Each year, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting brings together a global community of researchers and clinicians to share the latest breakthroughs in vision research. Held in the US, It’s the largest conference of its kind, creating space for new ideas, collaboration and progress in tackling vision loss.
Ahead of this year’s conference, we spoke to researchers who will be attending, to find out more about what inspires their field of work, and the significance of attending ARVO. Find out what they had to say below!
The inspiration behind the work
Yukun Zhou, who is working on developing AI models using retinal imaging to detect disease and predict biological ageing, says:
“I was initially drawn to this field by the intersection of computer science, medical imaging, and real-world clinical needs. During my early research, I worked closely with clinicians and large-scale retinal datasets, which highlighted both the potential and the limitations of existing AI approaches. Understanding how small methodological improvements could translate into meaningful clinical insights, especially in large healthcare systems, was highly motivating. At the same time, I became increasingly aware of challenges such as dataset bias, limited generalisability, and barriers to real-world deployment. This motivated me to focus on developing more robust, scalable, and clinically relevant AI models, particularly through foundation models and large-scale self-supervised learning. The ability to work at the interface of technical innovation and patient impact continues to be a key driver of my research.”
Kuan-Yin Wu, who is working on medical retina research focused on diabetic macular oedema in real-world NHS settings says:
“Conducting research in medical retina is rewarding as it is one of the few specialties where you get to work with high-resolution imaging and immediate clinical results, but the real motivation is the human element. It is rewarding to be able to save a patient’s sight, which is widely regarded as their most precious connection to the world. With the development of more durable drugs and better diagnostic tools, we can offer patients a better quality of life. For me, the inspiration comes from that constant push toward better outcomes – taking the latest science and turning it into something that keeps people seeing, working, and living independently.”
Skanda Rajasundaram, who is working on using genetic data to understand glaucoma risk and identify new treatment targets, says:
“As an eye surgeon, I see first-hand how devastating glaucoma can be: patients often lose vision gradually and irreversibly, sometimes despite doing everything right. That creates a strong motivation to better understand disease biology and to identify new and effective interventions. The specific method we use is called Mendelian randomisation. The randomised inheritance of our genes means that our genes in effect conduct randomised trials analogous to randomised clinical trials. This is an oversimplification but it captures the essence of the approach. When done right, it really is an elegant and effective method. Indeed, it may be most impactful in helping us prioritise those drug targets with a greater chance of eventual clinical success in glaucoma treatment.”
Max Jackson, who is working on using AI to improve early detection of uveal melanoma, says:
“My original degree was a Masters in Physics, where my interests lay in particles and radiation. It wasn’t until my masters project, when I was first introduced to mathematical modelling for cancer treatment, that I became hooked on applying quantitative methods to oncology. From there I found this niche cancer where I could see AI would make a real difference and the rest is history.”
Arman Athwal, who is working on developing a non-invasive imaging technique to measure retinal cell function, says:
“I am trained as a biomedical engineer, with a focus on medical imaging of the body. I joined Prof. Marinko Sarunic’s lab at Simon Fraser University in 2017, where I completed my undergraduate degree. I then completed my masters degree on a research exchange in Perth, Australia at the Lions Eye Institute, and am now close to completing my PhD in the same topic at University College London. All of these degrees, despite being on three different continents, were under the supervision of Prof. Sarunic. Hence, I would say he is my inspiration. He is an excellent mentor and science communicator, and I aspire to have a scientific impact one day that resembles his.”
The importance of attending ARVO
When asked why attending conferences such as ARVO is important, Yukun explains:
“Attending the ARVO annual meeting is an important opportunity to both share our work and learn from the broader vision research community. It provides a platform to present our latest findings on foundation models and retinal ageing, and to receive feedback from experts across disciplines. ARVO is also uniquely valuable because it brings together clinicians, researchers, and industry partners. This multidisciplinary environment is essential for translating AI research into clinical practice. On a personal level, it is an opportunity to strengthen existing collaborations, build new ones, and stay aligned with emerging priorities in the field. The support from Fight for Sight is particularly meaningful, as it directly enables early-career and mid-career researchers to engage with this global community.”
For Skanda, attending ARVO will be a first. He says:
“Attending ARVO would mean a great deal to me. It is an opportunity to present my work within the world’s largest vision research community, to receive feedback from experts outside my immediate institution, and to place my project in a broader international context. At this stage of my career, ARVO represents more than a conference: it is a chance to learn how the field is moving, to refine my ideas, and to strengthen collaborations that could shape the next phase of my research. It would also be incredibly motivating to be surrounded by people working on the same overarching goal: preventing visual loss through better science.”
Arman, on the other hand has already attended ARVO a few times:
“Attending ARVO, which I have done five times in the past, is the most exciting time of year in our field. The presentations are always outstanding, and I get to venture outside of my sub-field by networking with my peers who are working on equally exciting projects.”
Max, who will be attending for a second time:
“ARVO is the largest eye research conference in the world. I attended for the first time last year and the sheer scale of it was genuinely shocking to me. For me it is an opportunity to share my current research with people both within and beyond the oncology field, hopefully leading to some fruitful collaborations. It is also a reminder that even in a niche area like uveal melanoma there is a passionate global community of researchers all working toward the same goals.”
Finally, Kuan-Yin Wu shares:
“Attending ARVO offers a valuable opportunity to see how real-world evidence from other global centres compares to our findings, which will be invaluable for refining how we utilise these high-durability therapies in daily practice. I am particularly interested in how imaging and artificial intelligence can support more consistent and objective clinical decision-making, and how early structural responses might be integrated into personalised treatment approaches.”
The role of Fight for Sight in enabling connections
As these researchers prepare to attend ARVO, the role of Fight for Sight in enabling their work is clear.
Yukun highlights that “the support from Fight for Sight is particularly meaningful, as it directly enables early-career and mid-career researchers to engage with this global community.”
Skanda shares, “I am immensely grateful to Fight for Sight for their generous support and look forward to working with them in future!”
Similarly, Max adds that “it means a lot to have that support in helping to share our work at ARVO.”
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