ASCRS and ASOA converge in San Diego for annual meeting

Take-home message: This month’s simultaneous meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators will convene in San Diego from April 17 to 21.

By Beth Thomas Hertz

San Diego-From the World Cornea Congress VII to “Glaucoma for the Cataract Surgeon,” ophthalmologists will want to arrive early for this year’s meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

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From Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17, the World Cornea Congress VII will highlight the progress that has been made in both the clinical and research work of the international corneal community. The Cornea Society sponsors this 3-day event that is held about every 5 years.

In addition, ASCRS Glaucoma Day 2015 will be held on Friday and will feature updates and interactive case studies focusing on what comprehensive ophthalmologists and anterior segment surgeons need to know about glaucoma management.

And that’s all before the 2015 meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS)-the only U.S. meeting dedicated exclusively to the needs of the anterior segment specialist, according to organizers-officially will begin in this Southern California city from April 17 to 21.

Here are some other highlights of what is planned this year:

Friday, April 17

• ASCRS/ASOA Government Relations Session, 5 to 6 p.m.

The Keynote Speaker will be Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Republican Majority Leader.

Next: Saturday, April 18

• Resident & Fellow Program – 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Registration is complimentary for this half-day of meeting and networking events designed to give residents and fellows the tools they need to enter practice.

• ASCRS Opening General Session ‒ 10 a.m. to noon

This session will feature the Presidents’ Addresses by outgoing president Richard A. Lewis, MD, and incoming president Robert J. Cionni, MD. Honored guests at the event will be Philippe Sourdille, MD, and Marcelo Ventura, MD. Richard L. Lindstrom, MD, will give an ASCRS Foundation Update. The ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame Ceremony will be led by Edward J. Holland, MD, honoring the late Frederick C. Blodi, MD, and Gunter K. von Noorden, MD.

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Finally, the Binkhorst Lecture will be given by Donald T.H. Tan, FRCS. His topic will be “Lamellar surgery in Corneal Transplantation: Revolution and Evolution.”

Sunday, April 19

• The Sunday Summit ‒ 10 a.m. to noon

The Science and Medicine Lecture will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. “The Future of Health and Medicine: Where Can Technology Take Us?” will be delivered by Daniel Kraft, MD. After that, “60 Minutes: Controversies in Anterior Segment Surgery” will follow, from 11 a.m. to noon.

Next: Monday, April 20

• Innovators Session ‒ 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This session will feature the 2015 Charles D. Kelman Innovator’s Lecture, which honors the work of individuals whose creativity has benefited ophthalmologists and their patients. Charles D. Kelman, MD (1930-2004) presented the first lecture in 1985. In recognition of his ongoing contributions to anterior segment surgery, the lecture was renamed for him in 2003. This year, the lecture will be given by Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD, on the topic “Novel Treatment Dimensions for Corneal Endothelial Dysfunction.”

• ASCRS 33rd Scientific Film Festival Awards

A reception will be held from 4:30 to 5 p.m., with the ceremony running from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 21

• Hot Off the Press: Highlights of the 2015 Symposium

3 to 4:30 p.m.

• 33rd ASCRS Scientific Film Festival: Final Screening

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Continuous exhibits

• ASCRS/ASOA Exhibit Hall

Saturday to Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit Ophthalmology Times at Booth 2262.

• ASCRS Hall of Fame Exhibit

Saturday to Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Ophthalmic Photographers’ Society Exhibit

Saturday to Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

First-, second-, third- and honorable mention-winning photographs in 18 categories will be shown. The overall “Best in Show” also will be displayed.

Next: Run for Sight

The Run for Sight 5K run and 1-mile walk are annual ASCRS traditions. This year’s event will be held on Sunday at 6:30 a.m. It will start and finish in San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park South directly behind the convention center. Bus transportation to and from the race site will be provided, and all participants will receive a race t-shirt with their registration.

Last year, the ASCRS Foundation/TearLab Run for Sight in Boston raised more than $12,800, with more than 260 runners and walkers participating. The money raised benefits needy patients through the foundation’s humanitarian programs in the United States and Ethiopia.

To learn more about the ASCRS annual meeting, go to www.ascrs.org.