Professor Jorge Alió has been awarded the prestigious Gold Medal by the International Keratoconus Society (IKS) during the World Keratoconus Congress (WKC) 2026, held from 16th to 18th April in Florence, Italy. One of the most significant global scientific gatherings in the field of corneal diseases. Furthermore, in his Gold Medal Lecture entitled “Vision, Shape and Volume in Keratoconus Evolution”, he presented a revolutionary technological innovation based on a new classification system for the disease.
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He was honoured for the study and treatment of one of the main degenerative conditions affecting the cornea
‘Receiving this important recognition is a great honour and, above all, an incentive to continue researching and developing solutions that improve our patients’ visual quality’, said the Professor of Ophthalmology and Honorary Researcher at the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Elche.
This award recognises Dr Alió’s scientific, clinical and teaching achievements in the study of keratoconus. The significance of this milestone lies in the fact that keratoconus is a degenerative condition of the cornea, which particularly affects young people and can lead to progressive vision loss. As such, the Alicante-based ophthalmologist ranks among the world’s most influential specialists in this field.
The anterior segment specialist has also played an active role in the scientific sessions of the Third World Congress on Keratoconus, focusing on early diagnosis, advanced classification and personalised treatment of this eye condition. His contributions have highlighted the importance of personalised medicine, based on detailed analysis of the corneal structure, as well as the combination of therapeutic techniques that enable improved visual outcomes for patients.
Innovation and personalized surgery in keratoconus
According to Jorge Alió, ‘keratoconus should no longer be viewed as a condition with a single treatment. Today we are talking about innovation and personalised surgery, which make it possible to tailor the procedure to each patient and each stage of the disease’. Indeed, among the highlights of his presentation, he addressed the role of combined therapies that integrate techniques such as corneal cross-linking, therapeutic refractive surgery or the use of intraocular lenses in advanced cases.
The professor also highlighted the evolution of diagnostic tools for detecting the disease at earlier stages, facilitating a more effective approach and reducing the risk of progression to severe stages.
Technological revolution with a new keratoconus classification system
The award of the International Keratoconus Society Gold Medal reinforces Dr Jorge Alió’s position as one of the world’s leading experts in the treatment of keratoconus. This distinction joins others, such as that awarded 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, making him the only Spaniard among the top 50.
Undoubtedly, the presence of Vissum Miranza’s founder at international conferences such as the World Keratoconus Congress (WKC), which has brought together experts from around the world, demonstrates the recognition of the scientific work carried out in Spain in the field of eye health, consolidating Alicante’s role as a centre of excellence in research and development in eye surgery.
