ASCRS 2026
By Buzzbox Media · Last reviewed August 3, 2026
What is ASCRS?
The most commercially productive ophthalmology show in the US. ASCRS attendees come to buy. Surgeons actively evaluate IOLs, phaco equipment, femtosecond lasers, diagnostics, and surgical supplies. At $3,900 per 10x10 inline increment and $41/sqft for islands, pricing is reasonable for the quality of buyer. The co-located ASOA program brings practice administrators who hold the checkbook.
What are the key facts about ASCRS?
- Host organization: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
- Primary specialty: ophthalmology
- Scale: large
- Geography: US National
- International attendance: ~20%
- See all Ophthalmology conferences
Which device categories fit ASCRS?
Which buyer stages does ASCRS fit?
What does ASCRS charge for booth space?
Read from the ASCRS exhibitor prospectus published by American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. These are the prices that document states. View the prospectus ↗
| Booth Type | $/sqft | 10×10 Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inline linear (10x10 increments) | n/a | $3,900 | Per 10x10 increment |
| Inline corner | n/a | $200 | Additional $200 per open corner |
| Island (10x30 minimum) | $41.00 | $4,100 | Min 300 sqft |
What does an all-in 10×10 inline booth cost?
| Estimated all-in total | $8,000-$14,000 |
Buzzbox Media estimate covering space rental plus standard show services. Not a quote and not the organizer's number. Does not include travel, staffing, booth display, or marketing materials. Confirm current pricing with the organizer.
Planning the ASCRS booth itself? Read our guide to medical conference booth design for booth types, union labor rules, and the corner upgrade.
Who attends ASCRS?
~3,573 MDs (10-year average) plus technicians, administrators, and industry. 200+ exhibitors. The most commercially-oriented ophthalmology show: attendees come specifically to evaluate and purchase equipment. Co-located with ASOA (American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators) for practice management buyers.
- Purchasing authority: ~50% of attendees
- Effective buyers: ~5,000
- Cost per effective buyer: $2.2 ($11,000 all-in ÷ 5,000 buyers)
- International attendance: ~20%
Where is ASCRS held?
- Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
- Management company: ASCRS (in-house)
- Product theater: Available
Who else exhibits at ASCRS?
Approximately 200+ exhibitors typically attend ASCRS. Your competitors are here.
Is ASCRS worth exhibiting?
Why Exhibit
The most commercially productive ophthalmology show in the US. ASCRS attendees come to buy. Surgeons actively evaluate IOLs, phaco equipment, femtosecond lasers, diagnostics, and surgical supplies. At $3,900 per 10x10 inline increment and $41/sqft for islands, pricing is reasonable for the quality of buyer. The co-located ASOA program brings practice administrators who hold the checkbook.
Why Skip
Narrow anterior segment focus: retina, neuro, and oculoplastics specialists attend AAO instead. If your device is not used in cataract, refractive, cornea, or glaucoma surgery, ASCRS is the wrong show.
What should exhibitors know before ASCRS?
ASCRS is where ophthalmic device reps close deals. Booth demos with surgical microscopes and phaco machines are common and expected. Budget for a full wet-lab or dry-lab demo setup if you have a surgical device. Washington DC is a union venue. Plan for drayage and labor costs. The ASOA track is underrated for exhibitors selling practice management software and OR scheduling tools.
What is the Buzzbox Score for ASCRS?
9.1 / 10 (Exceptional)
9.1 out of 10. One of the strongest exhibiting opportunities in our index. Carried by data transparency (9.4: booth pricing published and exhibitor prospectus available). The lightest dimension is audience quality (8.0, 50% purchasing authority (moderate)). The most commercially productive ophthalmology show in the US.
How we score
Six weighted factors, each scored on a 0 to 100 rubric then normalized to a 7.0 to 10.0 band. Every show on this list cleared a relevance bar to be included, so 7.0 is the floor; the number tells you how far the leaders pull ahead.
Strong (8.0): 50% purchasing authority (moderate), 50:1 attendee ratio, and large-scale event.
Strong (8.1): $39/sqft, right at the dataset median.
Standout (9.4): booth pricing published, exhibitor prospectus available, and 3 booth options documented.
Standout (9.4): society-run exhibits (in-house), non-union venue (simpler, cheaper move-in), and purpose-built convention venue.
Strong (8.4): solid exhibitor rationale, honest "who should skip" guidance, and product-theater opportunity for thought leadership.
Standout (9.2): large and well-established, ~200 exhibitors, and 10,000 attendees.
When are the ASCRS exhibitor deadlines?
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Booth Selection Calls End | 2025-09-29 |
| Auto Assignment Begins | 2025-09-30 |
| Meeting Dates | 2026-04-10 to 2026-04-13 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a booth cost at ASCRS?
ASCRS publishes an exhibitor prospectus, and read from it an all-in 10×10 booth works out to roughly $8,000-$14,000, covering space rental plus standard show services. Travel, staffing, and booth display are additional. This is an estimate read from a published prospectus, not a quote, so confirm current pricing with the organizer.
How many people attend ASCRS?
ASCRS draws approximately 10,000 attendees. ~3,573 MDs (10-year average) plus technicians, administrators, and industry. 200+ exhibitors. The most commercially-oriented ophthalmology show: attendees come specifically to evaluate and purchase equipment. Co-located with ASOA (American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators) for practice management buyers.
When and where is ASCRS 2026?
ASCRS 2026 takes place April 10-13, 2026. The venue is Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery hosts the meeting.
How many ASCRS attendees have purchasing authority?
About 50% of ASCRS attendees hold purchasing authority, which works out to roughly 5,000 effective buyers out of approximately 10,000 attendees. Effective buyers multiplies total attendance by the share of attendees who hold purchasing authority. Both inputs are estimates drawn from organizer reporting and our own exhibitor research, so read the figure as directional rather than exact.
Who exhibits at ASCRS?
Approximately 200+ exhibitors typically attend ASCRS. The device categories that fit this floor are surgical instruments, capital equipment, implants, diagnostics, imaging equipment, pharmaceuticals, and digital health.
How does Buzzbox Media score ASCRS?
ASCRS carries a Buzzbox Score of 9.1 out of 10 (Exceptional). The score weighs six factors: audience quality, cost efficiency, data transparency, exhibitor experience, editorial value, and growth trajectory. Each factor is scored on a 0 to 100 rubric then normalized to a 7.0 to 10.0 band, and every conference in our index cleared a relevance bar to be listed, so 7.0 is the floor. On this record the highest is data transparency at 9.4 and the lowest is audience quality at 8.0.