EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/115557
36 EW ASCRS PREVIEW March 2013 April 19-23, 2013 Refractive symposia in the spotlight by Maxine Lipner EyeWorld Senior Contributing Writer Doyle Stulting, M.D., Ph.D., will moderate the session "Refractive Aspects of Cataract Surgery." Source: EyeWorld A clear view of what's ahead R efractive sessions will be highlighted on many practitioners' agendas at this year's ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress in San Francisco. Three of these that will likely take center stage include the symposium on "Refractive Aspects of Cataract Surgery," an "Update on Corneal Collage Crosslinking," and a session on "Problems Postop: Pain and Inflammation in the Refractive Surgery Patient." Refractive cataract in demand High patient expectations will likely drive attendance at the symposium on "Refractive Aspects of Cataract Surgery" to be held on Saturday, April 20 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., thinks Doyle Stulting, M.D., Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology emeritus, Emory University, Atlanta, who will be moderating the session. "It's important because as time goes by the expectations of our patients for cataract surgery continue to increase," Dr. Stulting said. "In order to be able to meet those high expectations we have to be far better than we ever were—not just removing a cloudy lens, but also providing refractive care at the same time," Dr. Stulting said. One of the hot topics discussed here will likely be use of the femtosecond laser for capsulotomies, refractive incisions, and for increasing the predictability of intraocular lens placement, he thinks. "It will also include information about preoperative intraocular lens power calculations, as well as improved calculation methods, and specific techniques for caring for patients with previous refractive surgery," Dr. Stulting said. In addition, the session will touch on intraocular surgical aberrometers and post-op methods for addressing residual refractive error. "There will also be information about upcoming technologies such as intraocular lenses [in which the] power can be adjusted after surgery," he said. Dr. Stulting hopes that practitioners come away from the session with important pearls that will help them to improve the quality of care that they deliver, as well as the accuracy of the refractive outcomes for their cataract patients. "We hope that it will inform them about options for new devices and technology that they might want to acquire to help them in their practice," he said. Overall, Dr. Stulting views the session as akin to a Consumer Reports edition that addresses techniques and technology for managing refractive outcomes. Bridging the crosslinking gap Also on many practitioners' itineraries will likely be the "Update on Corneal Collagen Crosslinking," to be held on Monday, April 22, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Dr. Stulting, who will be co-moderating this session with Terry Kim, M.D., sees this symposium as being of prime importance. He pointed out that while crosslinking technology has been utilized in the U.S. for some time off-label, it still has not received FDA approval. "It's unfortunate that that's the case because simple calculations lead to the conclusion that corneal collagen crosslinking could prevent or significantly delay the need for up to half of the corneal transplants that are performed each year in this country," Dr. Stulting said. Dr. Kim, professor of ophthalmology, Duke University Eye Center, Durham, N.C., believes the fact that the procedure remains off-label in the U.S. will spur interest in the session since there has been limited access to information and data on this procedure. During the program, attendees will hear about what has been going on with the crosslinking procedure in the FDA trials, as well as about broader applications for the technique. "I will start off and address the background of crosslinking and the basic mechanism of effect," Dr. Kim said. "Then John Hovanesian [M.D.] will address the safety and efficacy for ectatic diseases like keratoconus." Next to speak will be William Trattler, M.D., who will address the CXL USA trial and also the brewing continued on page 38