Eyeworld

FALL 2024 | EYEWORLD | 5 by Sumit "Sam" Garg, MD Chief Medical Editor We have many opportunities to learn about different aspects of ophthalmic practice. One of the ASCRS education initiatives I am most excited about is the ASCRS Business of Refrac- tive Cataract Surgery Summit, which is taking place in Texas on September 27–28, right when this issue will be hitting mailboxes. This prac- tical course, chaired by ASCRS President Vance Thompson, MD, focuses on how to build and refine a team culture and patient experience to maximize refractive outcomes for patients to drive revenue and practice growth. Insurance reimbursements continue to decline. We are fortunate to have the ability to offer patient-pay options for refractive surgery. To quote Dr. Thompson, "In the last decade, cataract surgery reimbursement has consistently been under review and has dropped 25.6% despite the ad- vocacy efforts of ASCRS on behalf of its mem- bers. Alongside this, the cost to practice has been increasing. But in this same timeframe, there has been a major increase in a patient's willingness to pay out of pocket for their health, including refractive cataract surgery. To gain the knowledge packed into this course and its resource library would cost considerably more time and money, working with consultants and going through the process of trial and error. We are seeking to accelerate the learning curve for your practice. We want to give patients what they want and encourage healthy ophthalmic practices." I hope you enjoy this issue of EyeWorld. We cover topics highlighting the complexity of oph- thalmic practice including the impact of HOAs on refractive and cataract surgery, on- and off-label indications for small aperture optics, cataract surgery in the setting of endothelial dysfunction, updates on epithelial mapping, the impact of floaters on patient satisfaction post-cataract surgery, new laser technologies for glaucoma management, why we are seeing more primary DMEK failures, and many oth- er interesting topics. Our Editorial Board and staff continue to work hard to bring timely and useful articles to our membership. As always, if you have any suggestions for topics, improve- ments, etc., please feel free to reach out to me at gargs@uci.edu. H aving the privilege to teach future genera- tions of ophthalmol- ogists is something I cherish. Education comes in many forms—resident and fellow training, online edu- cation, peer-to-peer education, education via professional societies like ASCRS, etc. Education involves a blend of technical expertise, communication skills, and empathy. Ophthalmic educators must not only be masters of their specialty but also adept at conveying complex information in an understandable manner. One of the key challenges in teaching ophthalmic surgery is balancing the need for hands-on experience with patient safety. The apprenticeship model, where trainees assist and observe experienced surgeons, remains a cornerstone of surgical education, however, there has been many advancements in the areas of virtual training aids. Effective and construc- tive feedback is an essential part of education. Moreover, educators must remain up to date with the latest advancements in technology and techniques, ensuring that their teachings reflect current best practices. Ultimately, teaching in ophthalmic surgery is about nurturing the next generation of clinicians and surgeons, ensuring they possess the skills, knowledge, and confi- dence to treat patients effectively—understand- ing the complexity and nuances of ophthalmol- ogy, mitigating complications, and maximizing outcomes to positively impact patients' quality of life. Every physician encounters obstacles on a regular basis. For those of us who operate, we know that every surgery poses its own chal- lenges. As a result of our extensive education, training, and practice, many of our surgeries become routine, however, every now and then a case can really challenge us, and complications can arise. A challenge that we all face is the business of practicing medicine. Whether you are self-employed, part of a large group, in ac- ademics, private-equity owned, or practicing in another model, the economics of medicine are ever changing, and physician reimbursement continues to face downward pressures. Highlighting the complexity of ophthalmic practice and the obstacles we encounter

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