The ERN-EYE Scientific Workshop 2025 took place on 6–7 October 2025 at the Robert Hollman Foundation in Padua, Italy, gathering clinicians, researchers, rehabilitation specialists and patient representatives from across Europe. Over the two days, participants examined how to improve evaluation, diagnosis, and care pathways for individuals with visual impairment from early childhood through to adulthood.
Day 1 – Childhood and Transition to Adult Care
The first day of the workshop was mainly devoted to low vision in children and managing the transition from paediatric to adult services.
The speakers addressed the challenges and opportunities in paediatric visual impairment, including:
- The impact of visual impairment on neurodevelopment
- Advances in visual function assessment, such as eye-tracking technology
- Approaches for testing vision in children with developmental disabilities
- Early intervention strategies and understanding parental needs
The afternoon focused on accessibility in education, reflection-based rehabilitation approaches, and quality of life assessment tools like SeeMyLife.
A session dedicated ontransition explored models from ERN ReCONNET, Irish care guidance, and practical case studies, culminating in a round table discussion.
Day 2 – Adult Care and Rehabilitation
The speakers of the second day of the workshop addressed the evaluation and management of visual impairment in adulthood, including:
- Common Clinical Scenarios in adults with Rare Eye Diseases
- Reliable testing methods for low and ultra-low vision
- Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS)
- The role of mental health in Rare Eye Disease care
The Rehabilitation Pathways session showcased innovations in low vision services, the role of Eye Care Liaison Officers (ECLOs), results from the ERN-EYE Low Vision Service Survey, and advances in optical and digital assistive devices.
The day closed with discussions on new assistive technologies, hybrid telerehabilitation models, and the patient perspective on rehabilitation needs and expectations.
David Keegan, member of ERN-EYE, says: «We had a fantastic and inspiring meeting of the ERN-EYE group in Padua at the Robert Hollman Foundation hosted by our colleague Agnese Suppiej. It was heartening to hear all the work going on in inclusion and supportive therapy for children with vision impairment and blindness including family support and education».
The workshop concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening early diagnosis, improving coordinated care across life stages, expanding rehabilitation and assistive technology access, and embedding patient perspectives at the heart of Rare Eye Disease care in Europe.
