The largest and most comprehensive ophthalmic educational meeting in the world, the American Academy of Ophthalmology's (Academy) 2009 Joint Meeting in conjunction with the Pan- American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) will be taking place in San Francisco, Oct. 24 to 27.

"San Francisco is always a popular destination for our meeting, and enthusiasm is running high for this year," said David W. Parke II, MD, executive vice president and CEO of the Academy. "We're looking forward to a strong turnout and an exciting meeting."

Meeting attendees will be able to enjoy the sweeping views, historic charm, and outstanding dining and shopping that make San Francisco world-renowned. Interest in the Joint Meeting is already strong, with a record number of abstracts submitted. The Joint Meeting will feature over 3,000 scientific presentations, 90 instruction courses, 190 "Breakfast with the Experts" roundtables, and over 50 skills transfer courses. Online registration for the Joint Meeting is available now for members.

Highlights at the meeting include:

Sunday, Oct. 25

Opening Session, 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
This year's opening session will begin with a special farewell speech given in honor of H. Dunbar Hoskins Jr., MD, the Academy's former executive vice president. Harry A. Quigley, MD, will deliver the Jackson Memorial Lecture presentation and Bernard Becker, MD, will be honored with the Academy's prestigious Laureate Award.

The Young Ophthalmologist Program - Residents in Training and Doctors in First Five Years in Practice, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Important topics of interest to all new ophthalmologists are addressed in this informative session, including starting a practice, contracts, buy-ins, insurance, integrating into practice and financial planning.

Spotlight on Premium IOL's: The Business Behind the Medicine, 3:45 to 5:15 p.m.
This symposium will emphasize the practice management aspects of incorporating high technology IOLs into your practice. addressed include: Practice management experts and physicians who have been successful in incorporating these lenses into their practice will answer a range of questions, including: How do I get started? How do I ask for payments from patients? What patients are the best candidates? How do you deal with the unhappy patient?

Monday, Oct. 26

Spotlight on Cataracts: Clinical Decision-Making with Cataract Complications, 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
This session includes discussions on patient satisfaction with multifocal and accommodating IOLs, uveitis cases and techniques for polar cataracts.

The Changing Landscape of National Healthcare: VA/DOD Leading the Way, 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Physician profiling is a growing trend. This session will examine profiling and other physician accountability initiatives tied to payment including the outlook of CMS's Medicare physician quality reporting and Physician Web Compare plans.

What's New and Important in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus for 2009, 2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
This course will provide a stimulating overview of important publications from a variety of literature sources in 2008/2009 in the field of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus. The objective is to review the most important pediatric and pediatric ophthalmologic publications from the world literature within the last year and relate this new information to everyday practice.

Around the World in 80 Minutes: 4:15 p.m. to 5:35 p.m.
This session will highlight novel intraocular lenses (IOLs) currently being evaluated in international clinical trials. Global experts will present their clinical experience with these IOLs, most of which are not approved in the US. Topics will include photochromic IOLs, low vision IOLs for macular degeneration patients, power-adjustable IOLs, and new accommodative, multifocal, toric, aspheric, and micro-incision lenses. An international panel of discussants will debate the pros and cons of these promising IOL technologies.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

The 10 Most Challenging Anterior Segment Surgical Procedures, 9:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
This course is a video presentation of the 10 most challenging anterior segment surgical procedures from the Mackool Eye Institute. The panel participation, video-based format will cover problems with the anterior and posterior capsule, iris/pupil deformities, IOL dislocation and exchange, weak zonule, shallow anterior chamber, extremely dense/white cataracts, infusion misdirection syndrome, and inadequate intraoperative corneal transparency.

Spotlight on Pseudoexfoliation, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Pseudoexfoliation poses concurrent challenges for the management of both glaucoma and cataract. In this symposium, leading cataract and glaucoma experts provide clinical pearls for the surgical management of these eyes. Among the complex and controversial topics addressed are the timing of glaucoma and cataract surgery, capsule tension ring indications, new technologies for glaucoma and cataract surgery, and recommendations for avoiding capsular and IOL complications.

For more information about the meeting, visit http://www.aao.org. To learn more about San Francisco, visit http://www.aao.org/meetings/annual_meeting/sanfrancisco.cfm

Source
American Academy of Ophthalmology