Nation's capitol hosts annual ASCRS/ASOA meeting

The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) and the American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators (ASOA) bring their joint meeting back east in 2005 to the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

The physicians' scientific program begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, and continues until Tuesday, April 19, when the final session is scheduled to end at 3:30 p.m.

Over the course of the meeting attendees can choose from a host of educational opportunities for learning about the latest innovations in surgical techniques, technology, and practice management issues. Between attending scientific paper sessions, computer labs, courses, and symposia, attendees should be sure to visit the technical exhibit hall and note the following special events in their meeting calendars.

Saturday, April 16 The ASCRS opening general session will start at 10 a.m. and continue until 11:30. It begins with addresses from outgoing president Priscilla P. Arnold, MD, and incoming president Roger F. Steinert, MD. Their speeches will be followed by the ASCRS Ophthalmology Hall of Fame awards honoring the 2005 inductees. The session concludes with the Binkhorst Lecture. Graham D. Barrett, FRACO, is the recipient of the 2005 Binkhorst Medal and will speak on "Improving safety and efficacy in phacoemulsification: A matter of balance."

Courses and scientific paper sessions will begin at 1 p.m. A "Hot Topics" symposium also starts at 1 p.m. That 90-minute program is sponsored by the ASCRS clinical committees and is designed to update attendees on important issues in practice management, cataract surgery, pediatric surgery, glaucoma management, infectious keratitis treatment, and Epi-LASIK.

Bidding in the 11th annual ASCRS Foundation Silent Auction also begins on Saturday and continues through Monday afternoon, April 18. This year's proceeds will help support the Foundation's pediatric eye clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Sunday, April 17 A 1-hour general session will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m., featuring talks by nationally renowned cancer specialists. Peter T. Scardino, MD, will speak on "Prostate cancer: Empty threat or dangerous disease." Kimberly J. Van Zee, MD, will be providing a "Breast Cancer Update 2005."