage.
Recently appointed CEO Shawn O’Neil represented ViaLase, sharing his perspective on femtosecond laser innovation and why ViaLase is focused on what’s next in incision-free glaucoma care.
- To note: The company’s ViaLuxe Laser System delivers optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided femtosecond laser pulses via femtosecond laser image-guided high-precision trabeculectomy (FLigHT).
- See here for the latest on its ongoing U.S. investigational device exemption (IDE) clinical trial.
Go on …
Avisi Technologies also shared new research on VisiPlate, its ultrathin, minimally-invasive bleb surgery (MEBS) implant designed to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma.
- In recent news: Check out our October 2025 coverage on the FDA’s approval of the IDE study SAPPHIRE, a multicenter, open-label study of the aqueous shunt.
- Plus, see here for positive 6-month data, reported earlier last year.
Iantrek also discussed the recently launched (in October 2025) AlloFlo Uveo, a suprachoroidal minimally-invasive glaucoma device created to improve uveoscleral outflow and provide lasting pressure reduction.
- Get the full rundown on this “first-of-its-kind” surgical device.
Were any awards presented at AGS?
Indeed—several awards and honors were presented, in fact.
Among them: John P. Berdahl, MD, in practice at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, received the Innovator Award for his significant contributions to glaucoma innovation, clinical care, and the wider ophthalmic community.
Editor’s note: Check out Dr. Berdahl’s latest Eyes On Eyecare bylines.
Lastly: Was advocacy discussed?
Yes, prominently. Policy sessions reviewed National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding trends (hint: it’s currently facing a significant downward trend) and possible threats to research grants.
Sustainability in glaucoma care was also discussed, along with calls to reduce surgical waste and consideration for reusable devices when appropriate.
All in all: AGS 2026 focused on research and clinical trials, managing resources responsibly, and continued innovation in glaucoma care.