Abstract Submission Guidelines – Drishti 2026

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING INSTRUCTION COURSES (IC)

Submission starts on April 1st and ends April 30th 2026
Any change in dates will be announced in website and through official WhatsApp group of KSOS

Instruction Course Submission

1. Submission Rules and Limits
   • Chief Instructor must be a ratified KSOS member working in Kerala with at least 5 yrs of post PG experience in clinical practice/ Teaching
   • You can submit only one instruction course as ‘Chief Instructor’
   • You can have total of 3 talks in instruction course sessions (including one as Chief instructor)
   • The total duration of session is 55 minutes. There will be a 5 minutes change over time between sessions. 
   • The chief instructors must ensure that the session finishes exactly on time & does not spill over to the changeover time.
   • An instruction course shall have one chief instructor and up to a maximum of additional 4 speakers (5 speakers in total)
   • A chief instructor or a co-instructor can speak on more than one topic.
     
     
2. Abstract Submission Process
   • Method: Abstracts shall be accepted online only. Submission link will be provided  on KSOS website Submissions via email, fax, or hard copy will not be accepted.
   • Content Structure:
     • Course Title:Must not exceed 100 characters (including spaces).
     • Course Outline (Synopsis):Must not exceed 1000 characters (including spaces). This should contain the course description only.
     • Details of the Program:Co-instructor names, their topics, and time allotted for each topic must be filled in the designated online fields, not in the synopsis. Individual topic titles must not exceed 100 characters (including spaces).
     • Chief Instructor’s Resume:Must not exceed 600 characters (including spaces). It must convey the Chief Instructor’s experience in the topic of IC , previous experience of conducting IC in various conferences and clinical /teaching experience of the Chief Instructor.
       
       
3. Session Format and Timing
   • Number of Talks:Courses can have a maximum  of 5-6 talks.
   • Session Duration:The total session length is 55 minutes. Time of Individual talk within the session can be decided by Chief Instructor
   • Punctuality:Chief Instructors must ensure the session finishes exactly on time to allow for the mandatory 5-minute changeover between sessions. Sessions spilling over into changeover time are not permitted.
   • Encouraged Formats:Courses utilizing innovative teaching formats as examples given below
     • Interactive sessions
     • Panel discussions
     • Video assisted skill transfer
     • Case based discussions
     • Algorithm / Approach to a situation
     • Sessions on Updates in various topics
   • Innovative topics and engaging formats will be given preference during selection process
   • Routine didactic lectures must be discouraged or used minimally
   • Very basic text book descriptions and discussions are also strongly discouraged
   • Handouts / takeaway points as print for the delegates who attended the IC will be highly appreciated
   • Scientific Committee will try to assess the quality of sessions and announce Best Instruction Course in each category and an overall Best IC of the conference
     
     
4. Scientific Content and Review
   Instruction courses are accepted in any one of the following specialties
   
   • Cataract
   • Cornea
   • Ocular Surface
   • Glaucoma
   • Lacrimal
   • Neuro Ophthalmology
   • Optics / Refraction / Contact Lens
   • Orbit & Oculoplasty
   • Ocular Oncology
   • Paediatric Ophthalmology
   • Refractive Surgery
   • Trauma
   • Uvea
   • Vitreo Retinal Diseases
   • Multidisciplinary
   • Systemic diseases and eye
   • Artificial Intelligence

     
     Any interesting topic not fitting into the above headings may be submitted under ‘ Miscellaneous ‘ section

     Content Guidelines: Instruction courses dealing with clinical sciences should present current, relevant  and reasonably established information.

     Highly controversial or unproven concepts may be more appropriately presented as papers or E- Posters.

     Courses with formats utilizing innovative teaching styles are particularly encouraged.

     Interactive sessions  and panel discussions are educational methods that stimulate additional interest and promote learning.

   • Review Criteria:Courses will be accepted based on merit, quality of talks, freshness of concepts, and benefit to attendees.

   • Committee Authority: The Scientific Committee Chairman reserves the right to make changes to courses (especially regarding guest faculty) to utilize them in multiple sessions. The decision of the KSOS Scientific Committee is final.

5. Guest Faculty (Out-of-State / Other Specialties)
   • Eligibility:Chief Instructors can include guest faculty from outside the state or from other specialties.
   • Membership:Guest faculty are not required to be KSOS members.
   • Attendance:All guest faculty must physically attend the conference and deliver a podium presentation.
   • Financial Responsibility:The Chief Instructor is entirely responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses for their guest faculty. KSOS will only provide complimentary registration.
   • If a Guest Faculty member fails to attend the conference without prior notice or a valid reason, they may be blacklisted from the Drishti conference for the following two years. It is the responsibility of the Chief Instructor to communicate this condition to the Guest Faculty at the time of invitation.
   • In the event of any last minute absence of Guest faculty, Chief instructor will have to find the ideal replacement and inform SC team before the final program is released.
   • All presentations will have to be pre-loaded at the Preview room including that of Guest Faculty
     
     
6. Responsibilities of the Chief Instructor
   • Consent:It is the Chief Instructor’s duty to obtain explicit consent from all co-instructors and guest faculty before
   • Faculty Limits:
     • Ensure no more than 3 instructors(including the Chief Instructor) are from the same institution.
     • Ensure co-instructors have not consented to more than 2 other Instruction Courses.
   • Withdrawals & Replacements:If a chosen co-instructor withdraws after the course is selected, the Chief Instructor is responsible for finding an alternate within 7 days from the date of the announcement.
     
     
7. Co-Instructor Participation
   • Consent Management:It is the co-instructor’s discretion to choose which courses they wish to participate in.

• • Automatic Allocation:If a co-instructor does not actively choose their courses, the first 3 courses for which they gave consent (in the order they are accepted) will be treated as their chosen courses. Any additional consents beyond this limit will be withdrawn.
  • Communication:Co-instructors are advised to proactively inform the Chief Instructor if they are unable to participate.

ROLE OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE (SC)

1. Evaluation and Selection: Evaluate all submitted Instruction Courses based on their relevance, scientific merit, and educational format to determine acceptance.
2. Scheduling: Schedule accepted Instruction Courses into the final scientific program, aligning them with the overall theme and structure of the conference.
3. Modifications: Request specific modifications to submitted and accepted courses to ensure they integrate seamlessly with the broader program theme.
4. Guest Faculty Integration: Recommend the inclusion of specific Guest Faculty members in particular Instruction Courses when it is deemed beneficial to the program.
5. Mentor Assignment: Assign very senior members as mentors to certain Instruction Courses when such guidance is considered necessary.
6. Minimizing Repetition : Every effort will be made to reduce repetition of topics across Instruction Courses. In cases of overlapping subject matter, the submission deemed strongest will be selected for inclusion.
7. Finality of Decision: All decisions made by the Scientific Committee are final. In the event of any dispute or controversy, the decision of the KSOS President and the Scientific Committee Chairperson will be final and binding.

Communication of Decisions and Changes:

• All notifications regarding Instruction Course acceptance or deadline modifications will be communicated through the official website or via email to the Chief Instructor.
• Please ensure your current email address and contact number are provided to guarantee the receipt of all timely communications

Criteria for Best Instruction Course Selection:

• Clinically relevant, evidence‑based content with clear learning objectives
• Current, well‑established information presented in an innovative and engaging format (interactive, panel, case‑based, etc.)
• Well‑structured sequencing of talks with practical takeaways for attendees
• Faculty demonstrate expertise; delivery is engaging with high‑quality visuals
• Strict adherence to scheduled time limits
• Fresh concepts with minimal overlap or repetition across courses
• Full compliance with submission guidelines, including ratified KSOS membership for Chief Instructor and guest faculty requirements
• Active audience interaction and positive attendee feedback
• All faculty present as committed; session conducted professionally

Note: The Scientific Committee’s decision is final. The KSOS President and Scientific Committee Chairperson have the final word in any dispute. Results will be declared only after a post‑conference detailed review by the Scientific Committee.