The Academy’s Regional Advisors Committee has spotlighted 25 events at AAO 2023 that it recommends for international attendees. We are looking forward to seeing you in San Francisco!
To be able to see the link details for the recommendations below, you must first open the Mobile Meeting Guide. You can also search via the course or lecture number preceding the name.
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Saturday, Nov. 4
206 - 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 extracapsular cataract extraction, 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
213 - Open Globe Trauma: Surgical Management for the On-Call Ophthalmologist
Cosponsored by the American Society of Ophthalmic Trauma
Open-globe trauma is commonly treated by the on-call comprehensive ophthalmologist. This course is designed to assist both the novice and the experienced surgeon in assessing and repairing injuries in patients with open globe trauma. Different surgical approaches to open globe injuries as determined by anatomic location will be taught. Pre- and postoperative management will be discussed, followed by lectures on approaches to corneal and scleral wounds, injuries to the iris, extraocular muscle management, lens complications and the vitreous and special considerations in pediatric patients. Senior Instructor: Grant A. Justin, MD
217 - Down the Rabbit Hole: What to Do When Your Patient Is 20/20 but Can't See Well
Cortical visual phenomena present in complex ways and are often difficult for the general ophthalmologist to recognize and diagnose. However, diseases such as strokes, seizures, dementia and neurologic infections result in significant morbidity and mortality, and thus it is vital to identify and manage them appropriately. This course will introduce varied aspects of cortical visual pathology, such as alexia without agraphia and hallucinations, in an efficient, easy-to-understand and entertaining manner to the general ophthalmology audience. Through a series of interactive case presentations, a panel of experts will provide tools to recognize such symptoms and signs in patients. Important pearls for examination and management will be shared, including how to distinguish harmful from benign conditions. Senior Instructor: Kimberly M. Winges, MD
LAB106 - Adjustable Sutures for Strabismus Surgery
Complex strabismus cases may merit the use of adjustable sutures, especially when postoperative outcomes are difficult to predict. The purpose of this Skills Transfer course is to provide exposure to two different adjustable suture techniques. In the didactic portion of this course, we will review the indications, possible complications and essential tools of adjustable sutures, as well as adjustable suture techniques. The course includes a hands-on lab for learning and practicing the adjustable suture techniques utilizing eye models. The target audience is members-in-training, young ophthalmologists and ophthalmologists seeking exposure to adjustable suture strabismus surgery. Course Director: S. Grace Prakalapakorn, MD, MPH
215 - AI in the Retina Clinic: A State-of-the-Art on Novel Grounds
Imaging and artificial intelligence (AI)-based image analysis are advancing rapidly, introducing a paradigm shift in the management of retinal disease. Since diagnostic and therapeutic innovation go hand in hand, the impact on care of AMD and diabetic retinopathy is enormous. Automated monitoring of retinal fluid offers objective guidance based on quantitative parameters at home or at the clinic. Complement inhibition in geographic atrophy requires identification of disease activity as well as therapeutic efficacy for lifelong therapy. In diabetic disease, screening and evaluation of the vascular condition is key for adequate disease control. Senior Instructor: Ursula M. Schmidt-Erfurth, MD
218 - Ergonomics in the Clinic and OR
Pain and disability affect many ophthalmologists, but correct positioning of the provider, patient and equipment can prevent these problems. Looking first at the clinical setting, the slit lamp examination and the indirect exam will be discussed in this course. In the operating room, the bed and chairs, as well as patient and provider, will be demonstrated. Exercises to prevent and relieve problems will be demonstrated. Lastly, we will look at what is on the horizon for innovative approaches to these chronic problems. Senior Instructor: Susan M. Ksiazek, MD
230 - Advanced Corneal Topographic Analysis
Cosponsored by the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)
This course will discuss the role of basic and advanced topographic analysis in the patient evaluation process for the comprehensive clinician, cataract surgeon and refractive surgeon, focusing on understanding and recognizing normal and abnormal topographic patterns generated by multiple technologies, including standard Placido imaging, Scheimpflug and dual Scheimpflug imaging, wavefront imaging and optical coherence tomography. Senior Instructor: J. Bradley Randleman, MD
233 - Global Endophthalmitis Management: Myths and Realities
This course will outline a stepwise approach to manage postoperative, post–intravitreal injection and fungal endophthalmitis from a global perspective. Limitations of the Endophthalmitis Vitrectomy Study (EVS), controversies and an evidence-based update including new diagnostic modalities and drugs will be discussed. The rationale for early vitrectomy, use of the endoscope and temporary keratoprosthesis will be demonstrated with interesting videos. Specific topics will include compounding pharmacy issues, issues of drug resistance, the role of intravitreal steroid, fungal endophthalmitis, prophylaxis and global retina practice trends. Audience participation will be encouraged, and a comprehensive handout will be provided. Senior Instructor: Abdhish R. Bhavsar, MD
240 - Intrascleral Fixation of IOLs and More: Soup to Nuts
This course will provide a systematic approach to achieving intrascleral fixation of IOLs, subluxed in-the-bag IOLs and prosthetic iris. Basic steps will be outlined and demonstrated with video footage. Case examples of common intraoperative mistakes will be shown, as will strategies to identify their causes and rectify them. Senior Instructor: Surendra Basti, MBBS
241 - Perfecting Surgical and Refractive Outcomes in a Wide Spectrum of New-Generation Toric IOLs
This video-assisted course will discuss practical tips to ensure precise refractive outcomes with new-generation toric IOLs, including multifocal toric and extended depth of focus toric IOLs. Posterior corneal curvature, newer generation IOL power formulae and selecting the right premium toric IOL based on patient profile will be emphasized. Methods of toric IOL alignment will be discussed, with emphasis on image-guided surgeries and intraoperative aberrometry. Challenging cases such as small pupil, extended rhexis, bag dialysis and posterior capsular rupture will be demonstrated, with a case-based discussion of when not to implant toric IOLs. Refractive surgical procedures for post-phacoemulsification enhancement, including corneal ablative and lens-based procedures, will be discussed. The course will highlight an assessment of toric IOL misalignment, with case scenarios of decision-making and management. Senior Instructor: Jeewan S. Titiyal, MD
244 - The Advanced Medical and Surgical Management of Ocular Surface Disorders
This course will introduce the general principle for the ocular surface and discuss the clinically relevant medical and advanced surgical management of ocular surface disorders. The indications for and selection of surgical management and postoperative care for ocular surface reconstruction, including conventional limbal transplantation, single limbal epithelial transplantation, mucous membrane grafting and amniotic membrane transplantation, will all be discussed. Current cellular therapy, including cultivated corneal and oral mucosal epithelial sheet transplantation, will also be presented in detail. Senior Instructor: Shigeru Kinoshita, MD
*LAB121 - Basic Oculoplastic Surgery
This course is designed to refresh the ophthalmologist's basic oculoplastics skills in a laboratory setting (using cadaver head specimens), while simultaneously reviewing the fundamentals of ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. The basic principles involved in choosing suture materials and types of suture needle for various oculoplastics procedures will be reviewed. Surgical positioning and instrumentation will be touched upon as the course participants perform various surgical techniques employed in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, with instructor assistance. Course Director: Michael K. Yoon, MD
260 - Best Practices in the Management of Uveitis: The American Uveitis Society Course
Cosponsored by the American Uveitis Society
This course presents a distillation of knowledge about uveitis/intraocular inflammation for the practicing ophthalmologist, delivered by experts on behalf of the American Uveitis Society. Senior Instructor: Jennifer E. Thorne, MD, PhD
Sunday, Nov. 5
408 - Review of Clinical Optics
This review of clinical optics will prepare ophthalmology residents to take the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program examination and graduates of residency training programs to take the written qualifying examination of the American Board of Ophthalmology. The course will be taught in a Q&A format, focusing on problem-solving. Content and illustrations will be drawn from the American Academy of Ophthalmology's Basic and Clinical Science Course book on Clinical Optics. This is not a course on practical optics for the practicing clinician. Senior Instructor: Kevin M. Miller, MD
425 - Corneal Edema, Opacification, Ectasia and Bacterial Keratitis: Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies From the Preferred Practice Patterns Guidelines
Using the evidence-based recommendations from the Preferred Practice Patterns, the presenters in this course will explain how the latest diagnostic and surgical techniques are used to care for patients with corneal ectasia, opacity, edema and bacterial keratitis. The utility of advanced corneal topography instrumentation, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, ultrasound biomicroscopy and confocal microscopy will be discussed as well. The emphasis will be on teaching the comprehensive eye physician the basic indications, techniques, advantages and disadvantages of endothelial and penetrating keratoplasty, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, anterior lamellar surgery, intrastromal ring segment insertion and collagen crosslinking. Senior Instructor: Audrey R. Talley Rostov, MD
427 - Subconjunctival MIGS: Implantation and Revision Techniques
Subconjunctival minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) procedures can achieve levels of longer-term IOP control in selected cases that are not often attainable with other minimally invasive techniques. Incorporation of subconjunctival MIGS procedures in practice requires familiarity with postoperative management and revision techniques, as well as the nuances of implantation. Senior Instructor: Keith Barton, MBBCH
424 - Mystery Retina 2023: Interactive Discussion of Challenging Cases
The clinical instructors will present seven to 10 diagnostically challenging cases. The presentations will include the 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
*LAB136 - A New Way of Teaching Retinal Laser Treatments: An Interactive Course
Over the last few years, since we have embarked on anti-VEGF therapy, many residents have less experience with the use of retina laser. This course introduces an interactive method of teaching medical decision-making for retinal laser treatment based on cases from clinical practice. Course Director: Robin D. Ross, MD, MPH
453 - OCT Angiography in Retinal Diseases
Cosponsored by the International Ocular Circulation Society
Optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCT-A) is a novel imaging modality that uses intrinsic flow contrast and does not require intravenous dye injection, making it a less invasive alternative to fluorescein angiography. OCT-A is three-dimensional and can be visualized as cross-sections 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 normal avascular layers. The ability to visualize areas of retinal nonperfusion and neovascularization is useful in many retinal vascular diseases. Senior Instructor: Steven T. Bailey, MD
450 - Preventing and Managing Complications Following Vitreoretinal Surgery
Complications following vitreoretinal surgery can lead to significant vision loss. These include macular folds, retained perfluorocarbon liquid, wound leaks, intraocular and postoperative hemorrhage, endophthalmitis and proliferative vitreoretinopathy with recurrent retinal detachment. Ongoing advances in current surgical techniques, diagnostic modalities and evidence-based standards of treatment have altered the way these sequelae can be prevented and managed. Senior Instructor: Anton Orlin, MD
471 - Myopia Management: Global Perspectives, Digital Innovation and AI
Myopia is one of the leading causes of reversible visual impairment in the world. High myopia, projected to affect 10% of the world population, is associated with pathologic changes that can lead to blindness. Thus, the prevention and control of myopia, with early detection and treatment of its complications, have become a global priority. Recently, advances in imaging and digital technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), have led to improvements in the clinical evaluation and management of myopia. This course will help clinicians develop a holistic approach, including recent innovations, to the management of myopia in both children and adults. Senior Instructor: Marcus Ang, MBBS, PHD
462 - Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemmas in Neuro-Ophthalmology
Cosponsored by the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society (NANOS)
In this course, actual diagnostic and therapeutic clinical dilemmas will be presented by a panel of university-based neuro-ophthalmologists, with members of the audience participating in the generation of differential diagnoses and therapeutic strategies. Senior Instructor: Nancy J. Newman, MD
494 - DMEK 2.0 (Endothelium-In DMEK) for Complex Eyes
This course will present various videos to explain a standardized technique for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) using a sterile contact lens as scaffold and IOL cartridge to deliver a tri-folded DMEK tissue into the anterior chamber. Using the pull-through maneuver, DMEK tissue can be delivered in a way similar to the Descemet-stripping automated EK technique, thus allowing spontaneous unfolding with proper graft orientation and overcoming the challenges often encountered with this procedure. The different steps and instrumentation required, results and intraoperative complications will be discussed. Case-based video of various conformations of the DMEK tissue (inverted, taco fold, tight scroll, torn grafts) using bimanual technique will also be presented. Use of preloaded tissue for this technique will also be discussed. Senior Instructor: Massimo Busin, MD
486 - Challenging Cases in Neovascular AMD
Cosponsored by the Retina Society
Currently, the treatment of neovascular AMD with pharmacologic agents has been well established, and new intravitreal drugs have been developed to control the disease. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism of the disease and the reasons for treatment failure in some cases are still unknown. This course will offer an interactive discussion by international experts in this field about unresponsive, atypical and recalcitrant cases of neovascular AMD. Senior Instructor: Luiz Lima, MD
Monday, Nov. 6
609 - OCT in Glaucoma: What's Real Disease and What's Red Disease?
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become an important tool for diagnosing glaucoma and detecting glaucoma progression. Using a combination of didactic lecture and case examples, this course will present the interpretation of OCT for glaucoma diagnosis and progression, primarily relying on the Cirrus (Zeiss) OCT platform. Some examples of glaucoma detection and progression with Spectralis (Heidelberg) and Avanti/RTVue (Optovue/Visionix) will also be presented. Case examples of false positives (“red disease”), false negatives (“green disease”) and other diagnostic dilemmas will be reviewed to help the participant sort the real from the artifact in OCT interpretation for glaucoma. Senior Instructor: Donald L Budenz, MD, MPH
*NOTE: Skills Transfer labs require a separate ticket.