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Members
ARVO membership
More than 11,000 members choose ARVO as their professional home for networking, research presentation and professional development.
Every member must select one Scientific Section that best represents their primary area of interest. The Board of Trustees is comprised of one elected Trustee from each Scientific Section. Members may also select one or more Cross-sectional Groups that annually plan and host scientific sessions at the ARVO Annual Meeting. Members may submit Annual Meeting abstracts to any Scientific Section for review, regardless of whether they belong to the reviewing Section.
To submit an abstract for the Annual Meeting, you must be a member for the year in which the Meeting is held.
Each new and renewing member will be required to confirm that they have read and agree to the ARVO Professional Code of Conduct. A paper membership application is available.
Member information
Learn more about membership with ARVO
Member Types
ARVO membership is open to individuals with particular competence or interest in the field of ophthalmic investigation and vision research. Join now, and your membership will be active through Dec. 31, 2026. Membership dues are on a calendar year basis (January - December), however, beginning in August, memberships include the entire following year. Membership applications may be submitted at any time. Membership dues are non-refundable and non-transferable, and do not include registration fees for meetings.
Individuals demonstrating a serious interest in or making significant scientific contributions to visual science.
Two-year Regular member term available: $550
Students and/or trainees in the early stages of their career. Membership in either or both training categories is limited to a total of seven (7) years. Student status will be verified.
Postgraduate fellows and residents
- Individuals in full-time training at institutions of higher learning in a scientific field related to vision or ophthalmology who have attained a doctorate level degree.
Students and pre-doctoral graduate students
- Individuals enrolled full-time as undergraduates, graduate, optometry students or medical students at institutions of higher learning in a scientific field related to vision or ophthalmology who have not earned a doctorate level degree.
Individuals qualifying for Regular membership who pay one-time membership dues that provide lifetime benefits of regular membership.
Any Regular member may make a written request to ARVO that his or her membership be transferred to that of a Retired Member provided that, at the time of request, such person has been a Regular member for a cumulative total of at least twenty (20) years; is retired from employment and is no longer engaged in research, academic or other scientific activities (Note: Retired members are not eligible to submit abstracts for the Annual Meeting).
A status change may be requested in writing to arvo@arvo.org. A retired member who is also a Fellow of ARVO (FARVO) is eligible for free membership if the above qualifications are met.
Join ARVO
An ARVO membership gives you access to the largest eye and vision researcher community in the world.