BrAVO Winter Conference 2026 - Ophthalmic surgery; How To...?
BrAVO Winter Conference 2026 - Ophthalmic surgery; How To...?
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BrAVO Winter Meeting 2026: Ophthalmic Surgery — How to…?
BrAVO (the British Association of Veterinary Ophthalmologists) is delighted to invite members to its annual Winter Meeting, taking place from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 November 2026 at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford-upon-Avon.
This year’s meeting focuses on the practicalities of ophthalmic surgery, with three days of high-quality education, clinical discussion and opportunities to exchange ideas with colleagues. The programme will take delegates through extraocular, corneo-conjunctival and intraocular surgery, covering surgical planning and technique, instrumentation, patient positioning, clinical decision-making and perioperative patient management. Dedicated ophthalmic anaesthesia and analgesia lectures from Veterinary Anaesthesia specialist Rob Ward will address regional nerve blocks, neuromuscular blockade and pain management.
An outstanding panel of UK veterinary ophthalmologists—Heidi Featherstone, Rob Lowe and James Rushton—will share their experience and practical perspectives across topics including eyelid and third-eyelid procedures, corneal surgery, phacoemulsification, and glaucoma and vitreoretinal surgery. The programme will also feature panel discussion, invited contributions and the BrAVO Lifetime Achievement Award. A dedicated BrAVONs veterinary nursing stream will run on Saturday 7 November.
BrAVO is inviting submissions for oral and poster presentations. Abstracts may cover any aspect of veterinary ophthalmology and do not need to relate directly to the meeting theme. Poster submissions are welcomed from first-opinion practitioners, certificate holders, diplomates, veterinary students, interns, residents and veterinary nurses.
The meeting will also include a veterinary ophthalmic photography competition, offering delegates the opportunity to share striking, unusual or educational clinical images. Beyond the lecture theatre, delegates can look forward to BrAVO’s characteristically friendly and sociable atmosphere. An informal buffet dinner will be held on Friday evening, followed by Saturday’s Sun, Sea and Sand-themed gala dinner, with themed dress encouraged.
Whether you work in general practice or referral ophthalmology, the BrAVO Winter Meeting offers relevant clinical education, practical surgical perspectives and a valuable opportunity to reconnect with the veterinary ophthalmology community.
The meeting will be held in person. BrAVO membership is required to attend, except for undergraduate students and veterinary nurses. Registration details, abstract guidance and further updates will be available at bravo.org.uk.
Beyond the lecture theatre, BrAVO’s trademark sociable atmosphere will be in full swing:
• Friday Night: Dinner with relaxed case discussions and a hearty buffet
• Saturday Night: A Sun, sea and sand themed dinner, live band, and disco – fancy dress encouraged but not mandatory, with a prize for the best costume!
Whether you’re in general or referral practice, the BrAVO Winter Meeting 2026 has you covered – with cutting-edge clinical updates, real-world tips, and the unbeatable camaraderie of the veterinary ophthalmology community.
NOTE: To obtain the discount for Nurses / Interns, you must provide proof. To use the Retired discount, you must confirm you are on the RCVS retired register to qualify.
DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2026. MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND THIS EVENT. IF YOU NEED TO JOIN GO TO https://membermojo.co.uk/bravo Any queries regarding membership, please email secretary@bravo.org.uk
Friday 6 November
Extraocular Kit
| TIME | PROGRAMME |
|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Refreshments, Registration and Exhibition |
| 09:30 – 09:40 | Welcome Chris Dixon |
| 09:40 – 10:30 | Lecture 1 — The Lowe Down on Patient Positioning and Instrument Choice (RL) |
| 10:30 – 11:20 | Lecture 2 — Featherstone’s Fundamentals of Ophthalmic Surgery (HF) |
| 11:20 – 12:00 | Break + Exhibition |
| 12:00 – 12:50 | Lecture 3 — Introduction to Eyelid Surgery (HF) |
| 12:50 – 13:00 | HF & RL Q&A |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch Exhibition + Posters |
| 14:00 – 14:30 | Lecture 4 — Ophthalmic Anaesthesia: Retrobulbar and Peribulbar Nerve Blocks (RW) |
| 14:30 – 15:00 | Lecture 5 — Pain Management for Ophthalmic Patients (RW) |
| 15:00 – 15:15 | Abstract 1 |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Abstract 2 |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Break + Exhibition |
| 16:00 – 16:45 | Lecture 6 — Complex Entropion (JR) |
| 16:45 – 17:30 | Lecture 7 — Eyelid Agenesis (JR) |
| Evening | Informal Buffet Dinner Drinks at 19:00 · Food served at 19:40 |
Saturday 7 November
Corneo-Conjunctival Kit
| TIME | PROGRAMME |
|---|---|
| 08:00 – 08:30 | Registration, Refreshments and Exhibition |
| 08:45 – 09:15 | Lecture 9 — Ophthalmic Anaesthesia: Neuromuscular Blocks (RW) |
| 09:15 – 10:00 | Lecture 10 — Third Eyelid Surgery (JR) |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Break + Exhibition |
| 10:30 – 11:20 | Lecture 11 — Corneal Surgery (JR) |
| 11:20 – 12:10 | Lecture 12 — Corneal Surgery (HF) |
| 12:10 – 13:00 | Lecture 13 — Corneal Surgery (RL) |
| 13:00 – 14:30 | Lunch Committee Meeting at 13:00 Exhibition + Posters |
| 14:30 – 15:15 | Lecture 14 — BrAVO Lifetime Achievement Award: Cathryn Mellersh |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Abstract 3 |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | Break + Exhibition |
| 15:45 – 16:45 | Panel Discussion All speakers |
| 16:45 – 17:45 | AGM Awards Presentation |
| Evening | Sun, Sea and Sand Theme Gala Dinner Drinks at 19:00 · Food served at 19:40 |
BrAVONS Nursing Stream — 10:30–15:45The BrAVONS Nursing Stream runs as a parallel programme during the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions.
Sunday 8 November
Intraocular Kit
| TIME | PROGRAMME |
|---|---|
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Lecture 15 — Phacoemulsification Surgery (HF) |
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Lecture 16 — Phacoemulsification Surgery (JR) |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Lecture 17 — Phacoemulsification Surgery (RL) |
| 11:00 | Remembrance Day 1 minute silence |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Break |
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Lecture 18 — Glaucoma Surgery (RL) |
| 12:00 – 12:30 | Lecture 19 — Vitreoretinal Surgery (RL) |
| 12:30 | Close |
Location
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Stratford Upon Avon, CV37 6YR