Ocala, Florida, USA (2026)
Updated: Oct 29
Thank you an-vision, for sponsoring 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 was hosted at this facility, including attending a fun post conference equine show at the WEC.
Symposium Materials
General Schedule & Program Eleven continuing education hours were offered, including a mix of State of the Art speakers, and abstract and case report presentations from the podium. The Symposium offered attendance in-person only but proceedings and notes are provided to all IEOC members.
Proceedings
Speaker Notes: Dr. Brian Gilger, State of the Art Speaker
Speaker Notes: Dr. Sally DeNotta, State of the Art Speaker
Trainee Awards
Awards were presented to our top-voted trainee presenters. Presenters were judged at the Symposium by member-attendees. Due to the generosity of an anonymous member-donor, trainees won cash awards ranging from $1,200 - $300.
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”
State of the Art Speakers
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.
Speaker was sponsored by Epicur Pharma.
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 were excited to include this new practical format to help you with your clinical work. Please see below for the two sessions that were 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
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