Providing AAO 2015 Attendees With Unparalleled Learning Opportunities

Presidential biographer and historian Edmund Morris delivered the Michael F. Marmor, MD, Lecture in Ophthalmology and the Arts: “Two World Visions: The Myopia of Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan.”

More than 28,000 ophthalmologists, health professionals and industry representatives convened in Las Vegas to attend AAO 2015, the Academy’s 119th annual meeting. By listening to thought leaders, participating in small group discussions, practicing in surgical skills labs and reviewing the latest technology on the exhibition floor, attendees from around the world gained knowledge and insight to improve patient care.

Highlights of the five-day conference included:

LXXII Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture: Anne L. Coleman, MD, PhD, presented “Using Big Data to Make Discoveries About Cataract Surgery.” A renowned ophthalmology researcher and professor at UCLA, Dr. Coleman gave attendees a first glimpse at initial insights on cataract surgery outcomes from the Academy’s IRIS® Registry. Her research interests include the interface of ophthalmology and public health and emphasize comparativeeffectiveness research, visual functioning and societal impacts of eye diseases.

“Nanotechnology in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Ocular Diseases” explored innovative techniques in eye care. The session was a joint symposium between the Academy and the American Association of Ophthalmic Oncologists and Pathologists.

“Ebola and the Eye: A Story of Survivors”: Ebola survivor Ian Crozier, MD, joined John Fankhauser, MD, founder of an Ebola survivors clinic in Liberia, to discuss long-term treatment strategies. More than 26,000 people have survived the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, but remain at risk for numerous longterm health issues, including uveitis.

“Amblyopia and Beyond: Current Evidence-Based Pediatric Eye Care” was a joint presentation from the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Academy of Optometry. Experts discussed evidence-based approaches to several pediatric conditions. Attendees learned how collaborative research has led to advances in evidence-based knowledge and increased uniformity of treatment plans.

AAO Virtual Meeting: This component streamed 20 hours of educational content for live remote access and was temporarily archived for viewing later. About 2,600 people from 108 countries accessed AAO 2015 and Subspecialty Day presentations.