Ocala, Florida, USA (2026)
- Dec 19, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 26
Thank you an-vision, for agreeing to sponsor the Symposium as our name-sake sponsor!
Named one of TIME’s 2024 World’s Greatest Places, World Equestrian Center (WEC) features a premier equestrian and multidisciplinary event venue located in Ocala, Florida. The Center is committed to providing an unparalleled experience for exhibitors, spectators, vendors, sponsors and retailers.
The IEOC Symposium will be hosted at this facility, meeting space, restaurants, housing and unique on-site equine competitions and events. Saturday evening attendees may choose to attend an equine event competition as a group for our fun evening mingling event!
Update as of June 8, 2026:
Symposium pre-registration is now closed.
Proceedings will be posted prior to the Symposium, approximately 1 week.
WEC Saturday evening Grand Prix is now still available for purchase! See details below.
Sign-ups are open for the complimentary WEC Animal Hospital Tour, sign up here!
Presentation schedule, topics and speakers published below.
The WEC Riding Academy Hotel IEOC reduced rate block is now closed.
Planning Ahead
Symposium Materials
General Schedule & Program Eleven continuing education hours are offered; this includes a mix of State of the Art speakers, and abstract and case report presentations from the podium. The Symposium offers attendance in-person only.
Proceedings
Speaker Notes: Dr. Brian Gilger, State of the Art Speaker
Speaker Notes: Dr. Sally DeNotta, State of the Art Speaker
Trainee Awards
Trainee presenters will receive an email the week before presentation letting them know they are in consideration for a Trainee Presentation Award. These will be judged at the Symposium by member-attendees. Due to the generosity of an anonymous member-donor, trainees could win cash awards ranging from $1,200 - $300 for podium presentations.
2026 Trainee Presentation Award Winners
1st Place: Dr. Kaitlyn Scheunemann (North Carolina State University) - $1,200.00 for abstract presentation “OUTCOME FOLLOWING DIAMOND BURR DEBRIDEMENT IN HORSES WITH INDOLENT CORNEAL ULCERS PRESENTED TO THE NCSU OPHTHALMOLOGY SERVICE BETWEEN 2020-2025"
2nd Place: Dr. Darby Roberts (North Carolina State University) - $900.00 for abstract presentation “STABILITY, DRUG INTERACTIONS, AND COMPARATIVE PHARMACOLOGY OF A CONTINUOUS INFUSION PUMP FORMULATION FOR TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS KERATITIS"
3rd Place (tie): Dr. Erin Hisey (Weill School of Veterinary Medicine, UC-Davis) - $575.00 for abstract presentation “CORNEAL STRUCTURAL CHANGES FOLLOWING PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY FOR IMMUNE-MEDIATED KERATITIS ASSESSED USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING”
3rd Place (tie): Dr. Isabella Pan (North Carolina State University) - $575.00 for abstract presentation “IN VITRO RELEASE KINETICS AND IN VIVO OCULAR TOXICITY OF ULTRA–HIGH-LOAD TACROLIMUS (UHL-T) EPISCLERAL IMPLANTS”
On-Site Information at the WEC
WEC Interactive Property Map
Here is an online map of the property. It is very helpful as it can provide turn-by-turn directions throughout the property.
Map of WEC showing locations for IEOC
WEC On-Site Restaurants and Open Hours
WEC Animal Hospital Tour (Tour registration is now closed)
Those of you attending the IEOC/an-Vision Symposium in Florida are invited to tour the WEC large (and small) animal hospital after the sessions on Friday, June 19th. Watch this WEC video for a little teaser on the facility tour. You would need to walk about 10 minutes from the hotel/meeting facilities after the IEOC business meeting which ends at 5:20pm. The tour would begin at 6pm and could be 15-30 minutes, the full 30 for those who would also like to tour the small animal hospital, and will be targeted for medical professionals. If we receive more than 20 registrations, we may need to split the group to two start times, 6pm and 6:15pm and stagger the visits.
This is complimentary and your guest could attend if they wish. Please view the video and complete the form by Friday, June 12th.
IEOC's Saturday Group Evening Event - Grand Prix Reception and Seats at the $150,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix CSI3 Saturday Evening!
Join us at the WEC/IEOC Private Grand Prix Reception Saturday evening, pre-Grand Prix Competition, with appetizers and drinks from 6pm-7:30, then watch the Competition from designated covered seating as a group. Plan to attend with other IEOC attendees for a fun evening of equine competition. Enjoy a premium view of the Grand Arena to watch the grand prix action during the $150,000 Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Grand Prix CSI3* at World Equestrian Center - Ocala. Enjoy a reception under the white canopy with included charcuterie and crudité from 6pm to 7:30pm, along with a complimentary drink ticket and a dedicated private cash bar. The cash bar will be open through the event. Competition starts at 7:30pm and concludes by 9:30pm, depending on the number of entries.
A Grand Prix horse is an elite-level equine athlete competing at the highest tier of equestrian sports, specifically in show jumping or dressage. These horses are highly trained for maximum performance. This is sure to be an exciting event!
PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE!
REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 3pm sharp
(To guarantee tickets, please purchase tickets by Thursday, June 18. Guests are welcome. Tickets can only be purchased through the direct WEC registration form below.)
The Private Reception Experience is just a beautiful 10 minute walk from the hotel, through the WEC property, under the canopy on the Arena 4 side.
Reception Experience Location
For those that prefer to rent a golf cart, golf carts can be rented through WEC Golf Carts.
State of the Art Speaker - Friday Sponsored by Epicur Pharma*
Innovations of Ocular Drug Delivery for Horses Dr. Brian Gilger
Dr. Gilger received his veterinary degree from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. After completing an ophthalmology residency and earning a master’s degree at Auburn University, Dr. Gilger returned to The Ohio State University as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology in 1992. In October 1995, he joined the faculty at North Carolina State University as an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology and is now a Professor of Ophthalmology. He is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO) and the American Board of Toxicologists (DABT). He is a Gold Fellow (FARVO) and member of the Board of Trustees of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).
Dr. Gilger was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of both The Ohio State University and Auburn University. In 2018, he received the American Veterinary Medical Association Clinical Research Award. In 2025, he was awarded the Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal, NC State University's highest academic honor for faculty, becoming only the third College of Veterinary Medicine faculty member to receive it. Dr. Gilger serves as Associate Editor for Veterinary Ophthalmology and The International Journal of Medicine. He is also a member of the Editorial Board for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Dr. Gilger’s research focuses on ocular drug delivery, immunomodulation, and innovative therapies for eye diseases, including gene and cell therapies. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers. He is the editor of ten textbooks, including Ocular Pharmacology and Toxicology (2014), Standards in Ocular Toxicology and Inflammation (2018), two editions of Veterinary Ophthalmology (Gelatt), and five editions of Equine Ophthalmology (2026).
*Please note speaker sponsorship is only for direct expenses of IEOC to host the speaker. The speaker is not being paid by the sponsor and is not promoting their product.
State of the Art Speaker - Saturday
Systemic Disorders with Ocular Manifestations &
Beyond the Eye: Care and Monitoring of Hospitalized Equine Ophthalmology Patients Dr. Sally DeNotta
Sally DeNotta is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is a member of the clinical faculty at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Originally from the rural Oregon coast, she received her DVM from Oregon State University and spent time in private practice in Oregon and Colorado before completing an internal medicine residency and PhD at Cornell University. She joined the UF faculty in 2018, where her clinical interests include equine infectious disease and clinical neurology.
Presentation highlights:
Systemic disorders with ocular manifestations
Systemic disorders commonly treated in equine patients can affect the eye either secondarily or as a direct result of disease. This lecture will review such diseases with an emphasis on the recognition and management of ocular manifestations.
Beyond the eye: Care and monitoring of hospitalized equine ophtho patients
Hospitalized equine ophthalmology patients are at risk for secondary complications including colic, colitis, and renal injury. This lecture will review commodities commonly noted in ophtho patients and summarize the existing literature regarding their clinical management.
New to IEOC: 'How-To' Presentations at the Symposium!
We are excited to include this new practical format to help you with your clinical work. Please see below for the two sessions that will be provided at the Symposium.
How-To on Suprachoroidal InjectionsBy Program Chairperson, Dr. Meredith Voyles Are you interested in performing suprachoroidal injections for equine recurrent uveitis or other severe inflammatory diseases? This year, there will be a hands‑on “how to” session that offers an inside look at the principles and practical considerations behind performing suprachoroidal injections for managing equine recurrent uveitis or other severe inflammatory diseases. Expert instructors will review the anatomical landmarks, clinical objectives, and key elements of safe, effective injection technique—focusing on decision‑making, preparation, and technique. A unique component of this session is a guided workshop on constructing the specialized needle commonly used for suprachoroidal delivery. Participants will have the materials provided to construct the needles. This interactive portion allows attendees to gain familiarity with the instrument’s structure in a nonclinical, educational environment. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a clearer understanding of when and why this technique is used, the essential concepts behind its execution, and increased confidence discussing or teaching the approach within their own clinical or academic settings. |
How-To on Standing Corneal Grafting Surgery
By Dr. Silvia Stadler
Are you interested in incorporating standing corneal grafting surgery in your practice? Get ready for information that will energize your surgical practice! This “how‑to” workshop spotlights the approach of performing corneal grafting surgeries under standing sedation. Join experts who will break down the clinical advantages, share real‑world insights, and highlight the unique opportunities this method provides for improved patient safety, efficiency, and surgical success. If you’re looking to expand your surgical toolkit, boost your confidence with innovative strategies, and bring fresh, forward‑thinking solutions back to your clinic, this is the session you won’t want to miss. |
Sponsors & Exhibitors
The annual Symposium affords us the opportunity to re-connect with equine-related vendors. We thank the registered exhibitors listed herein for participating and we look forward to seeing what they have to offer.
Our exhibitor and sponsor options are now full and closed. Contact the IEOC office if you would like information about our next event in June 2027, to be held in Croatia.
Thank you to our confirmed exhibitors and sponsors to date
an-vison, Inc. - Namesake Sponsor Crestpoint Ophthalmics - Welcome Reception Sponsor
Epicur Pharma - State of the Art Speaker Sponsor
Exhibitors
an-vision, Inc
Aventix
Crestpoint Ophthalmics
Epicur Pharma
Jorgensen Laboratories
Meds for Vets Compounding Pharmacy
Platinum Performance
Hotel & Accommodations Located in The Riding Academy Hotel at the WEC
The rooming block for IEOC at the WEC is closed.
Transportation & Parking
There are four airports to choose from, with the nearest airport being the Gainesville Regional Airport. Below are the airports, their airport codes, and the miles from each airport to the World Equestrian Center.
GNV (Gainesville) = 41 miles
MCO (Orlando) = 92 miles
TPA (Tampa) = 102 miles
JAX (Jacksonville) = 115 miles
There are several ways to reach the WEC/Ocala from the four airports.
Rental car
Uber, Lyft, or Taxi
Options for private car airport transportation:
Signature Limousine
https://signaturelimousineflorida.com/service-area/limousine-service-ocala/
Pronto Limousine Services
The WEC has ample, complimentary parking for those who choose to rent a car and want availability to see the sights nearby. The WEC property map can be found here. Golf carts are also available for rent at the property, by the hour.
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