Privacy Policy
American Glaucoma Society
Privacy Policy
Last Updated: January 2025
Introduction
ATTENTION: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THIS AMERICAN GLAUCOMA SOCIETY (“AGS,” “we,” or “our”) PRIVACY POLICY (“PRIVACY POLICY”), BEFORE YOU (“YOU”) ACCESS, DOWNLOAD ANY CONTENT FROM, OR OTHERWISE USE THE WEBSITE, located at https://www.americanglaucomasociety.net/ OR ANY ASSOCIATED WEBSITES OR APPLICATIONS (“CONTENT”).
ACCESSING, DOWNLOADING OR OTHERWISE USING THE SERVICE INDICATES THAT YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS PRIVACY POLICY IN FULL. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THIS PRIVACY POLICY, DO NOT ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR OTHERWISE USE THE SERVICE. You acknowledge (a) that You have read and understood this Privacy Policy; and (b) for users outside the European Union, this Privacy Policy shall have the same force and effect as a signed agreement.
The Content is operated by AGS and can be contacted at American Glaucoma Society, 655 Beach Street, San Francisco, California 94109. This Privacy Policy describes the information collected through Your use of the Content, how We use it, how We share it, how We protect it, and the choices You can make about Your information. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, any new features that augment or enhance the current Content shall be subject to this Privacy Policy.
Please review the Privacy Policy each time You use the Content. If We materially change this Privacy Policy, We will update this page to reflect any changes to this Privacy Policy and notify You by email, if We have Your email address. BY USING THE SERVICE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE MOST RECENT VERSION OF THE PRIVACY POLICY.
II. Information We Collect
We may collect information from You when You use the Content and when You contact or interact with us.
A. Information You Provide to Us
When You complete an online membership application, We collect Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; telephone number; credit or debit card information; date of birth; and education/training background.
When You make a donation through the AGS Foundation, We collect Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; and credit or debit card information. Any payment is processed by a third-party service provider; information on third-party service providers is described in the Third-Party Service Providers and Business Partners section below.
When You enroll as a volunteer, We collect Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; telephone number; and authentication credentials, such as username and password.
When You apply for a job or otherwise use the AGS Career Center, We may collect Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; telephone number; and authentication credentials, such as username and password. The job application process is run by a third-party service provider; information on third-party service providers is described in the Third-Party Service Providers and Business Partners section below.
When you register for the AGS Annual Meeting, We collect Your contact information (such as email addresses), financial information (such as accounts or credit card numbers), and demographic information (such as zip code, address, state).
When You use the AGS Store or Resource Library, We may collect Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; telephone number; persistent identifier, such as customer number held in a cookie, static Internet protocol (“IP”) address, mobile device ID, or processor serial number; and authentication credentials, such as username and password. We use cookies to keep track of your shopping cart. We also use cookies to save and verify your password information if you choose to remain logged in over multiple visits.
When you complete an AGS survey, we collect Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; telephone number; persistent identifier, such as customer number held in a cookie, static Internet protocol (“IP”) address, mobile device ID, or processor serial number.
When You sign up for an AGS Community Forum, We will collect the email address You provide.
When You click on the Update Profile Section, We collect the information You provide such as Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; telephone number; photograph, video, or audio file where such file contains Your image or voice; CV; and authentication credentials, such as username and password.
When You interact with the AGS Resource Library, We may collect Your username and password, and any other information You voluntarily provide.
When you complete any online form (Formstack), we collect Your first and last name; home or other physical address, including street name and name of city or town; email address or other online contact information, such as instant messaging user identifier or screen name; telephone number; persistent identifier, such as customer number held in a cookie, static Internet protocol (“IP”) address, mobile device ID, or processor serial number.
B. Information We May Automatically Collect When You Use the Content.
When You access and use the Content, We may automatically collect information about You, including Your Content browsing history, Your purchase history of AGS products and services, Your attendance history at AGS meetings, webinars, courses, and other AGS events, Your education/training background, Your evaluations of AGS events, products, and services, Your clicks on AGS Content or emails from AGS, Your selected preferences on the Content, and Your engagement with AGS social media accounts and community platforms.
In addition, when You access and use the Content, We may automatically collect information regarding You and Your device, including Your device’s IP address, the domain name of Your Internet service provider (“ISP”), Your location, Your mobile device information (e.g., device model and operating system version), Your page visits, and aggregated information that cannot be used to specifically identify You. Additional information collected is described in the Analytics and Cookies, Local Storage and Other Tracking Technologies sections below.
C. Information We May Collect From Other Sources
We may collect information about You from third-party sources including social media companies – AGS may have access to the information You make public on the following social media platforms.
Cvent. We use Cvent to retrieve leads. Cvent may provide us with information related to Your name, organization, title, postal address, email address, telephone number, fax number, social media account ID, credit or debit card number, and information related to Your dietary preferences, interests, opinions, activities, age, gender, education, and occupation. For more information, please visit the Cvent privacy policy at: https://www.cvent.com/en/cvent-global-privacy-policy.
Facebook. By clicking on the Facebook button on the Content, You will be automatically transported to the official Facebook pages for AGS, https://www.facebook.com/agsdocs/.
Google Calendar and iCalendar. We use Google Calendar and iCalendar to add AGS Events to Your personal calendars. If You integrate AGS with Google Calendar and iCalendar, Google Calendar and iCalendar may provide us with Your email address and authentication token. The Google privacy policy can be viewed here: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en&gl=us. The Apple privacy policy can be viewed here: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/.
Instagram. By clicking on the Instagram button the Content, You will be automatically transported to the official Instagram page for AGS, https://www.instagram.com/americanglaucomasociety
LinkedIn. By clicking on the LinkedIn button on the Content, You will be automatically transported to the official LinkedIn page for AGS, https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-glaucoma-society/about/.
Twitter. By clicking on the Twitter button on the Content, You will be automatically transported to the official Twitter pages for AGS, https://twitter.com @agsdocs
YouTube. By clicking on the YouTube button on the Content, You will be automatically transported to the official YouTube pages for AGS, https://www.youtube.com/user/amglaucvideos
X-CD. We use X-CD for the annual meeting abstract submissions. When submitting an abstract you will be directed to the X-CD platform to submit your abstract.
We may combine all of the information We collect from or about You and use it in the manner described in this Privacy Policy.
III. How We Use Your Information
We may use the information We collect for several purposes, including:
The Purposes for which You provided it;
To process Your membership application with payment;
To complete transactions that You initiate;
To provide Content to You (including, but not limited to, customized Content recommendations, and sending an SMS message or other notification);
To process and respond to Your inquiries and comments;
To identify You as a user of the Content;
To connect with Your social media accounts;
To send You information about Your relationship or transactions with us;
To enable You to provide comments and participate in questions and answers and surveys;
To contact You with information, including promotional information, that We believe will be of interest to You;
To provide relevant advertising;
To display relevant advertising across websites and mobile applications;
To create anonymous data and to compile aggregate data, which We may use for any purpose, including for internal and external business purposes;
To analyze the Content;
To improve our understanding of user and AGS member preferences and interests;
To administer, operate, and improve the Content or develop new services;
To generate and review reports and data about our user base and service usage patterns;
To prevent fraud and abuse of the Content and to otherwise protect users and visitors and our business;
To assist law enforcement if requested and respond to subpoenas; and,
To perform other business activities as needed, or as described elsewhere in this Privacy Policy or the TOS as permitted or required by law.
Please note that You may choose not to allow us to use Your personal information for certain purposes as described in the Your Choices Regarding Your Information section below.
IV. Legal Bases for Processing Your Information
Performance of a contract
The use of Your personal information may be necessary to perform the agreement You have with Us to provide products and services. Here are some examples: to complete Your membership application, to register and maintain Your account, and to respond to Your requests.
Legitimate interests
We may use Your personal information for Our legitimate interests. For example, We rely on Our legitimate interest to administer, analyze and improve our Content, to operate our business including through the use of service providers and subcontractors (who may have access to your data – see further under the section How Your Information is Disclosed), to send You notifications about Our services, for archiving, records keeping, statistical and analytical purposes, or to use Your personal information for administrative, fraud detection, audit, training, security, or legal purposes.
Consent
Prior to accessing this site and providing Your personal data, You may have provided Your informed consent to the collection and use of certain personal data. You are free to withdraw Your consent at any time, subject to the Your Choices Regarding Your Information section below and the preceding Legal Bases for Processing Your Information in this Section.
Compliance with legal obligations
We may use Your personal information to comply with legal obligations to which we are subject, including to comply with legal process.
Performance of a task carried out in the public interest
We may use Your personal information may be necessary to perform a task in the public interest.
V. How Your Information is Disclosed
Information may be disclosed to third parties in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Note that a user may choose not to share certain information as described in Your Choices Regarding Your Information below.
A. Third-Party Service Providers and Business Partners
We may use third party service providers and business partners to perform functions in connection with the Content, such as credit card and other payment processing, accepting employment applications, email marketing, social sharing, relationship management, analyzing and improving the Content usefulness, reliability, user experience, and operation, advertising, storing data, and as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy. We also may share Your personal information with these providers and partners for their direct marketing and promotional purposes and so they can provide services to You. Additionally, We may share Your information with Apple and Google in their capacities as mobile application platforms, to be used in accordance with their respective privacy policies.
B. Business Changes
If We become involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, joint venture, securities offering, bankruptcy, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution, or other transaction or if the ownership of all or substantially all of Our business otherwise changes, We may transfer Your information to a third party or parties in connection therewith.
C. Affiliates
We may also share Your information with Our affiliates for purposes consistent with this Privacy Policy. Our affiliates will be required to maintain that information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
D. Investigations and Law
We may disclose information about You to third parties if We believe that such disclosure is necessary to:
Comply with the law or guidance and cooperate with government or law enforcement officials or private parties;
Investigate, prevent or take action regarding suspected illegal activities, suspected fraud, False Claims Act violations, the rights, reputation, safety, and property of Us, users, or others, or violations of Our policies or other agreements with Us;
Respond to claims and legal process (for example, subpoenas); and/or
Protect against legal liability.
E. Aggregated Information
We may share aggregated information relating to users of the Content with affiliated or unaffiliated third parties. This aggregated information does not contain personal information about any user.
F. Analytics
We use third-party analytics tools to better understand who is using the Content and how people are using it. These tools may use cookies and other technologies to collect information about Your use of the Content and Your preferences and activities. These tools collect information sent by Your device or the Content and other information that assists us in improving the Content. This information may be used to analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, and better understand Your online activity, among other things.
AGS uses Google Analytics, including custom dimensions and metrics features, to better understand who is using the Content and how people are using it. Google uses cookies, pixel tags and other technologies to collect and store information such as Content pages visited, places where users click, time spent on each Content page, IP address, app instance identifier, type of operating system used, location-based data, device ID, search history, gender, age, and phone number. To better understand how Google collects and processes data, You may review Google’s policies at www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/, or any other URL Google may provide from time to time. You may also visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout for more information about the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On. Google may track Your activity over time and across websites.
Parts of our Content also uses Bitly to determine how many users have visited certain of our Content. You may review Bitly’s policies at https://bitly.com/pages/careers/data-privacy-statement or any other URL Bitly may provide from time to time
G. Cookies and Local Storage, and Other Tracking Technologies.
We, along with third parties, use cookies, local storage objects, Web beacons and other technologies. These technologies are used for tracking, analyzing, personalizing, and optimizing the Content.
Cookies are small files that are transferred to and stored on Your computer through Your Web browser (if You allow it) that enable the website’s or service provider’s system to recognize Your browser and capture and remember certain information. You can instruct Your browser to stop accepting cookies. But if You do not accept cookies, You may not be able to use all portions of all functionality of the Content.
Persistent cookies remain on the visitor’s computer after the browser has been closed.
Session cookies exist only during a visitor’s online session and disappear from the visitor’s computer when he/she closes the browser software.
Flash cookies (also known as local shared objects) are data files that can be created on Your computer by the websites You visit, and are a way for websites to store information for later use. Flash cookies are stored in different parts of Your computer from ordinary browser cookies. You can disable the storage of flash cookies. For additional information about managing and disabling flash cookies, visit: http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/kb/disable-local-shared-objects-flash.html.
Web beacons are small strings of code that provide a method for delivering a graphic image on a Web page or in an email message for the purpose of transferring data. You can disable the ability of Web beacons to capture information by blocking cookies.
We use cookies and other tracking technologies on the Content to help us understand and save Your preferences and interests so We can personalize Your future visits and compile aggregate data about Content traffic and Content interaction so that We can offer better Content experiences and tools in the future.
Some of our business partners, such as our analytics providers and social media connections, also use cookies and other tracking technologies on the Content, some of which may track users across websites and over time.
VI. Security
We implement a variety of security measures to protect the safety of Your personal information when You enter, submit, or access Your personal information.
While We take reasonable measures to protect the information You submit via the Content against loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure, or modification, We cannot guarantee its absolute security. No Internet, email, or mobile application transmission is ever fully secure or error free. Email or other messages sent through the Content may not be secure. You should use caution whenever submitting information through the Content and take special care in deciding with which information You provide us.
We cannot guarantee that transmissions of Your personal information will be fully secure and that third parties will never be able to defeat our security measures or the security measures of our partners. WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY FOR DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION DUE TO TRANSMISSION ERRORS, THIRD PARTY ACCESS, OR CAUSES BEYOND OUR CONTROL.
Any information collected through the Content is stored and processed in the United States. If You use our Content outside of the United States, You consent to having Your data transferred to the United States.
VII. Data Retention, Managing Your Information
We will retain Your information for as long as You use the Content and for a reasonable time thereafter. We may maintain anonymized or aggregated data, including usage data, for analytics purposes. We may retain and use Your information as necessary to comply with Our legal obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and/or for the period required by laws in applicable jurisdictions. Please note that some or all of the information We have collected may be required for the Content to function properly.
VIII. Links to Other Websites or Applications
This Privacy Policy applies only to the Content. The Content may contain links to other websites or apps or may forward users to other websites or apps that We may not own or operate and to which this Privacy Policy does not apply. The links from the Content do not imply that We endorse or have reviewed these websites or apps. The policies and procedures We describe here do not apply to these websites or apps. We neither can control nor are responsible for the privacy practices or content of these websites or apps. We suggest contacting these websites or app providers directly for information on their privacy policies. Nonetheless, We seek to protect the integrity of our Content, and welcome any feedback about these linked websites and mobile applications.
IX. Your Choices Regarding Your Information
You have choices regarding the use of information by the Content.
A. Changing Your Information
You have choices regarding the use of information by the Content.
Changing Your Information – You may review, update, or delete any personal information collected from You through the Content through accessing your profile at https://secure.americanglaucomasociety.net/ags/. You may also request to review update, or have deleted any personal information by sending us an email at ags@aao.org, asking to review or update Your personal information, or to have us delete Your personal information. However, We reserve the right to retain personal information as necessary for our business purposes and to comply with laws.
Closing Your Account – If the email account associated with Your email address is not active, We may remove it from Our system without notice.
Withdrawing Consent - If You are an individual residing in the EU, and You provided your consent for any particular processing of Your personal information, You have the right to withdraw Your consent to Our processing of Your information any time by requesting that Your personal information be deleted. See further under the section “EU privacy rights” below. This deletion is permanent and Your information cannot be reinstated. To proceed with this request, e-mail ags@aao.org.
B. Social Networking
You should make sure You are comfortable with the information that a third-party social networking service may make available to Us by carefully reviewing the social media service’s privacy policy and terms and conditions and by modifying Your privacy settings directly on the social media service.
C. Opt-Outs Available from Our Third-Party Providers
Some of our third-party providers allow users to opt-out of their collection of information. Some of our partners provide information on controlling cookies. For more information, You may visit the Network Advertising Initiative’s Consumer Opt-Out Link and/or the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Consumer Opt-Out Link to opt-out of receiving tailored advertising from companies that participate in those programs.
To opt out of Google Analytics for Display Advertising or customize Google Display Network ads, You can visit the Google Ads Settings page. Please note that to the extent advertising technology is integrated into the Content, You may still receive advertisements even if You opt-out of tailored advertising. In that case, the ads will just not be tailored to Your interests. Also, We do not control any of the opt-out links above and are not responsible for any choices You make using these mechanisms or the continued availability or accuracy of these mechanisms.
X. EU Privacy Rights
Users based in the European Union have the following legal rights in respect of their information:
The right to require AGS to confirm whether or not their information is being processed, the purpose of any such processing, the recipients of any information that has been disclosed, the period for which their information is to be stored, and whether any automated decision-making processes are used in relation to their information;
The right to require AGS to rectify inaccurate information without undue delay;
The right to request the erasure of their information. Subject to certain conditions, AGS may be required to erase the information in response to such request where:
the information is no longer necessary in relation to the purpose for which it was collected, such as where a user chooses to terminate his or her use of the Content;
where the processing of the information is based on the user’s consent (and the other circumstances described in the Legal Bases for Processing Your Information and How Your Information is Disclosed sections above no longer apply), if the user withdraws his or her consent; or
the user objects to the processing of his or her information and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing.
Where AGS has disclosed the information of a European Union user to a third party and the user requests the erasure or rectification of the data, AGS will take all reasonable steps to inform the third party of such request.
The right to restrict AGS from processing their information in certain circumstances, such as where the accuracy of that information is disputed or an objection has been raised (see below). In such circumstances, AGS will only process that information with the express consent of the user, or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest;
The right to receive their information from AGS in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format;
The right to object to the processing of their information by AGS where:
AGS has relied on the ‘legitimate interest’ basis for processing that information, in which case we will immediately stop processing the user’s information unless we have compelling legitimate grounds which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the user; or
the information is used for direct marketing purposes, in which case we will immediately stop processing the user’s information for such purposes.
The right to lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority of the EU member state where the user resides.
The above legal rights are subject to various conditions and exceptions including where the data is used for statistical or scientific research purposes and the exercise of the right would prevent such purposes from being attained or would seriously impair their attainment.
XI. Information Collected from Other Websites and AGS’s Do Not Track Policy
Through cookies We place on Your browser or device, We and our partners may collect information about Your online activity after You leave the Content. Just like any other usage information We collect, this information allows us to improve the Content, customize Your online experience, and act as otherwise described in this privacy policy.
Your browser may offer a “Do Not Track” option, which allows You to signal to operators of websites and mobile applications and services (including behavioral advertising services) that You do not wish such operators to track certain of Your online activities over time and/or across different websites and mobile applications and services. Our Content does not support Do Not Track requests at this time, which means that We collect information about Your online activity both while You are using the Content and after You leave the Content.
XII. Children
Our Content is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from an individual under age 16. If You are under the age of 16, please do not submit any personal information through the Content. If You have reason to believe that We may have accidentally received personal information from an individual under age 16, contact us immediately at member ags@aao.org.
XIII. Terms of Use
Please also visit the AGS Terms of Service at https://www.americanglaucomasoecirty.net/terms which state the terms, disclaimers, and limitations of liability governing Your use of the Content.
XIV. Changes to the Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time and from time to time without prior notice. Please review this Privacy Policy periodically, and especially before You provide any information. This Privacy Policy was made effective on the date indicated above.
XV. Your California Privacy Rights
Section 1798.83 of the California Civil Code permits California residents to request from a business, with whom the California resident has an established business relationship, certain information about the types of personal information the business has shared with third parties for those third parties’ direct marketing purposes and the names and addresses of the third parties with whom the business has shared such information during the immediately preceding calendar year. California residents may make one request each year by emailing us at ags@aao.org or by writing us at American Glaucoma Society at American Glaucoma Society Client Services Coordinator, 655 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.
XVI. Your Nevada Privacy Rights
The Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 603A.300 et seq.) permit a Nevada consumer to direct an operator of an Internet website or online service to refrain from making any sale of any covered information the operator has collected or will collect about that consumer. You may submit a request pursuant to this directive by emailing us at ags@aao.org. We will provide further information about how We verify the authenticity of the request and Your identity.
XVII. How to Contact Us
For any enquiries or complaints relating to the use of your personal information or this Privacy Policy, feel free to contact us at American Glaucoma Society at American Glaucoma Society Client Services Coordinator, 655 Beach Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 or by email at ags@aao.org if You have any questions about this Privacy Policy.