HIGHLIGHTS FROM ACADEMY 2009 ORLANDO

I have to admit that I am still on a high after last month’s annual meeting in Orlando. There are many people to thank for its success. First of all, there are over two hundred Fellows who serve in the volunteer structure of the organization on various committees who all help develop various parts of the annual meeting program. Second, we need to thank our section leaders who developed so many intriguing and cutting-edge symposia. Third, our Executive Director, Lois Schoenbrun, and her phenomenal staff most definitely deserve our accolades. Fourth, we are so appreciative to our many corporate supporters and exhibitors, and certainly we want to thank the over 4,500 attendees that made this the third largest meeting in Academy history.

The work of everyone collectively created a highly energetic meeting with an outstanding education program. Perhaps this was a great meeting because most of us were all housed under one roof. Perhaps this was a great meeting because our Lectures and Workshops Committee and our Scientific Program Committee were able to blend the latest of scientific discoveries with traditional CE. Perhaps it was the combined OGS/AAO meeting Wednesday morning that exposed our attendees to world-renowned speakers they could only hear at an Academy meeting. Perhaps it was the stimulating Plenary Session with Mike May and Ione Fine; they captivated the audience with Mike’s philosophy of life and Ione’s explanation of what it took for Mike to learn to see after so many years of sight deprivation. Perhaps it was the prestigious Awards program, or the terrific exhibit hall, or the alumni receptions. Or perhaps, it was all of these things and much more.

If you missed this meeting, I can only tell you that you missed one of our very best. For those who were there, I hope you are looking forward to San Francisco next year as much as I am, and for those who weren’t, just take a look at the section symposia created for this year that you missed:

• Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry – The section held a standing room only event with the highlight being from Jonathan Holmes of Mayo Clinic who showed that patients who had IXT varied in their manifestation of their strabismus across the day in an individually-specific manner. The program provided new research data and was clinically applicable.  

• Low Vision – The section held two symposia during the meeting. The first symposium, “Visual Field Loss in Low Vision: Measurement, Clinical Implications & Interventions” began with Ronald Schuchard discussing the difficulties in measuring fields in individuals with unstable fixation and Kia Eldred informing attendees of the field loss and visual neglect found in patients with traumatic brain injury. Susan Leat and Alex Bowers described how visual field loss leads to alterations in mobility and driving performance. The symposia ended with Eli Peli speaking about his research concerning visual field expansion devices. The section also held its first evening symposium, “Nyctalopia: Finally Hope!” and it was certainly appropriate for the time slot. Low Vision Diplomate Chair John Musick explained how to clinically differentiate night vision problems commonly seen by the primary care OD from more serious conditions causing true night blindness. Diplomate Vice-Chair Roanne Flom discussed the latest in low vision technologies in the management of patients suffering from nyctalopia. Byron Lam, Director of the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute’s Center for Hereditary Eye Disease, gave a presentation on advances in the treatment of retinal degenerations including gene therapy, retinal artificial implants, and cell based therapies (neurotrophic factors, stem cell) and nutritional supplementations.

• Optometric Education – This section presented a symposium on “The Challenging Student: Common Challenges and the Role of the Faculty” that was designed to give educators an overview of common mental health and learning disorders with an emphasis on attention deficit disorder. Myles Cooley gave a presentation on the overview of common mental health conditions and learning disabilities. Elizabeth Heiney presented on the challenges associated with ADHD and David Damari presented on the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implications for optometric education. The symposium focused on the role of the faculty and the impact on optometric education.

• Primary Care – The section symposium, “Evidence Based Medicine – Applications for Early Diagnosis and Treatment,” was presented by Diana Shechtman, W. Lee Ball, Jr., Andrew Gurwood, and Marc Myers to a full room of interested attendees.

Next year promises to be even better; so please put it on your schedule now: Academy 2010 San Francisco – November 17-20. You won’t want to miss another great meeting!
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