The Macula Society
The Macula Society is a nonprofit professional medical society founded in 1977 that convenes retina specialists worldwide through selective membership, annual scientific meetings, research grants, and a prestigious awards program advancing research in retinal vascular and macular diseases.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1977
- HeadquartersBeachwood, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Macula Society does
The Macula Society is a nonprofit professional medical society founded in 1977 by Dr. Lawrence J. Singerman and headquartered in Pepper Pike, Ohio, with a stated operational base of 1–10 employees. It provides an exclusive forum for the presentation, critique, and dissemination of research in retinal vascular and macular diseases. Membership is selective and application-based, requiring posterior segment fellowship training, post-fellowship practice, peer-reviewed publication requirements, and two active-member sponsors. The Society's product set centers on an annual scientific meeting (49th in 2026 at Hotel del Coronado, 50th Anniversary in Cannes in 2027), a tiered corporate sponsorship program with seven tiers from $3,000 (Topaz) to $120,000 (Emerald), a Macula Society Research Grant program (six grants in 2024 with Retina Research Foundation and International Retinal Research Foundation), an awards and lectures program conferring prestigious recognitions such as the Arnall Patz Medal and J. Donald Gass Medal, and career development through the Young Member Mentor Program.
The underlying technology platform is a WordPress-based public website integrated with a secure X-CD Technologies member portal that handles award nominations, abstract submissions, dues payments, and video archive access; the platform was relaunched in July 2025 with a mobile-friendly redesign. The Society distributes content through its website, email communications, video archives, international joint symposia with organizations including the Asia Pacific Vitreoretinal Society, and the Macula Society Educational Endowment Fund. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues, meeting registration fees tiered at $850 (Early Bird), $1,050 (Standard), and $1,250 (Late) for members, corporate sponsorships, and donations. The organization is governed by elected officers and active committees, with international membership having nearly doubled to 199 members in 2025 from over 100 in 2024.
The Macula Society firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Macula Society
- Legal name
- The Macula Society
- Website
- https://www.maculasociety.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1977
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Macula Society is a nonprofit professional medical society founded in 1977 that convenes retina specialists worldwide through selective membership, annual scientific meetings, research grants, and a prestigious awards program advancing research in retinal vascular and macular diseases.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Macula Society industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Medical Society
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (813920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
Keywords
Where The Macula Society is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Beachwood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Macula Society business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues are established by the Executive Committee based on calendar year. Emeritus and Senior members pay reduced rates (50% of annual dues). Members must be current on dues to register for meetings.
- Annual Meeting Registration: Revenue generated from meeting registration fees at various pricing tiers: Early Bird $850, Standard $1,050, Late $1,250 for members. Non-member and guest registrations also generate revenue.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Seven tiers of corporate sponsorship ranging from Topaz Support at $3,000 to Emerald Support at $120,000. Additional à la carte promotional opportunities available. Includes benefits such as website listings, meeting app visibility, representative badges, and on-site branding.
- Research Grant Funding: Partnership with Retina Research Foundation ($30,000 grant) and International Retinal Research Foundation (four $35,000 grants matched with Macula Society). The Macula Society Research Grant program funds clinically relevant research in macular or retinal vascular diseases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One-time | Early Bird Registration - Members |
| Subscription | One-time | Standard Registration - Members |
| Subscription | One-time | Late Registration - Members |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Sponsorship - Topaz |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Sponsorship - Emerald |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Macula Society product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Macula Society is a membership-based professional medical society that provides a forum for new research in retinal vascular and macular diseases. Its core offerings include annual scientific meetings, a research grant program, an awards and lectures program, and member services that are accessible through a secure portal and in-person convenings. The Society is selective in membership, governed by member-elected officers, and supported by corporate sponsorships and an Educational Endowment Fund.
Product overview
The Macula Society is a professional medical society founded in 1977 that serves as a forum for new research in retinal vascular and macular diseases. The Society operates as a membership-based organization offering multiple interconnected programs and services: Annual Scientific Meetings that bring together retina specialists worldwide; the Macula Society Research Grant (MSRG) Program that provides funding for clinically relevant research in macular or retinal vascular diseases; an Awards and Lectures Program recognizing outstanding achievement through medals such as the Arnall Patz Medal, J. Donald Gass Medal, and others; Membership Services providing secure access to member functions; specialized programs including the Diabetes Research Study Group and Young Member Mentor Program; International Committee Programs fostering collaboration between US and international members; and the Macula Society Educational Endowment supporting educational initiatives. The Society launched a newly redesigned website in July 2025 built on WordPress with member portal functionality powered by X-CD Technologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Scientific Meeting The Macula Society holds annual scientific meetings open to members, their guests, co-authors, and supporting company representatives. These meetings feature scientific presentations, awards ceremonies, and networking opportunities for retina specialists worldwide.
- Macula Society Research Grant (MSRG) Program Research grant program providing funding for clinically relevant research in macular or retinal vascular diseases. The program funds pilot projects with potential for additional external funding, typically awarding six grants annually including partnerships with the Retina Research Foundation and International Retinal Research Foundation.
- Awards and Lectures Program The Society recognizes outstanding achievement by members and others through various awards and lectures presented at annual meetings, including the Arnall Patz Medal, J. Donald Gass Medal, Paul Henkind Memorial Lecture, W. Richard Green Lecture, Lawrence J. Singerman Medal, Young Investigator Award, Michaelson Macula Society Award, Evangelos S. Gragoudas Award, and International Travel Grant.
- Membership Services Membership in the Macula Society is by application with rigorous acceptance criteria including extensive contribution to retinal literature. The Society offers member-only access to functions including award nominations, abstract submissions, dues payments, and video archives through a secure portal developed in partnership with X-CD Technologies.
- Diabetes Research Study Group A specialized study group focused on diabetic retinal disease research, partnering with organizations such as the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative to advance understanding of Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD) through educational programs and symposia.
- Young Member Mentor Program Program designed to engage younger members of the Society through mentorship lectures and symposia at annual meetings, featuring keynote speakers and panel discussions on topics related to career development, leadership, and academic ophthalmology.
- International Committee Programs Committee promoting collaboration, networking and exchange between US and international members of the Society. Supports international retinal specialists joining the Society and facilitates joint international retinal conferences and symposiums.
- Macula Society Educational Endowment An endowment fund that provides a revenue stream to fund various educational initiatives in perpetuity, independent of year-to-year fluctuations in corporate support and other society income sources.
- 2026 Diabetes Day Symposium An invitation-only educational program on Diabetic Retinal Disease focused on Retinal Ischemia and Functional Relationships in DRD, presented in partnership with the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative and supported by Boehringer Ingelheim and Topcon.
Companies that use The Macula Society
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Macula Society technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Macula Society partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Mary Tyler Moore Vision InitiativecorePartnership for the 2026 Diabetes Day Symposium titled 'Retinal Ischemia and Functional Relationships in DRD: Disentangling Ischemia and Neurodegeneration'. The Macula Society Diabetes Research Study Group works with the initiative to advance understanding of Diabetic Retinal Disease (DRD).
- Boehringer IngelheimsupportingGenerous supporter of the 2026 Diabetes Day Symposium educational program focused on Diabetic Retinal Disease. Support enables the Macula Society Diabetes Research Study Group to present the educational program.
- TopconsupportingCorporate supporter of the 2026 Diabetes Day Symposium. Partnership advances research and education in retinal disease.
- X-CD TechnologiescoreTechnology partner for secure members-only integration enabling award nominations, abstract submissions, and dues payments. Developed secure portal infrastructure for the newly redesigned WordPress-based website.
- Asia Pacific Vitreoretinal Society (APVRS)supportingJoint symposium on Dry AMD during APVRS annual congress in Singapore. Chairs included Dr. Lihteh Wu, Dr. Michael Singer, Dr. Kelvin Teo with speakers covering diagnostics, therapeutic considerations, and upcoming therapies.
- LMU MunichminorResearch collaboration for multi-national interview study on artificial intelligence in ophthalmology. Looking for ophthalmology professionals from North America for online qualitative study on AI in clinical practice.
- Retina Research FoundationcorePartnership supporting the Mills and Margaret Cox Macula Society Research Project with one $30,000 grant annually for clinically relevant research in macular or retinal vascular diseases.
- International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF)corePartnership providing four $35,000 Research Grants through matched funding. Inaugural year collaboration supporting pilot projects in macular or retinal vascular disease research with potential for additional external funding.
- DRCR Retina NetworksupportingCollaborative network planning Phase III clinical trial to prevent visual acuity loss due to radiation retinopathy. Interested physicians can contact [email protected] to join.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Macula Society competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Retina Society: The most direct peer: a US-based professional society for vitreoretinal specialists founded in 1968 that holds an annual scientific meeting, accepts members by application, and recognizes achievement through named awards. Highly comparable mission and operating model to the Macula Society.
- American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS): Large US-based medical society for retina specialists that holds an annual meeting, runs practice management and coding workshops, and offers educational programming. Comparable target membership (retina specialists) and event-driven revenue model, though broader in scope than the Macula Society.
- Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO): Global eye and vision research organization that holds a large annual scientific meeting, offers member awards and travel grants, and engages academic and clinician-scientist members. Comparable as a research-focused vision society, though broader in ophthalmology scope.
Regional players
- European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA): Europe's primary retina specialist society, hosting an annual congress and educational programming for vitreoretinal specialists. Comparable membership base and conference model, but serves a primarily European membership that overlaps with the Macula Society's growing international roster.
- Asia Pacific Vitreoretinal Society (APVRS): Pan-Asia vitreoretinal society that co-hosts joint symposia with the Macula Society on topics like Dry AMD. Operates a similar annual congress model in the Asia-Pacific region and shares overlapping member profiles with the Macula Society's international members.
- Club Jules Gonin: European-based ophthalmologic society focused on retinal and vitreoretinal diseases that holds a biennial international meeting with selective membership. Comparable academic stature and selectivity profile, but primarily European in reach and meeting cadence.
Broad incumbents
- American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO): The largest US ophthalmology professional society with a much broader scope than the Macula Society. Macula Society award lectures are explicitly presented at the AAO annual meeting, making AAO the relevant incumbent convener where Macula Society members already engage.
- American Ophthalmological Society (AOS): One of the oldest US ophthalmic societies with highly selective membership and an annual scientific meeting. Comparable exclusivity and prestige positioning, though its clinical scope is broader than the Macula Society's macular/retinal focus.
Emerging players
- International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV): International scientific society with an annual meeting and selective membership focused on clinical vision electrophysiology. Smaller and more specialized than the Macula Society, but a comparable model of a globally distributed, researcher-led professional society.
Others
- Retina Research Foundation: Strategic grantmaking partner of the Macula Society that funds the Mills and Margaret Cox Macula Society Research Project. Operates as an adjacent enabler in the retinal research ecosystem rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Macula Society social profiles
Digital presenceThe Macula Society financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Macula Society leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
The Macula Society funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Macula Society M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Macula Society
What does The Macula Society do?
The Macula Society is a membership-based professional medical society that provides a forum for new research in retinal vascular and macular diseases. Its core offerings include annual scientific meetings, a research grant program, an awards and lectures program, and member services that are accessible through a secure portal and in-person convenings. The Society is selective in membership, governed by member-elected officers, and supported by corporate sponsorships and an Educational Endowment Fund.
Is The Macula Society a public or private company?
The Macula Society is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Macula Society founded?
The Macula Society was founded in 1977. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Macula Society based?
The Macula Society is headquartered in Beachwood, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Macula Society make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are annual Meeting Registration, corporate Sponsorships and research Grant Funding.
Who are The Macula Society's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Retina Society, American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Regional players are European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA), Asia Pacific Vitreoretinal Society (APVRS) and Club Jules Gonin. Broad incumbents are American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and American Ophthalmological Society (AOS). International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) is listed as an emerging player. Retina Research Foundation is listed as an others.
Does The Macula Society have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Macula Society.
What industry is The Macula Society in?
The Macula Society's product category is Professional Medical Society. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies). Its NAICS code is 813920 and its SIC code is 8600.