The 2026 International Conference on Vision Health Innovation and Development (Vision China 2026) was recently held at Tianjin Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Center, the main venue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit. The event brought together top experts, scholars, industry leaders and outstanding professionals from across the globe for in-depth academic exchanges and brainstorming, to jointly draw a new blueprint for the high-quality development of global vision health. This conference was co-hosted by the State Key Laboratory of Vision Health, the National Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmic and Optometric Diseases, the National Engineering Research Center for Ophthalmology and Optometry, and The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.

The opening ceremony was attended by Lin Huiqing, former Vice Minister of Education, Chair of the Expert Committee on Medical Education of the Ministry of Education and President of the Chinese Society of Higher Education; Chen Runsheng and Yang Huanming, Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Fan Xianqun, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; Mohamed Elrafey, President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK; Ioannis Aslanides, Former President of the Hellenic Society of Ophthalmology; Kazuo Tsubota, President of the Japanese Society of Myopia and the Asian Dry Eye Society; Jodhbir Mehta, Deputy Chief Executive of Singapore National Eye Centre; Farhad Hafezi, Board Member of the European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS); Douglas May, Chief Operating Officer of HelpMeSee; Peng Zhipei, Professor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Ge Jian, Honorary Chair of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; Chen Youxin and Shi Weiyun, Vice Chairmen of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association; Li Ling from the National School of Development, Peking University; Chen Bang, Chairman of Aier Eye Hospital Group; as well as Wu Wencan and Lin Li, Vice Presidents of Wenzhou Medical University. Qu Jia, Chair of the Conference Academic Committee, delivered a welcome address.

Lin Huiqing, President of the Chinese Society of Higher Education

Fan Xianqun, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of the Ophthalmology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association

Mohamed Elrafey, President of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, UK

Ioannis Aslanides, Former President of the Hellenic Society of Ophthalmology

Kazuo Tsubota, President of the Japanese Society of Myopia and the Asian Dry Eye Society

Jodhbir Mehta, Deputy Chief Executive of Singapore National Eye Centre

Douglas May, Chief Operating Officer of HelpMeSee

Qu Jia, Chair of the Conference Academic Committee

Digital Intelligence Empowerment & Cross-border Integration: Building a New Industrial Ecosystem

Yang Huanming, Peng Zhipei and Zhang Kang shared academic insights focusing on genetic technology in life sciences, pediatric ophthalmology research in Hong Kong, and artificial intelligence-enabled medical innovation respectively.

Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Yang Huanming presented a report entitled What Exactly Is Life?

Professor Peng Zhipei from The Chinese University of Hong Kong delivered a speech titled Pediatric Ophthalmology Research in Hong Kong: Design, Challenges and Achievements

 Professor Zhang Kang from The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University gave a presentation named Artificial Intelligence Empowering Medical Innovation and Drug Research & Development

Digital and intelligent integration stood out as a major highlight of the conference. The People's Medical Publishing House and Wenzhou Medical University jointly launched the Intelligent Training System for Clinical Thinking in Ophthalmology and Optometry, which leverages intelligent interactive technology to boost professional training capabilities. China Eye Valley, together with the World AI Glasses Alliance and other innovative institutions, established the AI Glasses Technology Innovation and Industry Alliance, advancing the in-depth integration between vision science and the AI glasses industrial chain.

Meanwhile, the 15th Five-Year Plan Textbooks of the National Health Commission & the 4th Round of New-form Undergraduate Planned Textbooks for Ophthalmic Medicine and Optometry were officially released. A total of 15 textbooks under this series will be published within this year.

 Release of the 15th Five-Year Plan Textbooks of the National Health Commission & the 4th Round of New-form Undergraduate Planned Textbooks for Ophthalmic Medicine and Optometry

Launch of the Intelligent Training System for Clinical Thinking in Ophthalmology and Optometry

Inauguration of the AI Glasses Technology Innovation and Industry Alliance

Release of the CAMP African Myopia Prevention and Control Training Platform

 Launch of the Graded Evaluation of Ophthalmic and Optometric Medical Services in Healthcare Institutions (China GEP)

Inauguration of the Sub-center for Eye Health Standardization under the National Engineering Research Center for Ophthalmology and Optometry

Official release of a batch of expert consensuses and white papers, including:

o Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis, Treatment and Management of Digital Eye Strain

o AOMA International Expert Consensus on Comprehensive Eye Health Management

o Consensus on the Pathological Diagnosis of Choroidal Melanoma in China

o 2026 White Paper on China Ophthalmic Medical Device Industry

o Expert Consensus on the Application of Distant Imaging Technology in Myopia Prevention and Control (2026)

Establishment of the China Popular Science Alliance for Innovative Ophthalmic Technologies — Presbyopia Laser Technology Promotion Alliance

 Launch of Vision China 2026 (Autumn) & the Eye Health Special Competition of the Global Technological Innovation Contest

Upholding innovation while carrying forward traditions, the conference witnessed the debut of numerous new innovation platforms. Supported by technological empowerment and driven by the development of new quality productive forces, all participating parties pooled professional strengths to jointly build a comprehensive eye health ecosystem.

Eminent Experts Exchange Ideas; Integrated Conference & Exhibition Paint a New Landscape

The three-day conference attracted more than 10,000 participants. Over 120 forums were held, with more than 1,000 domestic and foreign experts and scholars delivering over 1,000 keynote speeches and special reports. The event also featured 18 thematic satellite symposia, 4 specialized training courses, 23 closed-door academic meetings and 60 hands-on practical training sessions. Gathered elites engaged in in-depth discussions, while over 100 enterprises showcased cutting-edge technologies and products in the exhibition area. The integrated conference and exhibition presented a splendid scene of cross-industry collaboration, opening up a diverse new realm for the vision health industry.

Initiated in 2014 by The Affiliated Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Vision China has grown into a prestigious academic brand in the field of ophthalmology and optometry. It is now one of the largest and most influential academic conferences in this sector across China.