Retina has plenty of meetings. What it hasn’t had, according to David Eichenbaum, MD, FASRS, and Rishi Singh, MD, FASRS, is one built specifically to get physicians, industry, and the investment community talking to each other.
That’s the premise behind The Empire Forum, an inaugural one-day retina meeting taking place Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.
Notably: This is also the same hotel hosting OSN New York & Retina 2026, which kicks off the day after.
Ahead of the meeting, the two co-chairs sat down with Eyes On Eyecare to talk through what they’ve built and why.
Dr. Eichenbaum’s summary: It’s “probably the last unmet need in retina.”
- For context: Dr. Singh is chair of the Department of Ophthalmology at Mass Eye and Ear, Mass General Brigham, and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Eichenbaum is a partner and director of research at Retina Vitreous Associates of Florida.
So, what exactly is The Empire Forum?
Think about the meetings that happen around a retina conference.
As Dr. Eichenbaum described it, clinicians, industry representatives, and investment professionals travel to major scientific congresses, then arrange individual conversations in hallways, coffee shops, and small conference rooms.
The Empire Forum is designed to bring those exchanges into one place, with opportunities to hear the same information, compare perspectives, and meet face to face.
That also creates room for connections beyond the podium.
Dr. Singh noted early interest has included people seeking information about new products, following industry trends, and exploring career opportunities.
Why bring investors into a retina meeting?
Because new therapies don’t come out of one group alone, Dr. Singh explained.
“It’s usually a collaboration amongst many different people, and it’s got to fit all those different realms,” he said. “It’s the investor interest, it’s the interest of the company that has expertise in that area—and it’s the interest of you and I, as clinical retina specialists, to see that come to life for our patients.”
“Even the thing that looks the most scientifically advanced may not have the right practice applicability, and that’s a huge deal for our people to learn about,” Singh added.
So with that in mind …
Dr. Eichenbaum framed the discussion around a practical question: How does a scientifically promising product make its way into the clinic, and ultimately to patients?
Expect conversations about the likelihood of approval, potential patient populations, and the market for emerging therapies alongside the data themselves.
What can attendees expect from the program?
“Small Populations, Big Science.” That’s the name of one session focused on rare and inherited retinal diseases—and one of the areas Dr. Singh said he is particularly eager to hear about.
Among the topics to be discussed: emerging approaches involving gene editing and gene replacement.
He also said some presentations are expected to offer a first opportunity to hear clinical data discussed from the podium.
Dr. Eichenbaum, meanwhile, emphasized the chance to connect those findings with the questions surrounding development and eventual clinical use.
The appeal: hearing what the science could mean for patients, then discussing the steps needed to bring it into practice.
So why host this now?
Both physicians point to an inflection point in retina investment.
For context: Until the past couple of years, Dr. Singh noted, patients had 20-plus years of largely the same therapeutic options.
Now: the field is seeing major acquisitions, new mechanisms of action, and new therapies moving forward.
The calendar helps, too. The forum is positioned after the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting and, as we mentioned, immediately before OSN New York & Retina.
Dr. Singh described timing as an opportunity to discuss recently released scientific data ahead of earnings season, when company updates draw attention from the investment community.
Walk me through the program.
The meeting kicks off at 11 a.m. ET: six scientific sections, a keynote, and the investor panel. The lineup, subject to change, is available for advance planning.
The day wraps with a cocktail reception from 8 to 9 p.m.
Dr. Eichenbaum added that the format leaves room to go past the clinical data itself, into probability of approval, potential market size—and how a therapy that works scientifically gets into the clinic and to patients.
So how is this format different from other meetings?
Longer talks. Presenters get 7 minutes, compared with the 3- to 4-minute slots common at larger scientific meetings.
Longer conversations. Every section ends in a moderated, long-format panel with audience Q&A (up to 35 minutes) instead of a 1-minute Q&A.
Industry in the panels. Many participants are company leaders, including CEOs, chief medical officers, and chief commercial officers, so the panels can press directly on strategy, not just results.
“It’s hard to get across some information in 3 or 4 minutes,” Dr. Singh said.
And who’s joining those panels?
Drs. Eichenbaum and Singh moderate each section, with panel faculty drawn from:
- Dilsher S. Dhoot, MD, FASRS
- Mark R. Barakat, MD, FASRS
- Christina Y. Weng, MD, MBA, FASRS
- Ferhina S. Ali, MD, MPH
Dr. Singh described the group as among the most influential voices in retina, with deep clinical trial and advisory experience.
Their task: guide the conversation on what’s good, what’s better, and what still needs to improve.
That’s a big program for a first year.
Bigger than planned. Drs. Eichenbaum and Singh originally pictured a half-day meeting to test interest.
The final program runs a full 10 hours, and every 2026 sponsorship has been committed.
Dr. Eichenbaum said the response from industry surprised him, and credited the New York location, the pairing with OSN New York & Retina, and how easy it is for everyone to get there.
Noted. Can I still register?
Yes, but seating is limited—and both physicians expect a sellout.
“The meeting room is large, but it’s not limitless,” Dr. Eichenbaum said. “We don’t want the New York fire marshal to kick us out of our meeting.”
Gotcha. Can I get the details?
When: Thursday, Nov.5, from 11 am to 9 pm ET (registration and lunch at 11 am; opening remarks at noon)
Where: Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel in New York City, New York
Registration: $200
- Click here to register.
Editor’s notes:
Eyes On Eyecare will be onsite as the Forum’s official media partner.
Stay with Glance for coverage from the meeting on and following Nov. 5.