Eyeworld

119 October 2018 EW MEETING REPORTER damage some of the eye's structures that are vital to maintaining healthy function. Overall, Dr. Matossian's message is to "keep beauty procedures in mind as one of the causes or exacer- bators of ocular surface disease." EW Editors' note: Dr. Vajzovic has finan- cial interests related to her comments. Dr. Matossian has no financial inter- ests related to her comments. lash embellishments, lash perming, lash lifting, eyeliner tattooing, and conjunctival jewelry and tattoo- ing, said Cynthia Matossian, MD, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Matossian shared how these procedures can exacerbate ocular surface issues by interfering with the functions of natural lashes themselves and how the various adhesives and very nature of the procedures can impart potentially harmful substances onto the eye and Going forward, improvements are being made to the implant's aesthetics and sizing, and the possibility of integrating assistive technologies (such as eye tracking, a stereo sensor, and thermal imaging) is being explored. Perhaps not a technology or innovation that's benefiting ocular medicine but one that is beginning to impact it are newer procedures and regimens meant to enhance one's looks, such as lash extensions, people you serve and what they needed. She said leaders should find truth tellers in their life, people they know well who can give them the "straight scoop." Non-egotistical leaders are tough but fair; they lead with compassion and empathy; and they are learners. They rely on teamwork, capitalizing on the coop- eration and talents of other individ- uals. Dr. Epitropoulos also said that leaders should pass that leadership onto others at times. Allowing others to take the wheel gives them the opportunity to showcase their talents. Doing this, she said, inspires the whole team to bring their best. Editors' note: Dr. Epitropoulos has no financial interests related to her comments. Game changers in technology and innovation Several new technologies and inno- vations were covered in the last ses- sion of the meeting. Lejla Vajzovic, MD, Durham, North Carolina, discussed her experience with the Argus II retinal prosthesis (Second Sight, Sylmar, California). This pros- thetic, which consists of external glasses that have a video camera, ex- ternal foil, and video processing unit that sends signals of what an image looks like to an electrode array on a surgically placed epiretinal implant, is indicated for patients with severe retinitis pigmentosa who have a pre- vious history of useful vision. As the patient with the prosthetic scans the room, an image is projected onto the array in the shape of what the camera sees. Overall, Dr. Vajzovic said patient expectations with this prosthetic are often much higher than what the device can deliver in terms of image quality, at least at this point. The patient has to learn how to interpret the images that it does convey, so a discussion of patient expectations is key. The implant has shown to improve patients' ability to identify large letters, their ability to locate an object, and their performance on direct motion tasks. More than 25% of patients using the implant regained measurable visual acuity, Dr. Vajzovic said. Are You a Phaco Surgeon Interested in Compassionate Surgery in the Developing World? Our Charity Delivers High-Volume, Well-Equipped Phacoemulsification Projects to the Impoverished of Mexico. We are Now Recruiting Volunteer Phaco Surgeons for Our Upcoming Surgical Projects in 2018. Learn More About Us and Contact Us at: www.choseneyemission.com

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