American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Imagine: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
What is AAO Imagine?
The AAO Annual Meeting (AAO Imagine) is the premier educational and networking event in ophthalmology, bringing together eye care professionals from across the globe. In 2025, the conference, themed "Imagine," will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from October 18 to 20, with related programming beginning on October 17.
The event features a robust program including expert lectures, hands-on labs, subspecialty sessions, and an expansive Expo showcasing the latest ophthalmic innovation.
Attendees can also engage in highly interactive learning through Subspecialty Day tracks, clinical team workshops, and practice management intensives designed for everyone from technologists to practice executives.
Why Attend AAO Imagine 2025?
Attending AAO Imagine 2025 offers unparalleled access to the latest breakthroughs in ophthalmic education, innovation, and clinical practice. The event brings together thousands of professionals, from surgeons and optometrists to administrators and technicians, for immersive learning through symposia, cutting-edge exhibits, subspecialty tracks, and hands-on skills sessions, such as the renowned Skills Transfer labs.
Whether you're seeking to stay at the forefront of research, elevate patient care, or expand your professional network, AAO Imagine delivers world-class content, unrivaled collaboration, and meaningful takeaways to transform your practice.
What’s on the Agenda for the AAO Annual Meeting in 2025?
AAO Imagine 2025 offers a rich, multidimensional agenda for clinicians, administrators, and clinical team members alike, featuring specialty-specific learning and practice management training, hands-on labs, scientific discourse, and immersive networking experiences in Orlando. Whether you're there to upskill your staff, stay on the cutting edge, or build your practice, there's a tailored experience waiting for you.
Here are just some of the AAO Imagine 2025 Agenda Highlights:
October 17–20, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando:
- Subspecialty Day kicks off the program (October 17), offering targeted sessions such as the Ocular Oncology and Pathology track, “Seeing Eye to Eye — Ocular Oncology and Pathology Collaborative Debates and Dialogue”
- The Main AAO 2025 & Expo runs from October 18 to 20, featuring a robust mix of educational formats, including Instruction Courses, Symposia, Scientific Papers, Posters, and Spotlight presentations.
- Specialized Programming:
- AAOE Practice Management Program: Tailored sessions and workshops for practice administrators, including Friday Intensives, coding sessions, networking events like Spark!, and light-hearted features like the Administrator Quiz Show.
- AAOP Clinical Teams Program: Targeted courses for clinical staff, many of which are eligible for continuing education credits (IJCAHPO), include topics such as corneal imaging, glaucoma workup, patient education, and even space-flight ocular health.
- Networking and Events: Outside of formal sessions, attendees can connect at events such as Illuminate (a Saturday networking/fundraising event) and a dedicated evening at Universal’s Islands of Adventure (Sunday).
- Comprehensive Access via the AAO Meeting Guide: Participants can view and filter the full schedule by date, topic, session type (e.g., Skills Transfer labs, subspecialty content), mode (in‑person or virtual), skill level, and target audience. The Planner feature allows building a personalized schedule with session flags and calendar integration
When is the AAO Annual Meeting in 2025?
In 2025, the conference will take place from October 18 – 20, with related programming beginning on October 17.
Where is the AAO Annual Meeting in 2025?
In 2025, the conference will take place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, located at 9800 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819.
Where to Find Virtual Field at AAO Imagine
The 2025 AAO Annual Meeting Expo will be located in the Orange County Convention Center’s West Building, Level 2, Halls A and B.
Find Virtual Field at booth # 1261. You can meet with our team to take a demo of our VF3 Pro.
Book time now to demo Virtual Field during AAO Imagine.
AAO Annual Meeting 2025 Ticket Prices
Ticket prices vary based on registration type, early-bird discounts, and whether you’re attending in person or virtually. Visit the official AAO Imagine website for the most up-to-date pricing and to register. However, you can expect 2025 AAO Annual Meeting Ticket pricing to be approximately as follows:
Academy Members:
- Early (June 25 – Aug 6): $225
- Advance (Aug 7 – Sept 17): $250
- Onsite (Sept 18 – Jan 31): $275
Academy Members in Training and Medical Student Members:
- Flat fee of $100 across all registration periods
Nonmember Physicians:
- Early: $1,100
Advance: $1,150
Onsite: $1,200
Nonmember Physicians in Training:
- Early: $400
- Advance: $450
- Onsite: $500
AAOE (Practice Management) & AAOP (Clinical Teams) Members:
- Early: $125
- Advance: $150
- Onsite: $175
Health Professionals (e.g., technicians, support staff, non-physician employees):
- Early: $475
- Advance: $525
- Onsite: $575
Commercial Representatives (individuals from non-exhibiting commercial enterprises):
- Early: $2,025
- Advance: $2,125
- Onsite: $2,225
Subspecialty Day Pricing (Friday or Saturday, One Day Only)
- Academy Members: $500 – $550 depending on registration timing
- In-Training / Students: $275 – $325
- Nonmember Physicians: $600 – $650
- AAOE / AAOP: $500 – $550
- Other categories follow similar early/advance/onsite tiers
Students
- Free Exhibit Hall Registration
- Free Unlimited Education (arrive before a course’s start time, and if seating is available, you can attend for free)
- Access to Opening Night Party
- Access to Education on the Main Stage
Best Hotels for AAO Annual Meeting 2025
If you're attending AAO Imagine 2025 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, here are some of the best hotel options nearby:
Upper-upscale, full-service, ideal for seamless access and premium stay experience. Directly connected to OCCC via sky-walk
Upscale amenities, pet-friendly, spa facilities—a strong balance of convenience and comfort. Across from the convention center, connected by covered walkway.
Excellent rating, good balance of price and quality—optimal for savvy budgets. Very short walk from the OCCC.
Homewood Suites by Hilton – International Drive Convention Center
Best for longer stays or traveling with family—spacious suites with kitchenettes, laundry, quieter ambiance. Slightly farther (~.9 miles), but still easy access.
Parking and Commuting Logistics
If you are attending the 2025 AAO Annual meeting and want to park at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), attendees can choose from the West Concourse Parking Lot, the North/South Surface Lots, or the Destination Parkway Garage, each serving different sections of the venue.
Daily parking typically costs around $20 for standard vehicles, with higher rates for oversized ones. Payment is cashless, with cards and mobile payments accepted. Overnight parking is not permitted. Once you exit a lot, re-entry requires full repayment of the lot. ADA-accessible parking is available on a first-come basis with a valid permit, and free electric vehicle charging stations are located in select lots, including the West and North/South areas.
For those seeking cost savings or flexibility, short-term metered parking is available near the West and North/South buildings, with a three-hour limit at approximately $5 per hour. Third-party services such as SpotHero and ParkMobile also allow attendees to reserve discounted parking at nearby garages, including Pointe Orlando, ICON Park, and select hotels. These options can be 10 to 30 percent cheaper than on-site parking.
Many hotels closest to the OCCC, such as the Hyatt Regency, Rosen Centre, Rosen Plaza, and Hilton Orlando, are directly connected to the convention center via covered skywalks. Staying at these properties often means easier access to the meeting and the option to use hotel guest parking, which can save time during busy conference days.
Options for those without a vehicle include the I-RIDE Trolley, which runs up and down International Drive with stops near all convention concourses, making it a simple option for attendees staying nearby.
The LYNX bus system connects the Convention Center to the Orlando International Airport and other areas of the city. For those driving in, clear signage along International Drive, Universal Boulevard, and surrounding roads will help direct traffic to the correct parking areas.
To make navigation even easier, the OCCC offers a mobile app with real-time walking directions, parking locations, and building layout guidance.
We’ll See You at AAO Imagine 2025
We know. There’s a lot on your punch list for this year’s event. And it may or may not include a trip to the Magic Kingdom. We hope to see you on the exhibit floor but if you miss Virtual Field at the 2025 AAO Imagine event, you can contact our team at any time to learn about our Virtual Field device pricing, or calculate how much you could save by making the switch to our virtual perimeter. We’ll see 👀 you there.
About Virtual Field
Virtual Field delivers an exceptional eye exam experience. Eye care professionals including ophthalmologists and optometrists examine patients faster, more efficiently, and more comfortably than ever before. Exams include Visual Field, 24-2, Kinetic Visual Field (Goldmann Perimetry), Ptosis, Esterman, Color Vision, Pupillometry, Extraocular Motility (EOM), and more.