With standards of care evolving so quickly and new pharmaceuticals and instruments continually moving eye care forward, the collaborative experiences available to us at well-focused CE conferences are precisely how we improve and hone our clinical acumen––both individually and collectively as a profession. Education flourishes in the informal setting of a comfortable venue. And, when the meeting concludes, we return to our practices invigorated with renewed fervor for patient care.
Such is the premise of the ongoing educational series put on by Review of Optometry, for which I have the pleasure of serving as Education Chair. Our most recent program, Review of Optometry’s Puerto Rico 2012 Meeting of Clinical Excellence, showcased an exceptional combination of interactive discussion, audience participation and professional partnership with several key industry sponsors to create a one-of-a-kind educational
experience. Appropriately themed around “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Review’s first-ever gathering in Puerto Rico was host to more than 200 attendees at the spectacular Ritz-Carlton San Juan from July 19-22. The beautiful tropical location was just a few steps from the ocean, and the Ritz-Carlton service was typical of its reputation.
2012 Industry Sponsors
• Gold Level
Carl Zeiss Vision
• Silver Level
Hydrogel Vision Corporation
• Bronze Level
Allergan
Bruder Healthcare
Essilor
SpecialEyes
• Educational Grant Support
Alcon
Bausch + Lomb
From an education standpoint, Review’s Puerto Rico 2012 meeting was highly unique in that all of the presentations truly were interactive, with the intention of enhancing attendees’ clinical acumen. In turn, the attendees participated enthusiastically in each presentation, posing insightful questions and comments––increasing the overall interactive experience.
Best of all, this meeting provided attendees the opportunity to learn more about management strategies for a variety of ocular conditions from some of the top lecturers in the country––all while earning 14 COPE-approved CE credits in the process. Here is a brief overview of several presentations:
• In “Learn to Treasure the Benefits of Premium IOLs,” I described useful tips for comanaging cataract surgery candidates who present with pre-existing corneal disease, such as Fuchs’ dystrophy or herpes simplex keratitis. Additionally, I reviewed the potential benefits and inherent limitations of several premium IOL options, including torics, multifocals and accommodating lenses.
• Then, in “Captain Jack’s Guide to Contact Lens Selection,” contact lens specialist Jack Schaeffer, O.D., reviewed some of the key considerations that you must account for when deciding upon various lens modalities for your patients, with an emphasis on how to convey the benefits of specialty lenses and other premium options. Additionally, he discussed the latest developments in lens material technology, as well as how patients with ocular surface disease may benefit from the use of bandage or scleral lenses.
• Diana Shechtman, O.D., and Robert Wooldridge, O.D., teamed up to deliver a fast-paced, interactive presentation, “X Marks the Spot of Macular Disease and Glaucoma,” which reviewed a host of differential diagnoses for various retinal disease states and glaucomatous presentations.
• In “A Pirate’s Adventures in Anterior Segment Disease,” Jimmy Bartlett, O.D., and I reviewed essential diagnostic procedures for some of the most common anterior segment conditions, including dry eye disease and allergic conjunctivitis. Then, we discussed optimal treatment strategies, as well as prompted the audience to provide us with clinical insight based upon their unique experiences in daily practice.
• Dr. Shechtman delivered one of the most important presentations of the entire meeting: “Don’t Walk the Plank: Know When to Refer.” During her lecture, she emphasized why it’s essential to understand precisely when you must refer a patient to an ophthalmologist or another specialist. Not only does a prompt referral ensure that a patient will receive optimal medical care, it can also help protect you against potential legal complications. Throughout this course, Dr. Shechtman spent considerable time reviewing visually devastating retinal conditions that often require a timely referral, such as retinal vein and artery occlusions.
• Later in the day, Dr. Wooldridge introduced new evidence-based medicine to support novel methods of glaucoma detection and diagnosis, disease progression monitoring and intraocular pressure regulation in “You’ll Need All Hands on Deck to Manage IOP.”
• Finally, Drs. Bartlett, Schaeffer and I provided a review of the allergic cascade in “Break the Curse of the Dreaded Allergic Reaction.” In addition to describing the impact of allergic conjunctivitis, we discussed the potential systemic ramifications associated with seasonal and perennial allergies. Additionally, we offered many clinical pearls on how to most effectively help your patients avoid repeated exposure to common allergens, such as pollen, animal dander and dust mites, in an effort to improve their quality of life.
Review of Optometry’s Puerto Rico 2012 Meeting of Clinical Excellence truly was a one-of-a-kind gathering. I hope you have the opportunity to attend a future Review of Optometry meeting throughout the remainder of 2012––including the New Technology and Treatments Conference at Torrey Pines in San Diego from September 21-23 and the inaugural Northeast New Technology and Treatments Conference in Philadelphia from November 30 to December 2.
