1st SSCRS Annual International Conference — Saudi Society of Cornea, Cataract & Refractive Surgery
24 Sep 2026 – 26 Sep 2026 · The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia · In-Person
The 1st Annual International Conference of the Saudi Society of Cornea, Cataract and Refractive Surgery (SSCRS) takes place at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Jeddah from 24 to 26 September 2026 under the motto "Guided by Science, Driven by Vision". Chaired by Dr. Waseem Aalam, this inaugural meeting marks the formal arrival of a dedicated national society for anterior segment surgery in the Kingdom and is positioned as the most prestigious ophthalmic assembly of the year in Saudi Arabia.
The scientific programme is CME accredited for 24 CME hours and brings together national and international leaders in cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. Key scientific tracks include cornea and ocular surface disease, modern cataract surgery and premium IOL technology, refractive surgery and keratorefractive innovation, dry eye and ocular surface management, glaucoma sessions, optometry updates, and dedicated sessions for nurses and ophthalmic technicians. Hands-on courses and wet-lab style teaching give delegates practical exposure to new techniques and devices rather than lecture-only learning.
A distinctive feature of the meeting is its Young Ophthalmology track — "Beyond the slit lamp: Ophthalmology unleashed, Career, Wealth and Real talk!" — which addresses the non-clinical side of a surgical career: fellowship pathways, practice building, financial literacy, burnout and mentorship. This makes the conference relevant to residents and fellows as well as to established consultants.
The conference is organised in collaboration with a strong academic coalition including King Abdulaziz University, the University of Jeddah, King Fahd Hospital, King Khalid University, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, the Ministry of the National Guard Health Affairs and Mecomed, with an accompanying industry exhibition featuring the major ophthalmic device and pharmaceutical companies active in the region.
Registration is handled through the official conference portal with separate tracks for SSCRS members and non-members; society membership can be obtained in advance to access member rates. The abstract submission window for the inaugural edition has now closed, and the full scientific programme is published as a digital flipbook on the society site.
Who should attend
ophthalmologists and anterior segment surgeons, cornea and refractive fellows, cataract surgeons, comprehensive ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses and technicians, and residents in ophthalmology training programmes across Saudi Arabia and the GCC.
For delegates travelling from within the Kingdom, Jeddah in late September offers straightforward domestic connectivity, and the Ritz-Carlton venue keeps the scientific sessions, hands-on courses and exhibition in a single location — an efficient use of three days for busy clinicians.
Partnership with ESCRS
The inaugural meeting also marks the official collaboration between SSCRS and the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS), a partnership the society plans to build on through future joint scientific activities.
A programme named after the House of Wisdom
Sessions are held in the Grand Hall of The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah, named "Bayt Al-Hikmah" after the historic House of Wisdom in Baghdad, with the smaller halls carrying the names of medieval scholars whose work helped lay the foundations of modern ophthalmology and optics.
Faculty
More than 80 confirmed faculty: 24 international speakers (including Anthony Aldave, Massimo Busin, Farhad Hafezi, Warren Hill, John Kanellopoulos, Geetha Iyer, Rajesh Fogla, Yassine Daoud and Beatrice Cochener-Lamard), 13 regional speakers from Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Morocco and Algeria, and 46 national speakers from across the Kingdom. The scientific committee is led by Dr. Mahmoud Showail with subcommittee leads for cornea, cataract, refractive and dry eye/ocular surface, plus a dedicated instructional courses and free papers lead.
Registration fees
SSCRS / RSSA members 650 SAR · non-members 1,000 SAR. Wet labs and instructional courses are booked separately and places are limited. Conference enquiries: WhatsApp +966 57 039 1334 · sscrs@livepresentation.net
Industry support
21 partners across Main, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Standard tiers, including Santen, Jamjoom Pharma, Alcon, Ebsar, Bausch + Lomb, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie and Thea.
