News from the AOA's Blog

Flock to Optometry’s Meeting® in Orlando: Birds flock to greater Orlando’s more than 2,000 named lakes, rivers and springs. The 2010 Optometry’s Meeting® will be June 16-20 at the Gaylord Palms® Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Optometry’s Meeting® registration is now open.

Optometry’s Meeting® early birds will find enlivening events and continuing education courses waiting for them when they arrive at the Gaylord Palms® Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

The AOA will offer “Practice Transitions: Strategies for Making Them Happen,” a comprehensive one-day course covering the fundamental steps to successful change management, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday. (Lecturers: J. Gibbons, Ph.D.; M. Harris, O.D., J.D.; W. Nolan; R. Parker, O.D.; J. Rumpakis, O.D., MBA; R. Schultz; K. Smick, O.D.)

The course, #1001, covers:

• How to successfully buy or sell a practice
• Generational issues
• Financing and ownership options
• Legal and tax concerns

The following companies are providing unrestricted education grants for the program: Alcon, Allergan, Bausch + Lomb, CIBA Vision, Essilor, HOYA, Luxottica Group, Marchon, Optos, Transitions, VSP, VisionWeb and The Vision Care Institute™, LLC.

The Wednesday Night Welcome Reception sponsored by Bausch + Lomb will kick-start the meeting with music, food, drink and fun from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Register for function #0110.)

Wednesday is also the day for a new electronic health records (EHR) course for optometrists, paraoptometrics, and students from noon to 3 p.m. “EHR: Deadlines Have Been Set” will help attendees learn what they need to know about EHRs for the next 12 months.

The lecturers will explain government incentives, changes with ICD-10 and e-prescribing and how health care reform is changing the face of EHRs.

Immediately following the presentation, companies will be available to answer questions to help find the product that best fits a practice’s needs. Take advantage of a buy two, get one free discount. (Individuals should register for course #1003, and offices or groups should register for #1002.) Generous supporters of this program are EMRlogic, RevolutionEHR, Compulink, First Insight, and Topcon Medical Systems, Inc.

Also on Wednesday, AMO is providing an unrestricted education grant for a free continuing education course titled “Challenges in Cataract Surgery Co-Management” from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Moderator: Dr. Devries, O.D.; Lecturers: P. Karpecki, O.D.; L. Skorin, O.D., D.O.) Register for course #1004.

Premium intraocular lenses, such as multifocal, accommodating, and toric, present new challenges for both surgeon and co-managing doctor. These pre-op, surgical and post-op challenges will be discussed by the panel consisting of two optometric referral center directors and an ophthalmic surgeon.

The AOA Foundation proudly presents “Optometry’s Got Talent” Wednesday night from 8:30 p.m. to midnight. The acclaimed annual fundraiser is back, but with an expanded line up. In addition to karaoke, the night will feature the best amateur talent from within the optometric profession. There will be performances by returning 2009 contestants, including AOA President Randy Brooks, O.D., the AOA Board of Trustees, deans and presidents from the schools and colleges, as well as several newcomers. To see a complete list of performers, visit www.optometryscharity.org.

Be sure to join the foundation for the finest amateur entertainment, a mini-casino, and a decadent dessert reception. There will also be silent and live auctions featuring the craftsmanship of members of the optometric community, including one of the highly sought-after works of Dr. Irvin Borish.

Before attending the Opening General Session with Frank Abagnale, sponsored by Essilor on Thursday morning, optometrists can enjoy free continuing education at a breakfast seminar.

Optos is providing an unrestricted education grant for a free breakfast seminar, “The Importance of the Peripheral Retina in Detection, Management and Treatment of Eye Disease,” (Lecturer: W. Jones, O.D.) on Thursday from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.

This course will discuss the disease entities that can be found on the peripheral retina, including RPE reactive hyperplasia, congenital hypertrophy of the RPE, senile peripheral pigmentary degeneration, snail-track retinal degeneration, retinal holes and tears, and retinal detachment. Register for course #B101.

Viva International Group is providing an unrestricted education grant for a free breakfast seminar, “The Modern Optical Dispensary: Defining the Role of the Doctor and the Paraoptometrics,” Thursday from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. (Lecturer: J. Schaeffer, O.D.)

This course will cover all aspects of what the practicing optometrist and paraoptometric should know about the optical department. This course is part of the joint OD and Paraoptometric courses. Optometrists should register for course #B102. Paraoptometrics should register for course #P100. 

CooperVision is providing an unrestricted education grant for a free breakfast seminar, “Contact Lenses and the Cost of Lost Opportunity,” from 6 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. (Lecturer: M. Brujic, O.D.)

This course will evaluate the market and provide a variety of ideas to improve success with contact lenses. Specifically, this course will evaluate the presbyopic market and the possible financial implications to the business. Register for course #B103.

Following the Opening General Session, the Thursday exclusive free education course is “Eye Care 2010: Day-to-Day Dilemmas in a Real-World Optometric Practice,” from 10 a.m. to noon. (Moderator: A. Kabat, O.D., Lecturers: J. Rumpakis, O.D., MBA, D. Shechtman, O.D., C. Sindt, O.D.)

This course explores clinical challenges and practice management issues through a series of on-stage scenarios and vignettes. Noted experts demonstrate patient interaction skills and discuss diagnostic and therapeutic concerns affecting today’s optometrists. Register for course #1010.

Thursday will also feature the new Product Information Exchange Luncheon with the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in optometric products and services designed to give you an advantage in today’s economy. Hear the latest developments from CIBA Vision, Essilor, and Vistakon®, a division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. from noon to 1 p.m. Box lunches will be provided. Register for function #0160.

Allergan is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Pearls and Paradigms in Diagnosis and Management of Dry Eye and Ocular Disease,” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Moderator: M. Hom, O.D.; Lecturers: D. Devries, O.D. M. Fingeret, O.D., P. Karpecki, O.D.)

Case presentations will be used to help guide discussion of management and treatment options. Various established medical therapies and step-by-step treatment algorithms will be discussed. Register for course #1013.

CooperVision is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Do Ocular Surface Disease and Contact Lenses Mix?” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Lecturer: M. DePaolis, O.D., and J. Schachet, O.D.)

Two experts in ocular surface disease and contact lenses discuss clinical management of contact lens cases. The latest therapeutic drugs for ocular surface disease and contact lenses for dry eye will be discussed. Register for course #1113.

Essilor is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Gas Permeable Management of Complex Cases – Fitting the Challenging Eyes,” course #1213, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Lecturers: E. Bennett, O.D., B. Eiden, O.D., T. Quinn, O.D., C. Sindt, O.D.)

Four experts in gas-permeable lenses will provide nuggets on fitting complex cases. Four areas will be covered: irregular corneas, dry eye, multifocals, and astigmatism.

The Vision Care Institute™, LLC, is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Top 20 Oral Agents,” course #1413, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Lecturer: J. Thimons, O.D.)

This course will provide the practitioner an overview of the top 20 oral medications used in ophthalmic practice. Anti-virals, NSAIDS, cyclines, antihistamines, and beta blockers are just a few of the drugs to be discussed.

Kemin is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Preventing Age-Related Vision Loss: Medical Treatment, Nutritional Supplements, and Vision Rehabilitation,” course #1713, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Lecturer: M. Wilkinson, O.D.)

This course will give attendees an understanding of the diseases, the vision loss, the available treatments, and how ODs can best help patients.

Topcon is providing an unrestricted education grant for “New Technology Means Increased Profits,” course #1913, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Lecturer: G. Gerber, O.D.)

New technology doesn’t always equate with new profits. This course will ensure that attendees maximize their new technology dollars.

CIBA Vision is providing an unrestricted education grant for “New in Practice Series—Staff Management and Training,” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The fee is $10. (Lecturer: C. Fleming, O.D.)

This course will discuss how to get staff, keep staff, and have staff coming to you with ways to enhance patient care. Join us as we take a practical look at staffing from two doctors who live daily with the same challenges and staffing issues that you do. Register for course #0180.

OCuSOFT is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Dry Eye Disease: Lids, Inflammation, and Management,” course #1115, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Lecturer: B. Gaddie, O.D.)

Dry eye disease comprises several distinct clinical entities including primary inflammatory, eyelid/meibomian-related, contact lens-related, and autoimmune-related dry eye. The impact of allergy and non-prescription therapy will be discussed.

ZeaVision is sponsoring “Can AMD Be Prevented?” course #1215, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Lecturer: K. Gelb, O.D.)

The lecture outlines the clinical signs for patients at risk for progression of AMD. The lecturer will present a 10-point plan based on strong evidence that will slow or decrease the risk of AMD in the vast majority of cases, the No.1 cause of blindness in those over 55.

CooperVision is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Stop Fitting Monovision! You Can Be Successful with Multifocal Contact Lenses,” course #1315, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Lecturers: T. Quinn, O.D.)

Patients will be happy and successful if ODs give bifocal lenses another chance. Learn how to open up this new technology for a practice.

Marco is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Technology Within a Technology-Oriented Office,” course #1815, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Lecturer: L. Lippiatt, O.D.)

This course describes how to achieve maximum efficiencies using integrated technologies with practice management and EHR systems.

The Education Theater will feature “Picking Through Ophthalmology’s ‘Trash,’” course #T131, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Lecturer: A. Kabat, O.D.)

This course reviews some of the common ocular conditions that many ophthalmologists simply do not address. Dry eye, ocular allergy, blepharitis, and cosmetic eyelash enhancement represent just some of the items that ophthalmology “throws away” on a daily basis, creating opportunity for astute and eager optometrists.

Cooper Vision is providing an unrestricted education grant for “Integrating Social Media into Your Practice’s Marketing – The Pros and Cons,” course T132, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Lecturer: J. Gaub.)

Curious about how and when to leverage social media to drive business? Attend this session and learn the how, what, when, and why to use social marketing (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, organic and paid search, blogs, etc.).

Alcon is providing an unrestricted education grant for continuing education at Optometry’s Meeting®.

The Exhibit Hall will officially open Thursday at 4 p.m. After the ribbon-cutting, experience Wines from Across Our Nation, hosted by the AOA.

Upon entrance into the Exhibit Hall, those eligible will receive a wine passport to participate in a wine tasting featuring wines from across our nation. At the last station, participants may select a full glass of their favorite wine. There will be wine and cheese stations throughout the Exhibit Hall. (Must be 21 years or older to participate in the wine tasting.)

Registration and housing for Optometry’s Meeting® is now open. For more information, visit www.optometrysmeeting.org.