EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
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60 EW MEETING REPORTER Reporting from the 2013 ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress, San Francisco June 2013 Reporting continued from page 59 Iqbal "Ike" Ahmed, MD, speaks at an ASCRS symposium. Source: EyeWorld Editors' note: This Meeting Reporter contains original reporting by the EyeWorld news team from the 2013 ASCRS•ASOA Symposium & Congress, San Francisco. ions, and demonstrate leadership based on what is in the best interests of patients, he said. The manner in which ASCRS interacts with its members is changing, Dr. Donnenfeld said. In response to survey results on the issues ASCRS members find most challenging, ASCRS will provide more courses and symposia on topics such as electronic medical records. "You told us that surgical management in glaucoma and cornea is an exciting new area of interest, and ASCRS is taking the lead in educating you about these new technologies," he said. The ASCRS website is also being renovated in order to deliver exciting new initiatives that will bring video content, news, and information directly to members. As the new president of ASCRS, Dr. Donnenfeld said he's committed to preserving and enhancing the ASCRS legacy of excellence, innovation, compassion, and patient care. Dr. Donnenfeld acknowledged the remarkable contributions made by David Chang, MD, Los Altos, Calif., to ASCRS as president. In his speech as outgoing president of ASCRS, Dr. Chang highlighted various new initiatives by ASCRS including supplemental nonsurgical education for optometrists employed by ASCRS members, through IOMED (Integrated Ophthalmic-Managed Eyecare Delivery). The program will classify such practice settings in which ophthalmologists currently supervise and work alongside optometrists and provide care in a coordinated and efficient manner that best serves the patient, Dr. Chang said. ASOA Opening General Session focuses on uncertainty in medical world and possibilities for the future The ASOA Opening General Session focused largely on uncertainty in the medical world today pertaining to patients, physicians, and administrators alike. Robert Cherewich, MPS, COE, CMPE, Hatboro, Pa., the outgoing president of ASOA, spoke about the uncertainty in both private and professional lives for ophthalmologists. Changes in the current state of the world play into ophthalmology. Reimbursement cuts are affecting practices, and he said many practices are being put up for sale or having to merge. Meanwhile, the practices are still expected to implement expensive systems to demonstrate meaningful use, Mr. Cherewich said. Success depends on your ability to remain committed despite no guarantees, Mr. Cherewich said. He said ASOA is striving to help pro- mote success. "If you pursue available resources, ultimately you will be the reason for your own personal and professional success." To conclude, Mr. Cherewich stressed the importance of persevering and transferred the presidency to Liz Parrott, COE, Raleigh, N.C. Ms. Parrott said that today we are faced with more challenges than ever before in healthcare. It is important to have good communication with doctors because at this point in time, they can't afford to not be involved in the business side of a practice. ASOA has a variety of resources, including a new website, webinars, and online courses, and Ms. Parrott stressed the importance of participating in ASOA. Being involved with ASOA allows you to get to know other administrators on another level, she said. Binkhorst Lecture details history, future of IOLs From its start during the Second World War to its current technologyadvancing safety and design, the intraocular lens has had a varied and exciting history since its inception, Nick Mamalis, MD, Salt Lake City, said in the Binkhorst Lecture, "Intraocular Lens Evolution: What a Long, Strange Trip it's Been." Dr. Mamalis outlined the history of the IOL, starting with its creation by Sir Harold Ridley, MD. During the Blitz in World War II, some Royal Air Force pilots involved in accidents had bits of shattered cockpit in their eyes. Sir Ridley observed that the material did not cause inflammation—and had the added benefit of not being rejected by the eye, Dr. Mamalis said. The cockpit was made of Plexiglas, or PMMA, the original material used in IOLs. Dr. Mamalis outlined how Sir Ridley's lens was implanted in the posterior chamber. Those early IOL designs were not "terribly successful," Dr. Mamalis said, and future research led to better innovations. The Binkhorst Lecture, which Dr. Mamalis delivered at this year's annual meeting, honors an innovator