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ABSTRACT GUIDELINES

Eligibility & Scope

Abstracts must be original work and not previously published or presented at another major conference.

Topics should be relevant to.

  • Equity in Eye care
  • Community Eye health
  • Implementation of 2030 In Sight
  • Artificial intelligence, Simulation and innovations in ophthalmology
  • Health Management and Information Systems
  • Competence building and mentorship
  • Vision rehabilitation

Abstract structure

  • Maximum length: One A4 page, up to 400 words (excluding title), in MS Word format.
  • Title: Centred, in CAPITAL LETTERS, using Arial font. Should be clear and concise.
  • Authors: List surname followed by first name and initials, along with affiliations. Include the corresponding author’s email address. Underline the name of the presenting author and the corresponding author. Do not include degrees, titles, appointments, or addresses.
  • Abstract should include:
  • Brief background: Brief context and state the problem or knowledge gap
  • Aim / Objective
  • Methods: Study design, Setting and population, Key methods and analysis.
  • Results: Main findings include Data where possible (numbers, percentages) Do not say “results will be presented”
  • Conclusion / Recommendation.

Formatting Rules

  • Language: English
  • Font / font size: Arial / 12
  • Images, tables and graphs: Images are not permitted, as they do not reproduce well. Brief and clear tables or graphs are accepted (maximum of 1 page). This can be shared on a separate page. If the tables / graphs submitted exceed 1 page, those exceeding the limit will be excluded from publication. For poster presentations, images will be considered case by case.
  • Standard abbreviations may be used without definition. Non-standard abbreviations should be kept to a minimum and placed in parentheses after the first use of the word or phrase.
  • Supplemental materials are not required, but you may provide links or information sheets to fellow attendees.

Author & Presentation Policies

First Author :

Usually limited to one or two oral presentations, but no limit on poster submissions.

Registration:

The presenting author must register for the congress and pay the full registration fee for the abstract to be accepted and included in the program.

The abstracts will be presented to a subspeciality session as deemed fit by the committee. The specialties include Pediatrics and Strabismus, Vitreous and retina, Oculoplastics and Ocular Oncology, Anterior Segment (Uveitis, Cornea, Glaucoma, Cataract), Neurophthalmology, Community health and research, Business Entrepreneurship and Leadership

Ethical Consideration

  • Co-authors must agree with the results stated and have consented to be included as authors.
  • All participants must disclose any significant financial interest or other relationships they may have with the manufacturers of commercial products discussed in their presentations, panel or written materials. Also disclose any sponsors to the work being shared.
  • COECSA will take it for granted that good clinical practice is observed in the conducting of all research. This applies especially to clinical studies involving patients and patient care and includes the understanding that the appropriate Ethics committee approval had been secured.
  • The Congress Organisers & COECSA accept no responsibility for copyright infringements.

Presentation Types

  • Authors may indicate preference: Oral presentation or Poster presentation (Final decision made by the scientific committee )

Review & Selection Criteria

  • Abstracts will be assessed on :
  • Scientific merit
  • Relevance theme and to eye care in the COECSA region
  • Methodology quality
  • Clarity of results and conclusions
  • Papers will only be accepted on the understanding that the main author or a co-author will personally present the paper
  • Acceptance notifications will be emailed to the submitting author.

How to Submit

Abstracts must be submitted online to : abstracts2026@coecsa.org

Deadline: 31st May 2026