AAO.org
ATLANTA, Nov 11, 2008 --
Strong turnout and a robust scientific program marked the largest
and most comprehensive ophthalmic educational meeting in the world, the
American Academy of Ophthalmology's (Academy)
2008 Joint Meeting in conjunction with the European Society of
Ophthalmology (SOE), held in Atlanta November 8 to November 11.
Preliminary figures for attendance at the meeting were approximately
22,000. Among the offerings featured at the meeting were 277 instruction
courses, 79 "Breakfast with the Expert"
roundtables, 95 skills transfer courses and more than 100 hours of free
scientific sessions. Preliminary figures for attendance at the
Subspecialty Day events November 7 and 8 were also strong, totaling more
than 6,200.
"This meeting was a huge success by all
measures. It was a great opportunity for members to meet with colleagues
and to learn about the latest advances in ophthalmic care and research,"
said H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, executive vice president of the Academy.
The keynote address for the meeting was delivered by Harvey V. Fineberg,
MD, PhD, president of the Institute of Medicine. In his address, Seeing
the Future of Health Care, Dr. Fineberg laid out the paradox that is
health care in America today. "It's
the most expensive system in the world, but it fails to live up to
expectations," he said. At the same time,
America is facing a demographic transition that will significantly
increase the demand for care, particularly ophthalmic care. "Ophthalmology
is in the crosshairs of this demographic transition and the demand for
services and cost of health care in the United States,"
Dr. Fineberg said. "We are facing challenging
times, but ophthalmology has an opportunity not only to play a part in
the solution but to be an exemplar." The key,
he said, is to "relentlessly focus on
increasing the value of what we do for patients--a
combination of improving performance and outcomes and decreasing costs.
Getting more for every dollar spent." To
listen to Dr. Fineberg's address, please
click here.
"Dr. Fineberg's
remarks underscore the challenge that the Academy and its members face
in the coming years with the projected explosion in age-related eye
diseases," said Dr. Hoskins. "That's
why the Academy has undertaken an effort that we call Eye on Efficiency,
to help practices meet those demands in the future."
The opening session on November 9 also included the presentation of the
2008 Laureate Recognition Award, the Academy's
highest honor, to Alan C. Bird, MD., one of the world's
experts on the treatment of retinal vascular disease and genetic and
degenerative retinal disorders.
Scientific Program Highlights and Press Briefings
Scientific Program Highlights: The scientific sessions provided a
chance to hear directly from ophthalmic researchers on a wide range of
leading-edge investigations. Presentations of particular note included:
Plasma Interleukin 6 as a Potential Biomarker of Age-related Macular
Degeneration (AMD). Janice C. Law, MD, and her colleagues at the
Vanderbilt Eye Institute, identified Interleukin 6 (IL-6) as a
good candidate for further study as a potential biomarker for AMD. To
read more about this study, please
click here.
Corneal Collagen Crosslinking: Treatment Results in Keratoconus
Patient. Co-investigators Mohan Rajan, MD, and Sujatha Mohan, MD, of
the Rajan Eye Care Hospital, India, found that the corneal collagen
crosslinking technique used to treat 60 eyes of patients with
keratoconus resulted in positive corneal changes and improved
vision and contact lens tolerance. To read more about this study, please
click here.
Damage to Optic Nerve in Glaucoma Patients May Indicate Significant
Carotid Artery Narrowing. Mostafa Elgohary, MD, of Essex County and
Broomfield Hospitals, United Kingdom and his colleagues found an
association between internal carotid artery narrowing and the
development of glaucoma or glaucoma-like damage to the optic nerve in a
significant percentage of patients in their study. To read more about
this study, please
click here.
Could Religious Beliefs Affect Compliance with Ocular Treatment?
Researchers led by Nishant Kumar, MBBS, of the University Hospital,
Liverpool, United Kingdom, conducted this first study of patient
compliance with self-administered eye drop treatments in relation to
fasting by surveying people who practice the world's
major faiths. To read more about this study, please
click here.
Contamination of Contact Lens Storage Cases of Refractive Surgery
Candidates. Assaf Kratz, MD, and Tova Lifshitz, MD, of Soroka
University Medical Center in Israel and their colleagues found
significant levels of pathogens that can cause keratitis in contact lens
storage cases of candidates for refractive surgery. To read more about
this study, please
click here.
Refractive Surgical Practices in Persons with Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV) Positivity. Ahmad A. Aref, MD, Pennsylvania State
Hershey Eye Center, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine,
and his colleagues investigated current care practices and opinions among
refractive surgeons regarding LASIK, intraocular lenses after cataract
removal, and similar procedures in people who are HIV-positive or have
AIDS. To read more about this study, please
click here.
Anti-VEGF for Severe Retinopathy of Prematurity. Alay S. Banker,
MD, and his colleagues, Banker's Retina
Clinic and Laser Centre, Gujarat, India, evaluated antivascular
endothelial growth factor (Anti-VEGF) therapy in 21 babies who had or
were at high risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and found rapid,
effective treatment provided results that avoided the complications and
risks of other ROP treatments and was safer to provide to medically
fragile babies. To read more about this study, please
click here.
Media Briefings: Three briefings for the media provided overviews
of advances in eye-related research, patient care, and health policy in
2008. Audio of the briefings, along with the presenters'
slides, are available in the Academy
Newsroom. The topics covered were:
Advances in Pediatric Ophthalmology, with panelists Michael
X. Repka, MD. R. Michael Siatkowski, MD, and Jonathan M. Holmes,
MD.
Advances in Glaucoma Care and Research, with panelists
Andrew G. Iwach, MD, and Ruth D. Williams, MD.
Health Care Reform in the New Administration, presented by
William Rich, MD, the Medical Director of Health Policy for the Academy.
2008 Year in Review: Updates on Key Issues in the News (LASIK,
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments, and Contact Lens Care), with
panelists Richard L. Abbott, MD, George A. Williams, MD, and Thomas L.
Steinemann, MD.
About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association
of eye physicians and surgeons--Eye M.D.s--with
more than 27,000 members worldwide. Eye health care is provided by the
three "O's"
-- opticians, optometrists and
ophthalmologists. It is the ophthalmologist, or Eye M.D., who can treat
it all: eye diseases and injuries, and perform eye surgery. To find an
Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at www.aao.org.
SOURCE: American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Christina Curas, 415-561-8534 (Media Relations)
[email protected]