He is the first Spaniard to preside over the highest scientific institution in the specialty in Europe after receiving the support of 95 % of the votes.
Prof. Dr Jorge Alió has been elected president of the European Academy of Ophthalmology (EAO), becoming the first Spanish ophthalmologist to hold the presidency of this leading scientific institution in Europe. His candidacy received 95 % of the votes, a result that reflects the widespread international recognition of his professional and scientific career.
The organization brings together the most prestigious specialists
‘It is a great honor to preside over the European Academy of Ophthalmology. I assume this position with responsibility and conviction to promote collaboration among European academic specialists, foster the exchange of knowledge, and promote new initiatives aimed at improving training, research, and patient care. My goal is to contribute to the development of an increasingly innovative, collaborative, and evidence-based ophthalmology’, commented Jorge Alió.
Based in Switzerland, the EAO is the leading academic scientific institution in this specialty in Europe, bringing together some of the continent’s most prestigious specialists. Its mission is to promote scientific excellence, international cooperation, continuing education, and the advancement of research in eye health. For the next four years, the Professor of Ophthalmology and Honorary Researcher at the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche will lead this key organization for the development of European ophthalmology and the dissemination of scientific knowledge among professionals and researchers.
An internationally referenced career
This appointment marks a new milestone in a career spanning more than forty years dedicated to innovation in ophthalmology. Dr. Alió has been a pioneer in modern refractive surgery and the founder of modern keratopigmentation. He has also contributed to the development of new techniques in cataract, corneal, presbyopia, and intraocular lens surgery, with particular emphasis on premium lenses and microincisional surgery, having created the MICS (Micro-Incision Cataract Surgery) concept.
His research activity has resulted in a vast scientific output, with hundreds of international publications, books, and reference chapters, in addition to extensive teaching and training work carried out at the UMH and at conferences held on five continents. Furthermore, he is the founder and honorary president of the Jorge Alió Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness, through which he promotes research projects, international cooperation, health and cultural outreach.
Awards that endorse a career of excellence
The election as president of the European Academy of Ophthalmology comes at a particularly significant moment in Dr. Alió’s career. In recent months, he has received some of the most prestigious awards in international ophthalmology, including the José Rizal International Medal from the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO), the World EyeCon Award, the award for Best Scientific Communication at the APAO congress, and the International Keratoconus Society Gold Medal, which recognize his contributions to the advancement of refractive surgery, the treatment of keratoconus, and innovation in eye health.
These distinctions add to his continued presence among the most important professionals internationally, as highlighted by The Ophthalmologist Power List 2025, which ranked him as the 7th Most Influential and Inspiring Ophthalmologist in the World in Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the only Spaniard among the top 50. All of this consolidates a career marked by scientific leadership, technological innovation, and the transfer of knowledge to clinical practice.
Jorge Alió’s presidency of the European Academy of Ophthalmology also represents recognition of the scientific level achieved by Spanish ophthalmology and reinforces Alicante’s role as one of Europe’s leading centers for research and innovation in eye surgery. The city is also home to the Alicante Refractive International Congress (ARI), which annually brings together top experts to offer a free scientific program showcasing the latest advances in ophthalmology and optometry.