AAO vs ARVO for Exhibitors
Side-by-side data and our editorial take on which conference is the right exhibit investment for your medical device.
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
If you exhibit medical devices, AAO and ARVO are likely both on your shortlist. Both serve overlapping clinical buyers, but the audience composition, booth economics, and exhibit floor experience differ in ways that materially affect ROI. AAO draws 25,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $18,000-$30,000, read from the published exhibitor prospectus. ARVO draws 11,000 attendees with an estimated all-in 10×10 of $6,000-$12,000, read from the published exhibitor prospectus. Below is the side-by-side data plus our editorial take on which conference fits which kind of exhibitor.
| 9.5 AAO | 9.2 ARVO | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | ||
| Buzzbox Score | 9.5 (Exceptional) | 9.2 (Exceptional) |
| Event Details | ||
| Dates | October 9-12, 2026 (Expo Oct 10-12) | May 3-7, 2026 |
| Location | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA | Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO |
| Scale | mega | large |
| Audience | ||
| Attendees | 25,000 | 11,000 |
| Exhibitors | 450 | 200 |
| Purchasing authority | ~45% | ~25% |
| Effective buyers | 11,250 | 2,750 |
| Costs | ||
| $/sqft | n/a | n/a |
| 10×10 space | n/a | n/a |
| All-in estimate | Est. $18,000-$30,000 | Est. $6,000-$12,000 |
| Cost per buyer | $2.13 | $3.27 |
Why exhibit at AAO
The largest ophthalmology meeting in the Western hemisphere. If you sell ophthalmic equipment (OCT, fundus cameras, slit lamps, IOLs, surgical instruments, lasers, diagnostics), AAO is mandatory. The concurrent AAOE program attracts practice administrators who influence purchasing. Subspecialty Day expands the audience to retina, glaucoma, cornea, and oculoplastics specialists.
Why exhibit at ARVO
The world's largest vision research gathering: 11,000 attendees from 75 countries. Essential for ophthalmic device companies that need to build relationships with researchers and KOLs who influence clinical adoption. If you have a diagnostic device, OCT system, or gene therapy product, ARVO is where the research community first encounters your technology.
Why skip AAO
Non-ophthalmic devices have zero audience here. The show competes with ASCRS (which is more commercially oriented for anterior segment). AAO is more education-focused, so pure booth-driven sales can be slower than ASCRS.
Why skip ARVO
ARVO is a research conference, not a buying show. Purchasing authority is low (~25%) because the audience skews academic and trainee. If you need same-quarter sales leads from private-practice ophthalmologists, AAO (American Academy of Ophthalmology) or ASCRS is a better investment. Also, the exhibit hall closes before the scientific sessions, reducing foot traffic during peak presentation times.
AAO booth figures are estimates read from its published exhibitor prospectus ↗, not quotes. ARVO booth figures are estimates read from its published exhibitor prospectus ↗, not quotes. Confirm current pricing with each organizer before committing a budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AAO or ARVO better for first-time exhibitors?
Both work, but ARVO is the lower-budget pilot. An all-in 10×10 at ARVO is estimated at $6,000 to $12,000, against $18,000 to $30,000 at AAO. ARVO also puts you on the smaller floor, with about 11,000 attendees against roughly 25,000 at AAO, so a modest first booth is less likely to get lost. Both ranges are Buzzbox Media estimates built from public prospectuses and exhibitor kits, covering space, drayage, electrical, carpet, and basic services but not travel, staffing, or the booth build. Confirm current pricing with each organizer before you commit a budget.
Does AAO or ARVO have more decision makers?
AAO does, on our estimate: roughly 11,250 effective buyers against about 2,750 at ARVO. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority, so AAO works out to about 25,000 attendees at roughly 45% authority, and ARVO to about 11,000 at roughly 25%. Both inputs are estimates drawn from organizer reporting and our own exhibitor research, so read the gap as directional rather than exact.
Want to add a third conference to this comparison?
Compare these conferences in our interactive tool →Other conferences you might consider
Buzzbox Media is a medical device marketing agency with over 15 years in medtech. See our conference marketing.