Supporting my practice from the start

I have been in practice for 30 years since my training at Tufts and cornea fellowship at the Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan, so I can’t really remember a time before Ophthalmology Management was published. While I derive a great deal of my continuing education via peer reviewed journals and our regional, national and international meetings, it seems that I usually learn about new technologies, medications and certainly economic/political changes that affect our practice earliest from this and other ophthalmic magazines. This is where I get my “down and dirty” lessons regarding outcomes of clinical trials, application of new technology and its potential benefits for our patients and practices, and where I stay in touch with my colleagues and their experiences — both good and bad — with these paradigm shifts.

For an industry magazine to endure for 25 years is a remarkable achievement, and I applaud the writers, editors, publisher and sponsors who work together to bring us the latest thinking and experience in our field.

TWO AND A HALF DECADES OF INNOVATION

The changes we have seen in this 25- year period are both remarkable and humbling. Procedures and treatments such as anti-VEGF, sustained-released medication, femtosecond technology and modern-day cataract procedures were, in some instances, not conceived of when OM began. New understanding of the mechanism of action of our most common diseases, such as glaucoma, have lead to an explosion of new molecules and diagnostic tests. OCT, ERG, artificial intelligence and the rest of the alphabet soup were, at best, whiteboard concepts.

Our understanding and use of biologics and genetic testing for glaucoma, ocular oncology, keratoconus, Sjogren’s and other diseases is still in its infancy; yet, this knowledge is already making an enormous impact on our understanding of the origin of disease, diagnosis, treatment and the economic burden on the health-care system as a whole, patient co-pay responsibility and upon doctor’s practices specifically.

… WITH MORE TO COME

And yet, our ability to stabilize, sometimes reverse or prevent damage from conditions, such as diabetes and AMD, is still far behind our expectations. The next 25 years are imperative to merge areas, such as genetic testing and engineering, artificial intelligence and disease prevention, with cost-effective treatment. I predict this will occur. The evolution of our technology and pharmaceuticals within ophthalmology is why I wanted to join this field to begin with, because I will forever be its student, and I am so humbled to be a member of our community of doctors, co-workers and industry.

Hopefully, I will be around to witness the next generation of medical advancement. I know that I will continue to learn and be first exposed to many of these new treatments and diagnostics from the pages of Ophthalmology Management. Congratulations to every member of the OM team — what an amazing accomplishment and contribution to ophthalmology. Wishing you great success going forward into the next 25-year chapter! OM

Steven M. Silverstein, MD, FACS, is a cornea-trained comprehensive ophthalmologist in practice at Silverstein Eye Centers in Kansas City, Mo. He invites comments. His e-mail is ssilverstein@silversteineyecenters.com.