This year, the annual ASCRS•ASOA annual meeting takes place in Washington D.C., from April 13 to April 17. In addition to the educational programming and industry exhibitors, several special events are slated. Some highlights, which can also be found at http://annualmeeting.ascrs.org , are:
- The eyePAC Reception; Friday, April 13, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. To be held at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery’s Great Hall and Luce Foundation Center. Attendees will be allowed access to the center’s three levels of painting, sculpture, folk art and craft collections. Drinks and light refreshments will be served under a city-block-long skylight. Attendance is limited to domestic U.S. members of ASCRS.
- The ASCRS•ASOA Launch Party; Sunday, April 15, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The annual meeting kick-off will give attendees the chance to network with colleagues while enjoying complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine.
- The ASCRS Film Festival Reception; Monday, April 16, 4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Attendees can discuss the film entries in this year’s contest while enjoying light refreshments – before the winners are revealed at the film festival award ceremony.
- YES Connect Lounge; Saturday, April 14 to Tuesday, April 17. The Young Eye Surgeons Connect Lounge is designed for physicians with fewer than five years of practice, so they can learn how ASCRS can help establish their careers.
- Re-Fresh and Re-Charge Lounge; Saturday, April 14 to Monday, April 16. This lounge will give visitors a chance to recharge their tablets, cellphones and other electronics while relaxing and networking with colleagues between sessions. Sip on (complimentary) flavored ice water while listening to ASCRS•ASOA Today recordings.
- The Essentials; seven educational symposia designed for all levels of experience and skills. Surgical, glaucoma, retina, more. Saturday, April 14 to Monday, April 16. Details to follow on ASCRS website: annualmeeting.ascrs.org .
ASCRS booth preview
We are pleased to highlight some of the leading industry products and services that you’ll find on the ASCRS Exhibit Hall floor. We asked vendors to submit a brief company intro, their booth number and website. We trust that these previews will help you, not only for your meeting planning purposes, but also as a resource to help you investigate technologies and offerings that can be of value to you, for your clinical and practice management needs. — Larry Patterson, MD, chief medical editor
Bausch + Lomb
Bausch + Lomb, a Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. company, is a leading global eye health organization that is solely focused on protecting, enhancing and restoring people’s eye-sight.
Booth #2242
www.bausch.com
Bausch + Lomb Surgical
Bausch + Lomb helps surgeons achieve consistently excellent long-term results for their patients and their practice. Starting with our focus on long-term vision, we deliver:
- Technologies that deliver best-in-class intraoperative precision and control
- Visual outcomes focused on a lifetime of vision
- Technology platforms that provide added value to the practice
- Commitment to the practice’s success
Booth #2242
www.bausch.com
Bio-Tissue
Bio-Tissue uses amniotic membrane technology to advance the restoration of the ocular surface to its natural and optimal state. Bio-Tissue’s proprietary cryopreservation process is proven to preserve the natural biology of the amniotic membrane and facilitate wound healing.
Booth #1009
www.biotissue.com
Bruder
Daily use of the Bruder moist heat eye compress, featuring patented MediBeads, followed by gentle lid cleansing with the new Bruder hygienic eyelid sheets helps maintain healthy eyelids and relieves dry eyes. Bruder has been providing therapeutic and analgesic products since 1986.
Booth #2811
www.bruder.com
Compulink
With 33 years of experience, Compulink offers an all-in-one database solution for EHR, practice management, RCM, ASC, optical, patient engagement, analytics and telehealth. Available on both cloud and server platforms, Compulink offers a money-back product satisfaction guarantee.
Booth #1214
www.compulinkadvantage.com
Eye Care Leaders
Join Eye Care Leaders to discover ophthalmology-specific solutions. Introducing myCare solutions, an integrated platform of EHR, PM, optical, ASC and portal, complemented with services like RCM, MIPS Assurance, analytics and more. Eye Care Leaders tailors solutions to a practice’s unique needs.
Booth #1942
www.eyecareleaders.com
Lensar
Femtosecond cataract laser manufacturer Lensar continues to focus on astigmatism with its latest upgrade to the Lensar system: Streamline IV. Featuring IntelliAxis-L steep axis capsular marks, Lensar with Streamline provides advanced technology for managing astigmatism and optimizing outcomes.
Booth #842
www.lensar.com
Marco
The Marco Ultra M Series’ slit lamps use light-gathering ultra-optics, enhanced by high-luminance LED. Other features include built-in background illumination; a 14-mm, continuously variable aperture; a fully integrated, low-voltage system and an expanded chin rest for improved patient access.
Booth #1902
www.marco.com
New World Medical
New World Medical develops, manufactures and markets medical devices intended to alleviate the blinding effects of glaucoma for patients worldwide. Flagship products include the Ahmed glaucoma valve, human allograft tissue, Model TI tube inserter and Kahook dual blade.
Booth #1320
www.newworldmedical.com
Nextech
Nextech offers ophthalmology-specific EMR and practice management solutions that help simplify charting, letting physicians spend more time with patients. Nextech also offers solutions for revenue management and patient engagement. Visit the Nextech website to learn more.
Booth #1811
www.nextech.com
OCuSOFT
Since 1986, OCuSOFT has served the ophthalmic community with a unique selection of brands, including OCuSOFT lid scrub for eyelid hygiene, OCuSOFT HypoChlor for severe eyelid conditions and Retaine MGD for complete tear film enhancement.
Booth #1802
www.ocusoft.com
Quantel Medical
Quantel Medical will display the Optimus Fusion integrated SLT/YAG platform: dual-mode laser cavity, 532 nm and 1064 nm. With premium optics, this laser is optimized for viewing the anterior and posterior segments. Also connectable with a multi-spot photocoagulator: VITRA.
Booth #850
www.quantel-medical.com
Reichert
Reichert gives eye care professionals, who are passionate about patient care, innovative diagnostics for glaucoma detection and management and refraction and vision testing, such as Tono-Pen, Ocular Response Analyzer G3 with Corneal Hysteresis and the digital Phoroptor VRx.
Booth #532
www.reichert.com
Vision Associates
Vision Associates, an optical dispensary-management and consulting firm, helps outsource dispensaries to make practices more profitable and efficient, while letting them maintain ownership and control. More information is available at Vision Associates’ booth.
Booth #2927
www.visassoc.com
QUICK BITS
Topcon Medical Systems received 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its DRI OCT Triton. The Triton allows image capture with a one-micron, 1050 nm light source, with a scanning speed of 100,00 A-scans per second. The Triton is capable of anterior segment scanning, widefield (12 mm x 9 mm) OCT scanning and can visualize deeper pathology, rapidly penetrating ocular tissue without being obscured by media opacities or hemorrhage.
A JAMA Pediatrics study published in January found that low doses of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) were effective at controlling acute retinopathy of prematurity. Two separate doses of ranibizumab — 0.12 mg and 0.20 mg — were both equally effective; of the 18 eyes treated in the 0.12 mg group, 17 improved, and of the 14 eyes treated in the 0.20 mg group, 13 improved.
The Dohlman Award has been posthumously given to Ronald E. Smith, MD, by The Cornea Society. The Dohlman Award recognizes teaching excellence in the field of cornea and external disease and for contributions to the profession. Dr. Smith was a former president of the AAO, former chair of the American Board of Ophthalmology and former chair of the department of ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California; he died of cancer in 2014.
The Castroviejo Medal has been awarded by The Cornea Society to Alan Sugar, MD. Dr. Sugar is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of Michigan’s Kellogg Eye Center. The medal, named for Ramon Castroviejo, MD, the father of modern corneal transplant surgery, is awarded annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of cornea and anterior segment surgery.
Oculus Surgical has begun a partnership with Vortex Surgical to distribute Vortex’s products in the United States. Among the Vortex products included in the deal are the Actu8 premium disposable forceps and procedural Convenience Kits, which were shown at AAO in New Orleans. OM
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