EnVision Summit 2026 blends multidisciplinary education, networking, and professional growth

As ophthalmology and optometry navigate rapid technological change, evolving comanagement models, and shifting workforce demographics, Envision Summit has emerged as a multidisciplinary forum designed for ophthalmologists and optometrists, along with residents and medical students. The 2026 EnVision Summit meeting will take place over Presidents’ Day weekend, February 13 to 16 in Río Grande, Puerto Rico, continuing the conference’s established timing and location.

Founded approximately 7 years ago by Bonnie An Henderson, MD, the meeting was created in response to needs she identified within traditional professional education. It “really was started out of a need that I saw in ophthalmology,” she explains, particularly the desire to “create a conference where women were able to be in leadership roles, they could be on the podium, they could be on a program committee,” rather than meetings “very dominated by oftentimes the same number of people, and oftentimes it was mostly men.”

Multidisciplinary structure and leadership

Since its inception, the curriculum “has developed, the agenda has gotten even more robust,” supported by physicians and corporate sponsors. A distinguishing structural feature is its intentional integration of ophthalmology and optometry.

With partnership from MJH Life Sciences (parent company of Ophthalmology Times and Optometry Times), the meeting provides separate MD and OD tracks while facilitating joint sessions on shared priorities such as surgical comanagement. This reflects the reality that most practices “work hand in hand” with optometry colleagues and benefit from open discussion of operational and clinical challenges across disciplines.

The meeting also welcomes residents and medical students, emphasizing a flat structure in which “there is no hierarchy at this meeting,” encouraging dialogue across career stages.

Artificial intelligence and clinical relevance

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a prominent educational focus. Henderson characterizes current advances as moving at “light speed ahead,” with implications not only for clinical triage but for the “entire experience from when you walk in the door” through postoperative communication.

Although “most physicians know AI a little bit,” EnVision Summit seeks to deepen understanding of how rapidly evolving large language models and related tools may affect ophthalmic and optometric care in the near term, according to Henderson.

Family-friendly design and the Youth Track

A family-friendly framework further differentiates the conference. The Youth Track offers structured programming from toddler through age 18. Clinically, sessions span retina, glaucoma, cornea, cataract, plastics, neuro-ophthalmology, and pediatrics, emphasizing techniques, medications, and diagnostic fundamentals that attendees can implement immediately.

Success, Henderson notes, is when participants leave able to “make their practice better,” strengthening patient care through practical application and professional connection.