ARVO | Members
Members
Join/renew from Aug. 1 for 2027 membership
ARVO membership
More than 11,000 members choose ARVO as their professional home for networking, research presentation and professional development. Join the largest eye and vision research organization in the world and become part of our international community.
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.
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Member information
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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.
The 2027 membership year begins Aug. 1, 2026, and anyone joining or renewing on or after that date will become a member for the remainder of 2026 through Dec. 31, 2027.
Membership dues are on a calendar year basis (January - December). Membership applications may be submitted at any time.
Membership Categories:
Regular Member — $300
Individuals demonstrating a serious interest in or making significant scientific contributions to visual science.Early Career Member — $150
Any individual who is working in eye and vision research, or in a related field, and has achieved a terminal degree. In no instance may an Early Career Member retain such membership status in ARVO for longer than five (5) years after completion of the terminal research degree. Terminal degrees include doctorate level degrees (PhD, MD, DO, OD, DVM and their equivalents) or other graduate level degrees.Life Member — $5,500 (one-time payment)
Individuals qualifying for Regular membership who pay one-time membership dues that provide lifetime benefits of regular membership.Retired Member — $140
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).
Members-in-Training
Members-in-Training (MITs) are ARVO Members who are students in the early stages of their careers. Membership dues are significantly lowered for this class of members. Membership in either, or both, of the categories below is limited to a total of 7 years. Student status will be verified.
Predoctoral — $100
Individuals enrolled as graduate (Masters and PhD level or equivalents), optometry 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.Undergraduate — $50
Individuals who are enrolled as undergraduates at a four-year or two-year degree granting institution. High school and Secondary school students are eligible for this membership type.
* Dues rates effective Aug. 1, 2026. Membership valid through Dec. 31, 2027. Membership dues are non-refundable and non-transferable, and do not include registration fees for meetings.
Professional Code of Conduct
Each new and renewing member will be required to confirm they have read and agree to follow ARVO's Professional Code of Conduct (PCC) as a condition of their ARVO membership.
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An ARVO membership gives you access to the largest eye and vision researcher community in the world.