What to expect at this year's AAO meeting

San Francisco is the city of new beginnings and a leader in education and culture-changing movements that ultimately affect the country and the world. This year’s theme, Inspire!, beautifully reflects the challenge to ophthal-mologists to continue to innovate envelope-pushing ideas and technologies with the goal of providing patients with the best vision possible.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) will hold its annual meeting, Oct. 12 to 15, in the City by the Bay.

“The theme for this year’s meeting, Inspire!, serves as an invitation to all members and participants to rediscover what inspires them, network with other industry experts, and continue educating each other on the newest research, technology, clinical developments, etc. moving eye care forward,” said Maria M. Aaron, MD, secretary for the AAO’s annual meeting.

In line with that theme, Inspire! also anticipates the launch of the AAO’s Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye, set to open in San Francisco in early 2020. The free-to-the-public museum will celebrate the history of ophthalmology, educate the public on the importance of eye health, and inspire the next generation of eye physicians and surgeons.

To search the program, go to www.aao.org/programsearch. 

What is new
The AAO has announced several new additions to its lineup this year. They include:

Complimentary Meetings on Demand products available.
To take advantage of all the annual meeting has to offer, “Meetings on Demand” is a collection of recorded programming and sessions. This makes it easy for participants to catch up on things they missed or refresh their knowledge after AAO 2019. Starting this year, members who are subscribed for any of the Subspecialty Day meetings will receive complimentary access to the All-Subspecialty Meetings on Demand package. For members who purchase the AAO 2019 Academy Plus course pass, the AAO 2019 Highlights Meetings on Demand package will be included for free.

For more information, visit www.aao.org/annual-meeting/aao-on-demand 

American Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses (ASORN) meeting integration
Starting this year, the ASORN annual meeting, which will run on Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday Oct. 12, is fully integrated with the AAO’s annual meeting. In an effort to support professional collaboration, ASORN meeting participants will now have access to AAO educational assets, including access to the symposia and spotlight sessions, papers, e-posters, and videos.

AAO goes digital.
For the first time in AAO history, all posters this year will be in digital form. Members will be able to participate in lively, interactive discussions on the latest e-posters being presented this year. 
Subspecialty Days

The Subspecialty Day program, beginning one day before the main meeting, covers Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12, and is comprised of seven Subspecialty Day meetings during the two-day period.

Ophthalmologists in each subspecialty will have a plethora of exceptional presentations from which to choose during the Subspecialty Day presentations. The programs for all subspecialties can be viewed online through Program Search at www.aao.org/annual-meeting/subspecialty-day.

Readers can click the red “Filter” button at the top of the page then choose the “Topics” menu to refine the search results by subspecialty.
Friday, October 11
Refractive Surgery Subspecialty Day 2019:
As Far as the Eye Can See
Retina Subspecialty Day 2019: I2-Inspire Innovation

Saturday, October 12
Cornea Subspecialty Day 2019: Keeping Disease at Bay

Glaucoma Subspecialty Day 2019: Crossing the Golden Gate to Exceptional Glaucoma Care

Neuro-Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day 2019: Diagnostic Errors and Challenges-Avoid the Traps!
Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Subspecialty Day 2019: A Decade to Remember 2010–2019
Pediatric Ophthalmology Subspecialty Day 2019: San Francisco Sound Meets Science Retina Subspecialty Day 2019: I2-Inspire Innovation

Opening Session
The opening session and annual business meeting is held from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13. A highline of this session is the Jackson Memorial Lecture that this year will be presented by Emily Chew, MD, director, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications and deputy clinical director, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health.

The lecture, titled “Age-related Macular Degeneration: Nutrition, Genes and Deep Learning” will focus on her clinical and research interests in diabetic eye disease and age-related eye diseases.

Marilyn Miller, MD, will receive the Laureate Award during the opening session for her special interest in international ophthalmology and her dedication to preventing blindness and visual impairment in underserved regions in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.

She is professor of ophthalmology, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois, Chicago.

Another highlight of the opening session is the 2019 Academy Awards that will recognize guests of honor and recipients of the Distinguished Service Award, Special Recognition Award, Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award, Outstanding Advocate Award, International Blindness Prevention Award, Straatsma Award for Excellence in Resident Education, Visionary Society Award.

Named Lectures
In additional to the keynote address during the opening session, numerous distinguished lectures will be delivered during various symposia throughout the annual meeting

“In addition to artificial intelligence and other leading technologies changing the field of ophthalmology to a look at how millennial physicians are disrupting the industry, this year’s meeting offers myriad timely and fascinating topics,” Dr. Aaron commented.

Sunday, October 13

10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Marshall M. Parks Lecture, “How Artificial Intelligence Will Affect the Future of ROP Care,”
Michael F. Chiang, MD.

12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Michael F. Marmor Lecture in Ophthalmology and the Arts, “Blind Organists and the King of Instruments,” Bruce Lamott, PhD.
Arnall Patz Lecture, “The Evolving Pathophysiology and Treatment of Retinopathy of Prematurity,” Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD, FACS

2 p.m.-4 p.m.
Castroviejo Lecture, “Acanthamoeba Keratitis: Getting the Treatment Right,” John K. G. Dart, MD
3:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
Ruedemann Lecture, “An I for an Eye Removal: Innovations in Enucleation,” Jeremiah Tao, MD
Whitney G. Sampson Lecture, “Expanding CXL From Keratoconus to Infectious Keratitis,” Farhad Hafezi, MD, PhD

Monday, October 14
8:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Charles D. Kelman Lecture, “Artificial Iris Implantation,” Kevin M. Miller, MD

8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
Parker Heath Lecture, “Precision Medicine, Health Economics and Practice Patterns,” Barbara McAneny, MD
Robert N. Shaffer Lecture, “The Future of Vision Restoration in Glaucoma,” Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD

10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Wendell L. Hughes Lecture, “Ocular Melanoma: Marching Forward with Imaging, Nanoparticles, and Immunorevolution,”
Carol L. Shields, MD

12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
C. Stephen and-Lecture on Uveitis and Immunology, “Ebola, Emerging Infectious Diseases, and the Eye: Patient and Public Health Implications,”
Steven Yeh, MD

3:15 p.m-4:15 p.m.
Dr. Allan Jensen & Claire Jensen Lecture in Professionalism and Ethics, “Ethical Aspects of Global Ophthalmic Practice,”
Anthony J. Aldave, MD

3:45 p.m.-5:15 p.m.
Barraquer Lecture, “Vector Planning Method: Residual Astigmatism Minimised – LASIK Surprises Avoided,”
Noel A. Alpins, MD, FACS


Tuesday, October 15

8:30 a.m.-10 a.m.
William F. Hoyt Lecture,
“CAR-Unexplained Visual Loss,”
John L. Keltner, MD

10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
Jones/Smolin Lecture, “New Bugs, New Technologies and New Drugs: Infectious Endophthalmitis in the 21st Century,” Harry W. Flynn Jr., MD
Zimmerman Lecture, “Wonder and Doubt-The Vasculogenic Mimicry Story,” Robert Folberg, MD

Symposia and Spotlights
The conference is planning to offer more than 50 symposia. The AAO highlights a small sampling of these sessions:

Saturday-Tuesday, October 12-15
Vascular Disease in Neuro-Ophthalmology
A Critical Evaluation of Top-Line Data-Cornea Ophthalmic Technology Assessments That Will Change Your Practice
In This Corner…The Retina Debates, 2019

The Spotlight sessions focus on hot topics in ophthalmology and target the comprehensive ophthalmologist. The following are of special interest:

Spotlight on Cataract: Complicated Phaco Cases-My Top 5 Pearls
Spotlight on New Technology in Ophthalmology
Spotlight on Physician Extenders

According to the AAO, other sessions include:

The Evolution and Effect of Genomic Medicine, Blockchain, and Robot-assisted Surgery on the Practice of Ophthalmology (SYM30), Chair: Kevin Thomas Flaherty, MD
The Impact of AI on Ophthalmology (SYM20)
Project Human Genome: Genetic Testing for Inherited Eye Diseases (LAB142)
The Millennial Movement: How Gender Equality, Big Data and Technology Will Be Embraced by the Young Ophthalmologist (SYM52)

AAO Executives Practice Management Program
This program gives ophthalmologists the opportunity to learn from the experts, converse with colleagues, and obtain takeaways that you can share and immediately put into clinical. The program includes over 80 instruction courses, seven master classes and two coding sessions, three Saturday specials, a general session, hot topics roundtables, and conversations with the experts.

Friday-Tuesday, October 11-15

Additional Learning Experiences
Stop the Bleed Session 1 of this innovative session will run from 1-10 to 11 a.m., session 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and session 3 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

This session is a new event outside-the-box experience for ophthalmologists to learn to save a life in 30 minutes or less. The AAO points out that ophthalmologists can easily learn to STOP THE BLEED and assist other bystanders while awaiting the arrival of professional emergency responders.

ttendees can participate in a hands-on training for tourniquet application, wound dressing, and packing to save a life in an emergency situation. The course is free and available on a first-come first-served basis.

Saturday, October 12

Wellness
While most ophthalmologists focus their energies on their patients, it is also important to remind them to take care of themselves.
The AAO is working to improve ophthalmologists’ well-being through multiple resources at the annual meeting.

One course that is a must is entitled “Extinguishing Burnout and Reigniting Joy in Medicine,” which is presented by Susan E. Connolly, MD.

Ophthalmologists also are advised to investigate a variety of activities at the Wellness Lounge, West, Booth 7561 and EyePlay Experience, South, Booth 2545. Both of these promote well-being and relaxation and include the use of therapy animals, art therapy, and complimentary seated massages.

Exhibit Hall
The Exhibit Hall is located in the North building, Exhibition Level; South building, Exhibition Level; and West building, Level 1.
Attendees can learn about the latest technologic innovations in the Learning Lounge, the Technology Pavilion, and the Product Theater.
Visit Ophthalmology Times at Booth 7511.

Saturday-Tuesday, October 12-15

Other Learning Opportunities
Ophthalmologists should not overlook the instruction courses, original paper presentations, posters, and the Scientific ePoster Theater that too numerous to mention and can be sampled throughout the conference.

Sunday-Tuesday, October 13-15

The Academy offers over 350 courses in topics from cataract to vision rehabilitation. This includes over 100 courses in practice management topics such as practice quality and coding & reimbursement.

All instruction courses and Skills Transfer didactic lectures are part of the Academy Plus course pass.
The Scientific ePoster Theater on the South Exhibition level, offers free 90-minute, small-group, peer-moderated discussions of selected posters in the Poster Theater. Each session will focus on a specific subject.

The Academy Café
This free venue encourages ophthalmologists to sip free coffee and listen to expert panels debate the issues.
Participation in the discussions is possible using a laptop or smartphone to send an email or text message with questions to the speakers. The following topics will be discussed uveitis, private equity, cataract, glaucoma, retina, oculoplastics, pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, and cornea/external disease.

Saturday-Tuesday, October 12-15
The Moscone Center complex consists of three main halls spread out across three blocks and 87 acres in the South of Market neighborhood.
There are a number of hotels and restaurants within walking distance of the center.