What you missed at Glaucoma 360 this year

Glaucoma Research Foundation’s annual Glaucoma 360 unites clinical, industry, funding, and FDA leaders to discuss innovative research and advances in glaucoma treatment.  The event spans 3 days with the Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala, New Horizons Forum, Glaucoma Symposium CME, and Optometric Glaucoma Symposium.

Photo by Trish Tunney

Preceding the Glaucoma 360 Annual Gala is an always much anticipated “silent auction,” though the hall is far from silent as industry and clinical leaders mingle at this Glaucoma-specific meeting in San Francisco. 

Photo by Trish Tunney

Attendees bid on dozens of gift, travel, and other exotic packages displayed.

Popular gifts included:

• 7 nights at The Verandah Resort and Spa, Antigua

• Signed San Francisco 49ers Football

• Signed David West Golden State Warriors Jersey

• A culinary adventure in Sonoma, CA

• Pier 39 Family Fun Pack in San Francisco

• Geneology Certificate: 2 hours of professional family history research

Photo by Trish Tunney

Professional classical musicians serenade the attendees as they enjoy the reception.

Photo by Trish Tunney

Numerous paintings draw the attendees’ focus as they walk from the reception to the Gala hall.

Photo by Trish Tunney

During the live auction, Liam Mayclem ramps up the audience and explains each of the prizes, including home plate tickets to a San Francisco Giants game, a journey to Japan for 2, and a San Diego getaway for 2.

Photo by Trish Tunney

Many auction items have fierce competition, with all the proceeds benefiting the Glaucoma Research Foundation’s education, research, and support programs. To date, the Gala has raised over $5 million.

Photo by Trish Tunney

Eugene de Juan, Jr., MD, was awarded the Catalyst Award, the Glaucoma Research Foundation's highest honor.

“Dr. de Juan is an extraordinary physician and teacher, as well as a successful entrepreneur,” said Thomas M. Brunner, president and chief executive officer of the Glaucoma Research Foundation. “He has dedicated his career to the development of new and innovative technologies to preserve vision. GRF is thrilled to have this opportunity to recognize Gene for his many contributions to medicine and improving the lives of patients with blinding eye diseases.”

Full article: Dr. de Juan receives Catalyst Award

Photo by Trish Tunney

Attendees enjoy a multiple course meal while dining with leading ophthalmologists, scientists, and industry members.

Photo by Trish Tunney

For his research efforts to better understand the molecular pathways that are responsible for axonal degeneration in glaucoma, Richard Libby, PhD, was awarded the 2017 Shaffer Prize for Research during Thursday night’s Glaucoma 360 annual Gala. 

Full article: Rochester University researcher awarded 2017 Shaffer Prize

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Ophthalmology Times is the official media sponsor of Glaucoma 360. To receive live updates from the meeting, readers can follow on social media (Twitter and Facebook) and by subscribing to our enewsletter. 

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Andrew Iwach, MD, (above) and Adrienne Graves, PhD, are the Glaucoma 360 co-chairs.

Photo by Trish Tunney

GRF presented its Visionary Award to Janette Márquez, a talented and accomplished opera singer who is blind from congenital glaucoma.

She performed at the Gala and received a standing ovation. 

Full article: Opera singer Márquez gets Visionary Award

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Delivering the Drs. Henry and Frederick Sutro Memorial Lecture at the 6th Annual Glaucoma 360 New Horizons Forum, Joel Schuman, MD, recounted his role in the development of OCT and outlined some of its major findings.

Full article: How OCT innovations are changing glaucoma care

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The New Horizons Forum features several panel discussions around topics including New Horizons in Telemedicine, Industry Spotlights, FDA insights, New Horizons in Pharmaceuticals, New Horizons in Glaucoma Drug Delivery, and Biomarkers and Drug Discovery.

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The Glaucoma 360 Symposium in 2018 will feature Alan Crandall, MD, as the Shaffer-Hetherington-Hoskins Lecture Keynote Speaker.

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Glaucoma 360 Co-chair Andrew Iwach, MD, gave his presentation “Glaucoma: Managing the Odds,” during the Glaucoma Symposium at the 2017 Glaucoma 360 meeting.

Full article: New world order of glaucoma presenting strong challenges

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Research into biomarkers for glaucoma is starting to raise hope for new therapies, according to Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD, who is also a member of the Glaucoma Research Foundation’s Catalyst for a Cure Biomarkers Team. This is a 4-person group of scientists who work together to understand glaucoma and find ways to improve treatment and ultimately cure the disease.

Full article: New measure of cell metabolism may speed progress of therapies

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Richard Lewis, MD, of Sacramento Eye Consultants, spoke about advances in dry eye disease, citing lifitegrast (Xiidra, Shire), which gained FDA approval in July 2016, and an experimental new nasal nerve stimulator (TrueTear, Allergan), whose new drug application is now under FDA consideration.

Full article: Dry eye gains importance in glaucoma care

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Karim Damji, MD, MBA, professor and chairman of ophthalmology, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, spoke about the university’s experience in using tele-ophthalmology for glaucoma.

Full article: Teleglaucoma redefining role in future of blindness prevention

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John Berdahl, MD, presented during the New Horizons in Glaucoma Devices about glaucoma research pointing to how glaucoma may be more than simply a matter of increased IOP.

Full article: Glaucoma may not be the disease you think it is

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While most of the presentations at Glaucoma 360 revolve around treating and preventing the progression of glaucoma, Robert L. Stamper, MD, presented about how the role of ophthalmologists continues even in cases of patients losing their useful vision.

Full article: End-stage glaucoma requires outside-of-the-box management

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Gary Novack, PhD, moderated a session, “FDA: Getting to New Horizons.” The meeting covers all areas of glaucoma research and treatment, from funding, partnering with companies, and top research updates.

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The exhibit hall is a busy place during breaks where attendees can get breakfast, lunch, snacks, and check out the exhibiting companies.

Photo by Trish Tunney

The next Glaucoma 360 will be held February 8-10, 2018 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Ike Ahmed, MD, will be the opening Keynote Speaker. For additional information, visit http://www.glaucoma.org/news/events/glaucoma-360.php.