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Terms of Conference
Dry Eye Society of the Americas (DESA)
DESA Annual Dry Eye Conference
Terms and Conditions
Last Updated: March 11, 2026
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your registration for and participation in the Dry Eye Society of the Americas Conference (the “Conference” or “Event”), including use of the registration website, event platform, and related services.
By registering for or attending the Event, you agree to comply with these Terms.
1. Registration and Payment
All attendees must register through the official Dry Eye Society of the Americas website or authorized registration platform.
Full payment is required at the time of registration to confirm participation in the Event.
Registration confirmation will be sent via email after payment has been successfully processed.
All registrations are intended for the individual registrant and may not be transferred without prior written approval from DESA.
DESA reserves the right to deny or cancel registrations at its discretion.
2. Cancellations, Substitutions, and Refund Policy
All registrations are non-refundable.
Substitutions of attendees may be permitted with prior written consent from DESA if submitted no later than February 1, 2026.
All substitution requests must be submitted in writing to the DESA conference administration team.
Failure to attend the Event does not entitle the registrant to a refund or credit.
3. Event Program and Schedule Changes
The Dry Eye Society of the Americas reserves the right to modify the Event program, speakers, venue, schedule, or session topics at any time.
Every effort will be made to maintain the quality, integrity, and educational value of the program.
DESA is not responsible for speaker cancellations, travel disruptions, or circumstances outside of its control.
4. Professional Conduct and Code of Behavior
DESA is committed to providing a professional, inclusive, and respectful environment for all participants.
Attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout the Event.
Harassment, discrimination, disruptive behavior, or violation of Event policies will not be tolerated.
DESA reserves the right to remove any individual from the Event without refund if these standards are violated.
5. Liability and Assumption of Risk
By attending the Event, participants acknowledge and accept any inherent risks associated with travel and in-person events.
The Dry Eye Society of the Americas, its officers, board members, partners, sponsors, and affiliates shall not be liable for any personal injury, illness, loss, damage, or theft of personal property occurring during or related to the Event.
Attendees are responsible for their own travel arrangements, accommodations, and personal insurance coverage.
6. Photography, Video, and Media Consent
By attending the Event, participants consent to being photographed, recorded, or filmed during the Conference.
DESA reserves the right to use photographs, video recordings, and other media captured during the Event for promotional, educational, marketing, or archival purposes.
This usage may include websites, social media platforms, press materials, and future promotional campaigns without additional approval or compensation.
7. Intellectual Property and Use of Materials
All presentations, slides, recordings, educational materials, and conference content are protected by intellectual property laws.
These materials are the property of the Dry Eye Society of the Americas or the respective speakers and contributors.
Reproduction, recording, redistribution, or commercial use of Event content without prior written permission from DESA is strictly prohibited.
8. Sponsors and Exhibitors
Sponsors and exhibitors participating in the Event must comply with all Event policies and applicable regulations.
DESA reserves the right to modify exhibitor placements or sponsorship activations to ensure the smooth operation of the Event.
Sponsors and exhibitors are responsible for complying with all applicable healthcare industry regulations, including those related to promotional activities and educational transparency.
9. Privacy and Data Use
Personal information collected during registration will be used for Event administration, communication, and related operational purposes.
DESA may share limited attendee information with Event sponsors or partners in accordance with applicable privacy regulations.
By registering, you consent to receiving Event-related communications from DESA.
10. Health and Safety
Attendees agree to comply with all health, safety, and venue regulations in effect at the time of the Event.
DESA reserves the right to implement additional health protocols if required by local, state, or federal guidelines.
Participants who feel unwell are encouraged to refrain from attending in-person sessions.
11. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, United States.
Any disputes arising from participation in the Event shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in New York County, New York.
12. Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Educational Content
If the Event offers Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits or other professional education credits, participation in qualifying sessions may be required in order to receive such credits.
Attendees are responsible for completing all required evaluations, attendance verification, or other documentation necessary to claim educational credits.
DESA does not guarantee that all sessions will qualify for continuing education credit.
Educational content presented during the Event is intended for informational and professional development purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice or treatment recommendations.
13. Industry Compliance and Promotional Guidelines
Sponsors, exhibitors, and industry representatives participating in the Event must comply with all applicable healthcare industry regulations and ethical guidelines, including but not limited to:
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) promotional regulations
• The Physician Payments Sunshine Act
• Applicable industry codes of conduct and disclosure requirements
Promotional activities must remain separate from educational programming and may not interfere with the scientific integrity of the Event.
DESA reserves the right to restrict or remove promotional materials or activities that do not comply with these standards.
14. Force Majeure
DESA shall not be held responsible for delays, cancellation, or modification of the Event due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to:
• Natural disasters
• Severe weather events
• Public health emergencies or pandemics
• Government restrictions or regulations
• Labor disputes or strikes
• Venue closures
• Travel disruptions
• Acts of terrorism or civil unrest
In such circumstances, DESA reserves the right to reschedule the Event, convert the Event to a virtual format, or modify programming as necessary.
Registration fees may be applied to a rescheduled Event at DESA’s discretion.
15. Conflict of Interest and Disclosure
Speakers participating in the Event may be required to disclose relevant financial relationships with commercial entities.
DESA strives to maintain transparency and ensure that educational content is free from commercial bias.
16. Use of Attendee Contact Information
By registering for the Event, attendees acknowledge that limited contact information (such as name, title, and organization) may be shared with Event sponsors or exhibitors for networking and professional engagement purposes.
Attendees may opt out of such sharing where permitted by applicable privacy laws.
17. Recording, AI Use, and Content Capture
Attendees may not record, livestream, photograph slides, or capture conference sessions without prior written consent from DESA.
Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence tools to record, transcribe, or reproduce conference content is prohibited.
DESA reserves the right to remove individuals who violate these policies.
18. Contact Information
For questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact:
Dry Eye Society of the Americas (DESA)
Email: desasponsorship at gmail
Website: www.dryeyesociety.org