From October 8–10, 2025, the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw hosted the second edition of CRATER – the Conference on Recent Advances in Translational Eye Research. For three days, the city became a global epicenter of vision science, bringing together groundbreaking research, cutting-edge technology, and a forward-looking vision for the future of eye medicine.
CRATER 2025 was more than just another scientific meeting. It served as a vibrant bridge between laboratory and clinic — a space where scientists, clinicians, entrepreneurs, and investors meet to turn research into real-world impact. The event was organized by the International Centre for Translational Eye Research (ICTER), the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Candela Foundation, within the TRIO-VI CoE project.
A special highlight of this year’s edition was the 25th anniversary of the first three-dimensional SdOCT scan of the human retina — a milestone that revolutionized ophthalmic diagnostics. In 2000, the team led by Prof. Maciej Wojtkowski, now Director of ICTER, captured an unprecedented image of the human eye, ushering in a new era of precision imaging. Since then, OCT has become the global gold standard in ophthalmology, transforming the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as AMD, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
However, the jubilee was not only a look back, but also an invitation to envision the future. What will be the next OCT? Quantum-based imaging? Multimodal real-time diagnostics? Or AI-driven systems capable of autonomous diagnosis?
With its strong translational focus, CRATER 2025 connected science with business. Researchers, clinicians, investors, and medtech innovators from around the world gathered in Warsaw to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration. Participants also visited ICTER’s state-of-the-art laboratories — a place where pioneering imaging technologies and next-generation gene and cell therapies are being developed to change the future of eye care.
