It was a privilege for our team from Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust to attend and present at the International Retina Summit (IRS-100) 2025, held in Changsha, the vibrant capital of Hunan Province, from 21–23 November 2025. We are deeply grateful for the warm hospitality of our hosts and for the opportunity to share our work with retinal clinicians and scientists from across the world.
Founded in 2004, the International Retina Summit is a prestigious biennial meeting dedicated to advancing the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases. Over the past two decades, it has developed into a leading platform where clinical practice meets cutting-edge research, fostering meaningful exchange between established experts and early-career researchers alike. In recent years, the meeting has been hosted by the Aier Eye Hospital Group, attracting world-renowned clinicians and scientists from across Asia, Europe, and North America.
The summit was established to accelerate the global exchange of innovation in retina, promote cross-border clinical and research collaborations, and create an environment where young clinicians and scholars can engage directly with world-leading experts. This emphasis on face-to-face dialogue and real-time discussion makes IRS particularly valuable for translating scientific breakthroughs into real-world clinical practice.
Our participation was led by Sobha Sivaprasad and her team, who were invited for several key reasons. As a global leader in retinal research and Editor-in-Chief of Eye, Prof. Sivaprasad brings unparalleled expertise in clinical trials and real-world management of retinal diseases, particularly diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In addition, the Moorfields team represents a truly multidisciplinary approach to future ophthalmic care, spanning clinical practice, artificial intelligence, data science, and advanced retinal imaging.
Partnering with Moorfields, one of the world’s leading eye hospitals, also strengthens the summit’s international standing and provides delegates with direct links to global clinical and research networks.
A major highlight of IRS-100 2025 was the breadth and depth of scientific discussion, bringing together basic research, clinical decision-making, surgical innovation, and emerging retinal technologies. Our team contributed across these areas with the following presentations:
- Prof. Sobha Sivaprasad: Global Disparities in the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy
- Dun Jack Fu: Next-Generation Imaging Biomarkers for AMD
- Fangyao Tang: Using Artificial Intelligence Pre-Screening to Accelerate AMD Clinical Trials
- Pallavi Bagga: Quantifying Retinal Layer Changes in Geographic Atrophy: A Segmentation-Based Analysis of CAM-Defined GA Biomarkers and Lesion Islands on SD-OCT
- Edward Adams: Optimising Geographic Atrophy Segmentation in AMD Through Transfer Learning: A Path to Enhanced Model Generalisability
- Vincent Yiu Wai Chan: A Comparative Study of Fundus Autofluorescence and Spectral-Domain OCT in Geographic Atrophy
These sessions generated lively discussion and highlighted the rapidly growing role of advanced imaging and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of retinal research and care.
Beyond the scientific programme, the meeting also provided a valuable opportunity to experience Chinese culture and to strengthen personal connections with colleagues from around the world. These informal exchanges are often where the foundations of long-lasting international collaborations are formed.
We extend our sincere thanks to Shibo Tang, Chairman of IRS-100 2025 and Vice President of the Chinese Ophthalmological Society, for his leadership and vision in making this international forum such a success.
We return from Changsha inspired by the quality of the science, the openness of discussion, and the shared commitment to improving outcomes for patients with retinal disease worldwide. We look forward to future collaborations with colleagues in China and beyond, and to continuing to advance retinal research through strong international partnerships.
December 2025