The Illinois College of Optometry proudly hosted Residents’ Day 2026, an annual educational symposium that highlights the clinical excellence and intellectual rigor of optometric residency training. The program brought together residents from ICO, the University of Chicago, and affiliated Veterans Affairs programs to present complex clinical cases in a grand rounds format.

During the six-hour program, residents presented eighteen challenging clinical cases spanning cornea and external disease, retina and vitreous disorders, neuro-ophthalmic conditions, pediatric and binocular vision disorders, contact lens management, and vision rehabilitation. Each session concluded with a moderated panel discussion, allowing attendees to explore diagnostic reasoning, imaging interpretation, and management strategies for complicated ocular conditions.

Residents’ Day provides an important opportunity for optometrists to expand their clinical knowledge while engaging with emerging leaders in the profession. Through real-world case presentations and collaborative discussion, the program highlights the evolving scope of modern optometric care and the importance of interdisciplinary coordination with subspecialty providers.

ICO alumni in attendance were particularly impressed by the caliber of the resident presentations. As ICO 1990 alumnus Dr. Robert E. Peachey observed:

“It is gratifying to see that the future of optometry is in such great hands.”

Residents’ Day reflects ICO’s continued commitment to clinical excellence, collaborative education, and preparing the next generation of leaders in optometric care.