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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.—The American Academy of Ophthalmology has announced that its annual meeting will be a virtual-only event in 2020. Those who have already registered for the meeting will receive additional information by Wednesday, Aug. 12. Those who have registered will have three options: receiving a refund, applying payments made to the AAO 2020 virtual meeting and transferring registration to AAO 2021 in New Orleans. In addition, hotel reservations made through the official housing service, Expovision, will be automatically canceled.

This is only the second time in 124 years that the Academy has canceled its annual meeting; the other time was in 1945 at the height of World War II. In a statement, the AAO said, “Though the format will change, AAO 2020 will deliver the critical scientific and clinical information that you expect from the most important ophthalmology meeting of the year… The Academy has deep expertise in presenting a virtual event, having done it the past seven years in conjunction with the in-person meeting.

"Staff and physician volunteers have been planning a virtual option for months. And now we have four more months to focus on a dynamic and exciting experience for presentations, skills transfer and networking—and even some virtual fun.”

The AAO anticipates its virtual meeting will be held on or near the original dates of Nov.13-16, 2020. More information is available online and will be updated in the coming weeks.