EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/115557
EW ASCRS PREVIEW 39 Through the refractive cataract grapevine by Maxine Lipner EyeWorld Senior Contributing Writer Exclusives on what to expect at leading cataract sessions A t the 2013 ASCRS• ASOA Symposium & Congress in San Francisco, choices for cataract practitioners abound. From the always popular "X-Rounds: Refractive Cataract Surgery to the Max" symposium to a video symposium on complicated and challenging cases complete with its own "Golden Apple" award, EyeWorld made the rounds to get the scoop on what attendees can anticipate from these widely attended sessions. X-Rounds marks the spot Eric D. Donnenfeld, M.D., clinical professor of ophthalmology, New York University, New York, who will be moderating the "X-Rounds" session to be held on Tuesday, April 23, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., views the symposium as an opportunity to glean pearls from a veritable "who's who" of refractive cataract surgeons. "We have an amazing faculty led by David Chang, M.D., the current president of ASCRS, as well as Steve Dell, M.D., Steve Lane, M.D., Dick Lindstrom, M.D., Steve Slade, M.D., Kerry Solomon, M.D., and Roger Steinert, M.D.," he said. "We asked all of them to give two to three minute presentations on the exciting things that they're doing differently in their practices this year." These may be things that attendees want to consider adopting in their own practices, Dr. Donnenfeld said. Speakers are slated to discuss new technology on the horizon that they already have their eyes on, as well as management of difficult cases. One of Dr. Donnenfeld's favorite portions of the symposium is when the faculty offers video presentations of their best saves. "Other areas that we're going to be looking at this year include pearls for cataract surgery after previous refractive surgery and a short session on femtosecond refractive cataract surgery," he said. The session promises to be action packed. "In 1.5 hours we're having seven people present six different topics including video and PowerPoint presentations and also discussions on exciting areas," Dr. Donnenfeld said. "It's kind of a Cliffs Notes for what all refractive cataract surgeons should be doing to advance their own practices." Dr. Donnenfeld finds "XRounds" to be exciting because he always picks up two or three new pearls to bring back to his practice. Many of these tips have allowed him to get in on the inside track. "If I look back historically on some of these new topics, they are things that have become mainstream in my practice," he said. "Getting involved in these new areas early has allowed me to advance my practice and patient care in a significant way." He views the symposium as a must-see for ASCRS attendees. "It's always one of the best attended sessions and the most highly rated," Dr. Donnenfeld said. "Practitioners will leave with a pocket full of pearls that they'll take back to their practices, and they will implement these new ideas and use them on a regular basis to improve their patient care— that's what ASCRS is all about." of surgical crisis, the session on "Complicated and Challenging Cases in Cataract Surgery" promises to be a highlight. Rosa Braga-Mele, M.D., associate professor, University of Toronto, who will be moderating the session, pegs it as a great opportunity for practitioners to learn from their colleagues. For this symposium, which will be held on Monday, April 22, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., practitioners from around the world were encouraged to submit their videos. These 40 to 50 submissions were then whittled down to the top eight videos by the ASCRS Cataract Clinical Committee, Dr. Braga-Mele explained. Each of the videos can help prepare practitioners for what may lay ahead in their own cases, she thinks. "[They show] us how to avoid certain complications or if a complication or a challenge occurs how to face it and deal with it head-on," Dr. Braga-Mele said. Each of these challenging vignettes is recounted by practitioners in a five-minute case presentation. "Then there's a panel of experts who comment on what could have been done differently or what was done well," she said. Attendees will have the chance to vote on what they view as the best case presented. "We have the Golden Apple Award every year that is given to the best case presentation, as deemed by the audience," Dr. Braga-Mele said. Some of this year's session highlights, she thinks, will center on femtosecond cases. Other issues tackled will include dealing with the mature hard cataract, securing IOLs in the face of no capsular support, proper cleanup if the posterior capsule should break, and avoidable complications that surgeons brought on themselves. Dr. Braga-Mele hopes that attendees come away from the session feeling more confident within their own practices when dealing with all cases, including challenging ones that may come up suddenly. "Even with straightforward cases that don't go the way that you expect them to go, the key is to remain calm and to have an armamentarium of techniques to deal with these cases should they arise," she concluded. EW Editors' note: Drs. Braga-Mele and Donnenfeld have no financial interests related to their comments. Contact information Braga-Mele: 416-462-0393, rbragamele@rogers.com Donnenfeld: 516-446-3525, ericdonnenfeld@gmail.com Femtosecond find In another key cataract session titled "Femtosecond Laser Refractive Cataract Surgery," to take place on Tuesday, April 23, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., attendees will learn how cutting-edge femtosecond laser technology can assist them in refractive cataract surgery. Robert J. Cionni, M.D., who will be moderating the session, will interact with panelists who will bring to light how femtosecond cataract surgery compares with manual phacoemulsification, share pearls, and discuss surgical techniques and docking procedures. To enhance the discussion, audience participation will be encouraged. A bite at the "Golden Apple" Meanwhile, for those interested in seeing how others handle moments Robert J. Cionni, M.D., will moderate the session called "Femtosecond Laser Refractive Cataract Surgery." Source: EyeWorld