Video abstract submission will open in December 2025.
Abstract submission opening: December 2025
Video upload deadline: 1 March 2026, 23:59 (CET)
Notifications to video submitters: July 2026
Videos received after the deadline will not be accepted.
Video Rules and Regulations
- Any video that uses copyrighted music or material from movies will be automatically disqualified. It is the responsibility of the author to obtain permission from the owner for any music or material that is not ‘Free to Use’. By submitting an abstract, the author accepts responsibility for all music and material used in their video and is liable for any copyright infringement pertaining to their video.
- The video must include a narration, music alone will not be accepted.
- The title and narration of the video must be in English.
- This year, the submission process has changed slightly. You must upload your video by 1 March 2026, 23:59 (CET) using the submission link provided.
1) ESCRS Video Competition
- The Video Awards will take place during the Congress in September.
- The deadline for video upload is 1 March 2026, 23:59 (CET).
- The total duration of the video, including title and credits, must not exceed eight minutes.
Entries are accepted in the following categories:
- Difficult and Special Cases
Videos describing interesting and unusual cases in cataract and refractive surgery. For this category, please do not use “fast forwarding” but edit your video instead. It should be also clearly specified in the video (as subtitle for instance) why is it a special case / what does it make it special? - Educational
Videos which demonstrate established surgical techniques and explain known phenomena and conditions relating to cataract and refractive surgery. - Historical
A video portraying a past technique, technology or personality in their historical perspective to current cataract and refractive surgery. - Innovative
Videos describing new approaches to known problems and to introduce new technologies. - Scientific
Videos describing the scientific background to the treatment of cataract and refractive surgical issues and equipment used. - Residents in Training
Videos made by residents in training on any subject relating to cataract and refractive surgery.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE OF THE AUTHOR MUST BE STATED CLEARLY AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH VIDEO. FAILURE TO STATE THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION.
- Videos must be related to the Congress topics.
- Authors entering a video in the Resident in Training Category will be asked to send a letter to the ESCRS Abstract office (escrs.abs@mci-group.com) from the hospital or practice where they are practicing which confirms that they are involved in a residency programme and that they are a surgeon in training. They will also be asked to state that they are the primary person in charge of the production of the video entry.
- An international team of experts will judge the entries. First, second and third prizes will be awarded in each category. There will also be an overall winner.
- Videos that promote a company name or logo, acknowledge sponsorship or promote commercial products, will not be accepted.
- Generic names should be used instead of product names, where possible.
- Instruments can be shown briefly, but not exceeding 10 seconds.
- Videos will not be accepted for the Video Competition if they have been presented anywhere in the world in previous years. However, videos shown at other congresses during the current year will be accepted.
- No more than two videos will be accepted from any author.
- The decision of the Video Competition Judges and Chairman will be final and binding.
2) Video Symposium "Getting it right!"
- Videos accepted for the Symposium will be viewed and discussed during the session.
- The total duration of the videos for Video Symposium “Getting it right!”, including title and credits, must not exceed five minutes. Videos longer than five minutes might not be considered.
- Videos for the Video Symposium must be related to the Congress topics.
- The video upload deadline is 1 March 2026, 23:59 (CET).
- No more than two videos will be accepted from any author.
3) Video Library
- The Video Library will be available during and after the Congress on the online portal ESCRS on Demand. The Library provides a resource for delegates to review the surgical techniques of the experts attending the Congress.
- Videos for the Video Library must be related to the Congress topics.
- The total duration of the videos for Video Library entry, including title and credits, must not exceed eight minutes.
- The deadline for uploading videos is 1 March 2026, 23:59 (CET).
- No more than two videos will be accepted by any author.
4) Young Ophthalmologist Video
- Please remember that this session is specifically for Young Ophthalmologists. Therefore, kindly submit only basic videos within the first 100 cataracts. Videos of complicated cases will not be accepted for this session.
- The high-resolution video should be cut to maximum three minutes in duration highlighting the selected topic.
- All video submissions must be surgical.
- Only one video author per video submission is permitted.
- The video footage should be one of your first 50-100 cases.
- Presentation slides, sound, or grafts are NOT permitted in the video.
- Do not use fast forward in your video.
- Do not write anything on the video including titles or comments.
- You must ensure to choose a theme from the options given. All videos and abstracts will be reviewed, graded and accepted or rejected by members of the ESCRS Programme Committee. The decision of the committee is final.
- The top three videos will be awarded a bursary of €1,000 and complimentary registration for the Congress in London. The winners will be contacted in September.
- If your video is accepted for presentation, you are thereby giving permission for the video to be shown during the Young Ophthalmologists Programme at the ESCRS Congress 2026 in London. You will be invited to join the session for a live discussion.
- Failure to present without prior notice to the Programme Committee may influence future acceptance of videos in the Young Ophthalmologists Programme.