AAO to bring hot topics, ‘view across the pond’ to Chicago

Take Home

The 2014 meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology will convene in Chicago from Oct. 17 to 21. Visit www.aao.org for the latest updates or to register.

By Rose Schneider, Content Specialist, Ophthalmology Times

Chicago-The “Windy City” will welcome this year’s meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and attendees will have the opportunity to hear the “view across the pond” in joint sessions with the European Society of Ophthalmology.

Attendees will also notice ocular oncology’s larger role during this year’s meeting, as it has been given its own subspecialty day and it will be the topic of the Jackson Memorial Lecture.

In case you missed it: Managing malignant glaucoma: Keys to recognizing the condition

The Governmental Affairs Program will also provide updates on key hot topics, such as:

·      2015 Medicare update

·      Q&A with the FDA

·      2014 American Medical Association ophthalmology section council symposium

·      Visual impact of traumatic brain injury: Lessons learned

There will also be further updates and information on the Academy’s IRIS Registry featured throughout the meeting, including subspecialty day presentations such as Big Data: How It Will Change Your Life and IRIS Registry: Update on What Has to Happen by When; a presentation followed by Q&A in the exhibit hall; a technology theater piece titled Introducing the Academy’s IRIS Registry: How to Meet Regulatory Requirements for Quality Measures; and a special session focusing on PQRS, value-based modifier, meaningful use, and sequestration.

Participants will also be able to utilize the Mobile Meeting Guide-a web app that uses Wi-Fi or data to access content. The guide contains complete Subspecialty Day and Academy 2014 program information. To locate a session, abstract, handout, or evaluation attendees may select “Search Program” and use the filter options. Once the session/course is found, handout and evaluation buttons will be visible if they are available for that respective session/course.

The guide also contains Chicago information, satellite symposia, and related group events as well as an exhibitor search and floor plans. New this year, it will have a responsive design, which detects attendees’ type of device (mobile or desktop) and formats to that device. Also, there will be a networking feature where attendees can start or join discussion groups.

For those who cannot attend the meeting, the option of experiencing the Virtual Meeting is an important tool to utilize. Ophthalmologists from across the globe will be able to watch more than 20 hours of programming live on their computers or handhelds free of charge.  An ophthalmologist will moderate these sessions so the virtual audience can participate while watching the session. For the schedule and up-to-date information, go to http://bit.ly/XLqyYG

2014 Subspecialty Days

The annual meeting will be preceded by Subspecialty Days on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18.

Attendees can choose from eight meetings that feature in-depth reviews on current clinical developments in each subspecialty area:

Friday, Oct. 17:

·      Retina: Reaching New Heights. This session will include video submissions for the first time. (Note: This is a two-day meeting that will take place on both subspecialty days)

·      Refractive Surgery: Mission 20/20. (Note: This is a two-day meeting that will take place on both subspecialty days)

Saturday, Oct. 18:

·      Cornea: Restocking the Toolbox: Concepts and Techniques for the Toughest Jobs

·      Glaucoma: Integrating New Technologies and Approaches Into Your Daily Practice

·      Oculofacial Plastic Surgery: A Global Summit

·      Pediatric Ophthalmology: A Magnificent Mile of Innovations

·      Refractive Surgery: Mission 20/20

·      Retina: Reaching New Heights. This session will include video submissions for the first time

·      Uveitis: Extinguishing the Great Fire

Participants who register for one-day meetings can float between the meetings taking place that day. Two-day registrants can attend any presentation taking place on Friday or Saturday.

Opening Session

The opening session will be held Sunday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. It will include the presentation of the Laureate Award to Jerry A. Shields, MD.

Jonathan B. Rubenstein, MD, will give opening and concluding remarks. Han E. Grossniklaus, MD, will give the Jackson Memorial Lecture at 9:30 a.m.

Learning Lounge

For those wanting to continue the conversation with colleagues, visit the Learning Lounge to participate in informal, small group-focused discussions led by experts in the field.

Highlights include:

·      Advanced Power Calculations for Cataract and Refractive Surgeons, Saturday, 12 p.m.

·      MIGS: Tips for the Cataract Surgeon, Saturday, 12:15 p.m.

·      Monitoring for Glaucomatous Progression in the Modern Era, Sunday, 11 a.m.

·      Patient Selection for Premium Lenses and Laser Assisted CD, Sunday, 1:45 p.m.

·      Ethical Relationships Between Physicians and Industry, Monday, 10:45 a.m.

·      Pitfalls of Blepharoplasty Surgery, Monday, 12:30 p.m.

Joint Sessions

The Academy will host three joint sessions with the European Society of Ophthalmology called “View Across the Pond.” The sessions will examine different perspectives on intraocular lenses, retina and cornea issues.

Planned events include:

·      Current Cataract and IOL Practices: Discussing key differences between surgeries performed in Europe and the United States, Sunday, 2 to 3 p.m.

·      Retina: Comparing and contrasting North American and European approaches to the diagnosis and management of a variety of medical and surgical disorders of the retina, Monday, 8:30 to 10 a.m.

·      Cornea Enigmas: Highlighting the state-of-the-art treatment of corneal and surface disorders in the United States versus Europe, Tuesday, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Academy Café

These popular sessions are open to all attendees. Enjoy free coffee while listening in on lively panel discussions and sending questions via text message.

The lineup includes:

·      Saturday: IRIS Registry, 1:15 to 2:30 p.m.; Cataract, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m.

·      Sunday: Glaucoma, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.; Cornea and External Disease, 1 to 2:15 p.m.; Retina, 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

·      Monday: Uveitis, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m.; Oculoplastics, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

·      Tuesday: Cataract, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

Breakfast with the Experts

Another popular, interactive event is Breakfast with the Experts. Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door. These sessions will be held Sunday through Tuesday, with several options each day.

Exhibition Hall

The world’s largest exhibition of ophthalmic technology, products, and services will be open from 9 am. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Attendees may visit the Virtual Exhibition online to plan their visit ahead of time. They can create a ‘My Expo’ account by entering their e-mail address and choosing a password. Search the list of exhibitors by company name, booth number, product categories, or medical specialty. They can tag the exhibitors they plan to visit and print a personalized plan before traveling to Chicago.

Be sure to visit Ophthalmology Times at Booth 128.

Practice management courses

Many practice management courses being offered are especially pertinent to physicians.

Some highlights include:

·      ICD-10-CM: Simplifying the Complex, Sunday, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

·      Keeping Your Practice Out of Legal Hot Water: An HR and Compliance Workshop, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

·      Useful Things to Do With Your New EHR, Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

·      Social Media Liability in Your Office, Sunday, 2 to 3 p.m.

Other highlights

Among the many other highlights planed for the meeting:

·      The 2015 Medicare update will take place on Sunday from 12:15 to 1:45 p.m.

·      The Affordable Care Act: Present and Future Prospects for Ophthalmology will be a platform for speakers to provide insight on how ophthalmologists should respond to the healthcare reform’s changes. The discussion will take place on Monday from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

·      Academy Resource Center. Review and purchase clinical references, patient education, and practice management/coding products. Experience demos of online resources, such as: ONE Network, Academy Online Community, Academy Store, EyeWiki, and Sate and Federal Affairs.

·      Technology Pavilion: This is the ‘hot spot’ to discuss the latest in hardware, software, social networking, and e-prescribing. Academy members and independent consultants offer user-friendly presentations in the Technology Pavilion (booth 165), which showcases the latest technology trends that can benefit medical practices.

Orbital Gala

The Foundation of the AAO will host the 2014 Orbital Gala on Sunday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. The evening will start with a cocktail reception and silent auction. This will be followed by a buffet dinner and dancing. The gala’s theme will be the Roaring ’20s, with costumed flappers and gangster, plus souvenir photos with a vintage Graham-Paige car.

B. Thomas Hutchinson, MD, is this year’s honoree. He is a past AAO president, founding chair of EyeCare American, and past chair of the Foundation Advisory Board.

The gala supports the AAO’s priority programs and projects, including educational, quality-of-care research, and service programs. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit www.faao.org.

Note that ticket sales end on Oct. 10 and will not be sold at the door.