The Academy’s Regional Advisors Committee has spotlighted 25 events at AAO 2021 it recommends for international attendees. Leave a comment below about what you look forward to seeing in New Orleans.
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Saturday, Nov. 13
205 - Principles of Pediatric Ocular Trauma Management
This course will include presentations, with examples from real clinical cases, from clinicians with extensive experience in the management of pediatric trauma. They will present their experience through detailed clinical photos, imaging investigations and surgical videos to highlight important signs and steps in management. A Q&A session will be allocated for discussion. Senior Instructor: Kamiar Mireskandari, MBCHB, PHD
217 - Conquering Capsule Complications: My Best Teaching Videos
Video cases will illustrate a spectrum of techniques for anterior and posterior capsule complications and zonulopathy: capsular dye, torn continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC), secondary CCC enlargement, Little tear-out rescue technique, CCC-optic capture, reverse optic capture, posterior CCC, early recognition of posterior chamber rupture, conversion from topical/clear corneal incision to manual ECCE, posterior polar cataracts, capsular tension rings and capsule retractors for zonulopathy, small pupil/intraoperative floppy iris syndrome strategies (hooks and pupil expansion rings, mydriatics), pars plana bimanual anterior vitrectomy (±triamcinolone), viscoelastic posterior-assisted levitation (PAL) plus viscoelastic trap for descending nuclei, and IOL fixation with torn anterior or posterior capsule or zonular dialysis. Senior Instructor: David F. Chang, MD
219 - OCT-A in Retinal Diseases
Optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCT-A) is a novel imaging modality that uses intrinsic flow contrast and does not require any dye injection, making it a less invasive alternative to fluorescein angiography (FA). OCT-A is 3-dimensional and can be visualized as cross-sectional and en face views of separate retinal and choroidal circulations. Capillary dropout can be clearly visualized in up to four retinal plexuses and the choriocapillaris. Retinal and choroidal neovascularization appear as abnormal vascular patterns in normally avascular layers. The ability to visualize ischemia and neovascularization is useful in many retinal vascular diseases. The didactic portion teaches OCT-A technology, basic interpretation and retinal applications. Common retinal diseases are discussed in a clinical case conference. Senior Instructor: David Huang, MD, PhD
228 - Personal Financial Management for Ophthalmologists in a Post-COVID World
This program outlines how personal financial management strategies—including overall financial wellness, tax planning, cash flow, retirement planning, and investing as well as “exiting” the right way—are key to the physician's practice and personal well-being. As a successful professional, you are working to protect and grow your wealth, enjoy financial security and build a lasting legacy. Effective financial wellness is the goal, and successful wealth management should be applied as an integrated and strategic discipline. Each person's situation is unique, and no one solution will suffice for all. Senior Instructor: James D. Hiles
LAB111A - Trabeculectomy Techniques
This course will provide a comprehensive review of the techniques and complications of glaucoma filtration surgery, with a heavy emphasis on surgical video presentations. The experienced presenters will demonstrate basic and advanced glaucoma surgical techniques used in filtration surgery, such as Ex-Press shunts, needling revision, compression sutures, fornix and limbal closure and topical anesthesia. Each video will be concluded with a panel discussion, including questions from the audience. Course Director: Emily P. Jones, MD
265 - Effective Peer Review: A Responsibility to Maintain Scientific Integrity
The integrity of the scientific literature relies on the peer-review process. While many ophthalmologists are active readers of the literature and serve as reviewers, most lack formal education in this process. This course will focus on critical evaluation of the literature. Attendees will become more effective readers of scientific papers through didactics and panel discussion on the responsibilities of the peer-review process, a stepwise approach to peer review, and the subsequent editorial decisions that lead to publication. Didactics and panel discussion led by course faculty, who are clinicians and editors for peer-reviewed ophthalmology journals, will teach attendees how the peer review process should be utilized during reading as well. Senior Instructor: Aaron M. Savar, MD
Sunday, Nov. 14
210 - Novel Techniques and Devices in Macular Surgery
This course will present and discuss the most modern and relevant surgical approaches in the treatment of macular diseases. Practical surgical tips and tricks will be presented. Specific topics will include chromovitrectomy, techniques for epiretinal membranes; techniques for macular hole treatment, including inverted internal limiting membrane peeling, autologous retina transplant, perifoveal relaxation/release and amniotic membrane; surgery for lamellar macular holes; techniques for myopic maculopathy; and heads-up 3-D surgery (Ngenuity, Zeiss, Beyeonics). Senior Instructor: Eduardo B. Rodrigues, MD
400 - Cliffhanger: Vitrectomy by the Anterior Segment Surgeon for the Broken Posterior Capsule, the Sinking Nucleus and the Dangling IOL
Management of the dangling IOL and fixation of a posterior chamber IOL in eyes without capsule support using the glued IOL technique will be taught in this course. The management of these various challenges will be explained through videos. Senior Instructor: Amar Agarwal, MD
SYM20 - Current Pharmacologic and Surgical Treatment of the Macular Edemas
Taken together, macular edema in its many varieties can be considered the leading cause of vision loss in the developed world, and it is thus of enormous medical and socioeconomic importance. Management of the macular edemas has changed dramatically over the past decade due to (1) the application of new imaging technologies to understanding pathophysiology and (2) the development of new pharmacotherapeutic and surgical treatments. This symposium will review the basic pathophysiologic mechanisms that cause macular fluid accumulation in the setting of various pathologic ocular and systemic conditions. Using illustrative clinical cases, speakers will highlight the role of careful clinical evaluation and prudent use of imaging technologies to identify the mechanism(s) causing macular edema in each patient. They will emphasize a tailored approach to treatment that strategically employs appropriate pharmacologic, laser and/or surgical therapies and improves visual outcomes while avoiding the cost and risk of unnecessary treatments. Chairs: Mark W. Johnson, MD, and Glenn J. Jaffe, MD
431 - Mystery Retina 2021: Interactive Discussion of Challenging Cases
Instructors will present 12 to 15 diagnostically challenging cases. The presentations will include interpretation of color photographs, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), OCT angiography and fluorescein angiography. When indicated, indocyanine green angiography, fundus autofluorescence, enhanced depth imaging OCT, swept-source OCT, infrared images, wide-angle imaging, echography, electrophysiologic studies, microperimetry, CT, MRI, results of genetic studies and cytology and/or histopathology will also be shown. All cases will be presented as unknowns, and audience participation will be encouraged. At the conclusion of the course, the attendees will receive a handout summarizing the cases, complete with pertinent references and several images. Senior Instructor: William F. Mieler, MD
452 - How to Recognize and Treat Infectious Uveitis
This course will focus on how to recognize infectious uveitis, especially those entities that require immediate diagnosis and treatment to avoid vision loss. Because pattern recognition is vital in the initial diagnosis of infectious uveitis, each instructor will present illustrative cases to include the history, signs and symptoms of each entity. Senior Instructor: Emilio M. Dodds, MD
466 - Retinal and Choroidal Manifestations of Selected Systemic Diseases 2021
This course will discuss the current state of retinal and choroidal manifestations of selected systemic diseases, including uveitis in selected rheumatologic diseases, changes in pregnancy, vascular tumors, syphilis, Susac syndrome, retinal vein occlusion in systemic diseases and Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome. Experts from the United States, Asia and South America will discuss the impact that systemic diseases have had in the posterior pole of the eye worldwide. Topics are rotated every year to cover a wider variety of diseases. Senior Instructor: J. Fernando Arevalo, MD, PHD, FACS
467 - Management of Orbital Tumors: Case Presentation and Discussion
Cosponsored by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
This course will focus on the multidisciplinary management of orbital tumors through representative cases from the instructors' orbital practices. Through clinical pictures of illustrative cases and the collective experience of the instructors, the course will cover initial presentation, imaging characteristics of orbital lesions, surgical approach and the role of ancillary treatment options such as radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy. The target audience is the oculoplastic and orbital surgeon. Senior Instructor: Bita Esmaeli, MD, FACS
468 - Ocular Surface Masqueraders: What Not to Miss and How Not to Miss It
Ocular surface lesions are commonly encountered on routine ophthalmic examination. They range from common, easily identifiable entities such as pterygium to those that are often missed, with potentially devastating consequences, like melanoma. This case-based course will discuss how to distinguish ocular surface masqueraders from the more commonly encountered ocular surface lesions. Senior Instructor: Carol L. Karp, MD
Monday, Nov. 15
602 - New Approaches to the Prevention and Treatment of Myopia: Update 2021
High myopia is a major cause of visual impairment. In the last 60 years, there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of high myopia in developed countries in East and Southeast Asia, and there are signs of similar but less dramatic increases in North America and Europe. In some parts of the world, 70 to 90 percent of children completing high school are myopic, and as many as 20 percent may be highly myopic. Experimental studies have examined the biochemical mechanisms involved in the regulation of axial elongation. From these studies, options have emerged for preventing the development of myopia or slowing myopic progression. Updates on these different approaches will be presented. Senior Instructor: Andrzej Grzybowski, MD
SYM34 - Self-Reflection at Any Stage of Your Career: Things I Would Tell My Younger Self
Reflection comes at any age, regardless of where you are in your career. In this symposium, senior ophthalmologists and young ophthalmologists will discuss a variety of challenges and opportunities faced in medicine, such as obtaining work-life balance, ensuring wellness, making efforts to break through the glass ceiling, diversifying the leadership ranks, and developing successful relationships with mentors and, most importantly, with yourself to ensure wellness in life, health, and practice. Senior Instructor: Samuel Masket, MD, and Janice C. Law, MD
613 - Research and Revenue: Clinical Research in a Small Practice
This session will review the requirements and considerations to cover when a small practice is interested in starting research at their site(s). This session will cover the basics of clinical trial research, important site needs and considerations, and recommendations on flow and efficiency. Senior Instructor: Heather Modjesky, COE
620 - How to Evaluate a Patient With Uveitis
This course will focus on the step-by-step evaluation of patients with uveitis by using case presentations to illustrate specific uveitis entities. Each course instructor will present interesting cases as unknowns for discussion by the panel of instructors. The rationale for ordering laboratory evaluations/ancillary tests and for the treatment plan will be explained in detail. Senior Instructor: Careen Yen Lowder, MD, PhD
SYM35 - Dry AMD: Are We on the Verge of a Treatment?
Cosponsored by The Retina Society
Dry AMD is a progressive, debilitating disease that affects millions of people. Today, research efforts have never been greater, and several approaches may be on the verge of coming to fruition. Complement inhibition shows great promise, with two major programs in Phase 3 trials and several others in earlier phase trials. Numerous delivery methods, including intravitreal, transvitreal subretinal and suprachoroidal subretinal are being evaluated. Other mechanisms of action, such as use of neuroprotectants, mitochondrial protectors and inhibition of beta-amyloid toxic effects, are in earlier study. This symposium will review these approaches, with emphasis on potential benefits and risks, and the timeline for such interventions to reach the clinic. Chairs: Jeffrey S. Heier, MD, and David N. Zacks, MD, PhD
637 - Vitreoretinal Surgical Rounds: What Would Machemer Do?
This interactive panel discussion will present a debate on a selection of different surgical approaches to a wide spectrum of challenging vitreoretinal surgical pathologies and discuss management of complications during surgery as well as in the postoperative period. Challenging cases will be presented and discussed using drawings, intraoperative photos and videos—simulating the Saturday morning Duke Vitreoretinal Surgical Rounds established by Robert Machemer. Senior Instructor: Dilraj Singh Grewal, MD
640 - Corneal Crosslinking: Current Indications, Applications, Outcomes and Complications Management: The U.S. FDA-Approved Technique and Evolving Technology and Techniques Used Globally
This course presents a didactic approach to the management of progressive cornea ectasia associated with keratoconus and refractive surgery. Several corneal crosslinking (CXL) treatment modalities will be presented. These include not only the one technique approved by the US FDA but also alternative techniques practiced internationally (epi-on, higher fluence-accelerated, and even refractive CXL) in order to halt ectasia, combined in some cases with a customized excimer laser ablation, intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) and/or phakic IOL to facilitate visual rehabilitation. Senior Instructor: A. John Kanellopoulos, MD
648 - Retinal Frontiers: Updates in Retinal Gene Therapy
In this course, we will discuss new treatments for inherited retinal dystrophies, focusing on updates in the fields of retinal gene therapy. A panel of international experts in these fields will provide an introductory lecture, followed by an open panel discussion. Senior Instructor: Christine Nichols Kay, MD
LL27 - Building Global Ophthalmology Into Your Career
Visit the Learning Lounge to participate in informal, small group facilitated discussions led by experts in the field. New topics begin every 30 minutes. Float among the discussions and interact with colleagues. Senior Instructor: Simon Fung, MD, MA, FRCOphth
SYM40 - Essentials for the Cataract Surgeon in 2021
The symposium will feature a series of expert speakers to discuss the newest technology and the latest techniques affecting cataract surgery around the world. Talks will be followed by an interactive panel discussion. Chair: Edward J. Holland, MD
On Demand Only
826V - Diagnosis and Treatment of PCV
Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a condition characterized by multiple recurrent serosanguineous pigment epithelial detachments and neurosensory retinal detachments due to abnormal aneurysmal neovascular lesions. PCV is particularly prevalent in Asians and occurs in up to 40 percent of cases presenting as neovascular AMD, but it is also not infrequently seen in white populations, in up to 20 percent of cases when diagnosed with indocyanine green angiography. PCV may pose a diagnostic challenge to ophthalmologists. This instruction course aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and treatment of PCV through review of the currently available literature, illustrative case examples and interactive panel discussion. Senior Instructor: Timothy Y. Lai MD, FRCOphth, FRCS