Innovation is the Antidote and Other Takeaways from ASCRS 2025
Don’t let the Southern California setting fool you — this year’s American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS) Annual Congress was anything but a beachy breeze. Under the SoCal sun, surgeons, administrators, and industry pros came together with serious purpose (and only a little bit of sunblock).
The conference may be behind us, but if ASCRS taught us anything, it’s that the year ahead promises to be as dynamic as ever.
Schaefer was out in full force — learning, connecting, and yes, occasionally questioning our shoe choices on that massive convention floor. We also joined the new Sight Line event, reconnected with old friends, made new ones, and, most importantly, stayed true to what drives us: uncovering strategic opportunities that help our clients succeed — in ophthalmology and beyond.
So, what did we learn? Here are six Schaefer takeaways that might just spark ideas for your market, whether or not you can pronounce “phacoemulsification”:
1. The light of innovation
Sight Lines kicked off with JP Morgan’s Mike Connor offering sobering numbers but an optimistic message: innovation is the antidote to a down market. Companies like Alcon didn’t just hear the call — they answered it with five (!) product launches, plus a dazzling Saturday night showcase. Other players unveiled advances across glaucoma, presbyopia, and more.
Innovation fuels growth, sure. But without a compelling reason for change — and a great story to back it up — even brilliant new tech can sputter. What’s your industry’s latest innovation win?
2. A mood mirror?
There was a hum of energy at ASCRS — but not quite a roar. Was it the sheer distance between the education sessions and the exhibit hall? Were tariffs keeping international attendees home? Hard to say, but for the first time since the great reemergence post-COVID, we sensed a slight undercurrent of caution. There seemed to be fewer booths, fewer exhibit attendees and overarching hesitance in launch messaging (with a few notable exceptions).
If you were there: what was your read? If you weren’t: are your industry events still crackling with excitement, or are you seeing a bit more… strategic pacing?
3. Macro ripples and waves
Hold onto your readers: by 2030, half of Earth’s population will be myopic, according to Dr. Eric Donnenfeld. Combine that tidal wave with a shrinking ophthalmologist workforce, and seismic shifts are coming.
The industry’s already paddling out to catch the wave — with pending pediatric myopia treatments as well as expanded approaches to cataract, glaucoma, and refractive care. But there is still a long way to go before we fully hang ten.
When the wave hits your sector, will you be ready to surf — or stuck watching from the shore?
4. Practice dynamics
The coming myopia storm has made it crystal clear: integrating optometric primary care with surgical services isn’t optional anymore — it’s essential.
Fortunately, today’s practice administrators are game. They’re mastering the art of managing patients across the full eye care journey — from tailored treatment programs to tech-savvy scheduling and follow-up. Reinvention is happening fast. Is it fast enough?
Is your business ready to adapt? And just as important: is your story keeping up with your evolution and meeting the patient at each stage of their care journey?
5. KOL composition
Representation continues to rise among ophthalmology’s thought leaders — a trend we were thrilled to see continue at ASCRS. Across product theaters, evening events, and advisory boards, fresh perspectives and diverse voices from leading lights are shaping the specialty’s future. Progress is happening, and it’s vital.
6. The attention game
Stop! Pay attention to me! In the swirling bazaar of the ASCRS exhibit hall, standing out isn’t easy. Digital installations were everywhere this year — interactive games, AI-generated art (some more successful than others), and the ever-popular coffee-cookie-smoothie giveaways.
Yet the companies who stood out the most kept it simple: a strong, consistent message executed flawlessly (bonus points for the matching branded sneakers).
In your category, who cuts through the noise by keeping it simple — and how can you do the same?
Final Thought: At the end of the day, technology dazzles, but human connection endures. That’s the real magic of events like ASCRS: the chance to come together, learn, and move our industries forward. And in spite of the vigorous competition among industry partners, this specialty is united by preserving the most precious of senses — sight. And to preserve it, we need to connect with each other in a spirit of learning, improvement and patient outcomes.
At Schaefer, we’re proudly not healthcare specialists, we’re human specialists. We wake up every day to tap into the emotional resonance that connects people to ideas, brands, and each other — and helps businesses grow. Put simply, we exist to Make Life Better.
Want to find the emotional resonance that works for your brand? Drop me a line!
