The 44th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) brought the international ophthalmic community together at ExCeL London from 11–15 September 2026 for five days of education, scientific exchange, innovation and collaboration.
With more than 15,000 delegates from around the world, ESCRS 2026 provided an important meeting point for ophthalmic surgeons, nurses, technicians, researchers, manufacturers, distributors and other professionals involved in the delivery of ophthalmic care.
For Surgitrac Instruments, exhibiting in our home market provided an opportunity to showcase our ophthalmic surgical instruments and procedure packs, while meeting the people and organisations helping to shape the future of ophthalmic surgery.
ESCRS 2026: Five days of ophthalmic education and innovation
While cataract and refractive surgery remain at the heart of ESCRS, the 2026 programme demonstrated the increasingly interconnected nature of modern ophthalmology.
The Congress featured more than 100 instructional courses and 688 presentations, covering surgery across multiple ophthalmic specialties, optics, retina therapy, artificial intelligence, practice management and more.
The wider programme included Main and Research Symposia, the Global Refractive Summit, Near Live Surgery, instructional courses, wet labs, video sessions, posters and oral presentations, alongside dedicated special interest sessions. Among the important topics discussed throughout ESCRS 2026 were:
- Cataract and complex cataract surgery
- Refractive surgery and presbyopia management
- Corneal surgery and transplantation
- Glaucoma and combined cataract/MIGS procedures
- Artificial intelligence and robotics
- Digital operating room technologies
- IOL technology and personalised treatment
- Surgical visualisation and microscopy
- Clinical workflow and emerging ophthalmic technologies
The Near Live Surgery programme illustrated how these areas increasingly overlap, with procedures covering combined cataract and MIGS surgery, complex cataract cases, refractive surgery and advanced corneal procedures.
Artificial intelligence was another important theme, while the Global Refractive Summit focused on evidence, advanced diagnostics, personalised treatment and technological innovation within refractive surgery.
The Congress also recognised the importance of the wider surgical team. The dedicated ESONT programme for ophthalmic nurses and technicians included education around cataract surgery, biometry, AI in ophthalmic practice, keratoconus, myopia and trauma.
For manufacturers and suppliers, these developments reinforce the importance of looking beyond individual products. Supporting modern ophthalmic surgery increasingly means considering the complete surgical environment, from instrumentation and procedure packs to fluidics, visualisation, patient positioning and specialist equipment.
Ophthalmic surgical instruments and procedure packs at ESCRS
As a UK-based manufacturer specialising in single-use, reusable stainless steel and reusable titanium ophthalmic surgical instruments, Surgitrac used ESCRS 2026 to present a focused selection from our wider portfolio.
Cataract surgery was a particular focus. Visitors were able to handle and examine instruments from our cataract range, with particularly strong interest in our curved-tip MICS Capsulorhexis forceps, as well as our Cataract Packs containing either straight or curved Capsulorhexis forceps. Other instruments showcased included Kratz adjustable speculums, tying forceps, Vannas scissors and Kelman-McPherson forceps, among others.
Rather than attempting to display our entire portfolio, the Surgitrac booth was designed as a concept stand, giving visitors the opportunity to examine a representative selection of products, discuss their requirements with our team and identify opportunities for further evaluation and demonstrations.
Strong interest in ophthalmic procedure packs
Alongside instrumentation, we showcased a selection of our ophthalmic procedure packs, including cataract, intravitreal injection, Sub-Tenon and oculoplastic configurations.
Our Intravitreal procedure packs attracted particularly strong interest during the Congress. For ophthalmic departments delivering high volumes of intravitreal injections, procedure-specific packs can bring together the required components in a consistent format, helping support preparation, stock management and clinical workflow.
This made the range particularly relevant to intravitreal injection leads, ophthalmic nurses and technicians, theatre managers and procurement teams, as well as clinicians attending the Congress.
It was also encouraging to meet visitors who already use Surgitrac products within their clinics. Several shared positive feedback about their experience with our surgical instruments. Existing users also discussed their experience with Surgitrac procedure packs, highlighting how having the required components brought together in a procedure-specific pack can help support preparation and efficiency within their clinical workflows.
These conversations are particularly valuable. Alongside introducing our products to new customers, direct feedback from ophthalmologists and their surgical teams helps us better understand their requirements and how our products can continue to support clinical practice.
Microscope handle covers attract attention at ESCRS 2026
Our sterile single-use microscope handle covers were another product area that generated considerable interest throughout the exhibition.
Designed for ophthalmic surgical microscopes, the range provides sterile, ready-to-use covers for microscope controls, with options compatible with ZEISS, MÖLLER-WEDEL and Leica ophthalmic microscopes. Designed for ophthalmic surgical microscopes, the range provides sterile, ready-to-use covers for microscope controls, with options compatible with ZEISS, MÖLLER-WEDEL and Leica ophthalmic microscopes. Our SteriSleeve Micro Caps attach directly to microscope handles and PD adjustment knobs.
The discussions highlighted how even relatively small components of the operating theatre can form part of wider considerations around theatre preparation, infection control, traceability and surgical workflow.
For theatre teams reviewing how equipment is prepared between procedures, microscope handle covers therefore became another relevant part of the conversations taking place on the Surgitrac stand.
Supporting the wider ophthalmic surgical pathway
Surgitrac is a manufacturer of ophthalmic surgical instruments and procedure packs, but our offering in the UK extends beyond the products we manufacture ourselves. Through partnerships with specialist international manufacturers including BRUMABA, Moria Surgical, Biotech Healthcare and Medicel, we provide public and private healthcare organisations with access to a broader range of ophthalmic products and equipment.
ESCRS provided an important opportunity to meet with our manufacturing partners, exchange market feedback and discuss how we can continue supporting customers across different areas of ophthalmic surgery.
Operating tables and seating for ophthalmic microsurgery
Through our partnership with BRUMABA, Surgitrac supplies specialist operating tables and surgeons’ seating manufactured in Germany. Patient positioning, ergonomics and access around the surgical microscope remain important considerations within the ophthalmic operating theatre.
Corneal and refractive surgery
For corneal and refractive surgery, our partnership with Moria Surgical provides access to specialist products and equipment, including corneal instruments, trephines, punches, artificial chambers, microkeratome systems, consoles and associated accessories.
With corneal and refractive surgery featuring prominently within the ESCRS programme, the Congress provided a valuable opportunity to discuss developments in these areas and the specialist instrumentation and equipment used to support them.
Viscoelastics and cataract surgery
Surgitrac also supplies Biotech Healthcare ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) to UK customers, supporting requirements across cataract and other anterior segment procedures.
Our cataract offering is further complemented by Medicel irrigation/aspiration handpieces, developed and manufactured in Switzerland and available in configurations supporting coaxial and bimanual techniques.
Together with Surgitrac’s own instruments and procedure packs, these partnerships enable us to support customers across a broader part of the ophthalmic surgical pathway.
An international meeting point for Surgitrac
The international reach of ESCRS was clearly reflected on the Surgitrac stand. During the Congress, we welcomed prospective customers from more than 20 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. When customers, distributors, prospective distributors and industry partners are considered together, visitors from more than 30 countries engaged with Surgitrac during ESCRS 2026.
For a UK-based ophthalmic manufacturer supplying products internationally, these conversations are an important part of the value of exhibiting at ESCRS.
Alongside meeting members of our existing international distributor network, we held discussions with prospective partners interested in Surgitrac products and potential opportunities within their markets. Developing these relationships helps make Surgitrac’s single-use, reusable stainless steel and reusable titanium ophthalmic instruments and procedure packs available to more ophthalmologists and their surgical teams internationally.
We would like to thank all of our distributors who travelled to London to visit us and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration.
Bringing ophthalmic customers and partners together in London
The conversations continued beyond ExCeL. On the opening evening of the Congress, Surgitrac welcomed customers, distributors and manufacturing partners to a drinks and canapés reception in Covent Garden.
The evening provided an opportunity to continue conversations away from the exhibition floor and, importantly, to thank the organisations and individuals with whom we work throughout the year. Successful relationships between manufacturers, distributors, healthcare organisations and clinical teams help specialist products and technologies reach the ophthalmologists and surgical teams who use them. Ultimately, these partnerships contribute towards a shared objective: supporting high-quality ophthalmic care and better patient outcomes.
Thank you to everyone who joined us.
Why the ESCRS Congress matters to Surgitrac Instruments
For Surgitrac, the value of ESCRS extends well beyond exhibiting products. The Congress allows us to listen directly to ophthalmologists and their surgical teams, gather feedback from existing users, understand emerging clinical and operational requirements and introduce our products to new customers and markets.
It also provides an opportunity to understand where ophthalmic surgery is heading. Discussions around AI, digital operating rooms, surgical visualisation, advanced refractive solutions, interventional glaucoma, corneal innovation and increasingly personalised ophthalmic surgery demonstrate how rapidly the speciality continues to evolve. Understanding these developments helps us consider not only what our customers require today, but how their clinical and operational requirements may change in the future.
At the same time, many of the fundamentals remain constant: precision instruments, reliable equipment, efficient clinical workflows, dependable supply and products designed around the requirements of ophthalmologists and their surgical teams. The ESCRS congress gives us an opportunity to consider both.
Looking beyond ESCRS 2026
As the 44th Congress of the ESCRS came to a close, we left London with new conversations to continue, product samples to arrange, potential partnerships to explore and valuable feedback from the ophthalmic community.
Most importantly, we would like to thank everyone who visited the Surgitrac Instruments stand at ESCRS 2026, our customers and distributors who travelled from around the world to meet us, our manufacturing partners, and everyone who joined us in Covent Garden.
Surgitrac Instruments remains committed to supporting ophthalmologists and their surgical teams through our own single-use, reusable stainless steel and titanium ophthalmic surgical instruments and procedure packs, alongside the specialist technologies available through our manufacturing partners.
We look forward to continuing the conversations started at ESCRS 2026.
Looking ahead to ESCRS 2027 in Madrid
Following the 44th Congress in London, the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons will return for the 45th Congress of the ESCRS in Madrid, Spain, from 15-19 October 2027.
The Congress will take place at IFEMA Madrid, once again bringing the international ophthalmic community together for education, scientific exchange and discussion around the latest developments in cataract and refractive surgery and the wider ophthalmic sector.
Following the conversations and connections made in London, Surgitrac looks forward to continuing to engage with ophthalmologists, surgical teams, distributors and industry partners as the ophthalmic community looks ahead to ESCRS 2027 Madrid.
Continue the conversation with Surgitrac Instruments
Whether you are an ophthalmic surgeon, theatre manager, ophthalmic nurse or technician, procurement professional, intravitreal injection lead, healthcare organisation or international distributor, our team would be pleased to discuss your requirements.
Enquire about Surgitrac Instruments and our ophthalmic product range.
You can also meet our Sales & Marketing team and stay connected with Surgitrac following ESCRS 2026. Alternatively, you can contact our Customer Services team on +44 (0) 161 776 7626 or email info@surgitrac.co.uk for further information or support.
