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EW AAO 2015 50 integrity of the medical profession, pharma's "thought leaders," and the rightfulness of industry's involve- ment in medicine. Diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis against ocular infec- tions are becoming more complex as organisms develop an increas- ing resistance to antibiotics. The "Controversies in Ocular Infections" session on Tuesday, November 17 will highlight current strategies for managing ocular infections, from prophylaxis against post-cat- aract surgery endophthalmitis to treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, viral keratitis, and more. Leaders in the field will present point/counterpoint lectures with the latest evidence-based information to guide attendees in their clinical decision-making. Spotlight on education This year's AAO meeting will also feature several sessions dedicated to ophthalmic education. The Interna- tional Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) will present the Las Vegas Conference for Ophthalmic Edu- cators on Saturday, November 14 from 2:00–5:30 p.m. Participants will be able to choose from a variety of workshops and group discussions that will help them to improve their teaching effectiveness and provide an opportunity to connect with other educators from around the world. This session is free of charge and open to all AAO 2015 registered attendees. For decades, ophthalmology training has followed a set time- frame with a strict rotation schedule: 1 year of primary care internship and 3 years of residency. But con- sidering the trend toward post-res- idency fellowship training and an understanding that adult learners need different resources to become competent physicians, the idea of personalized education has come to the fore. On Tuesday, November 17, the "Personalized Education for Ophthalmology Residents: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?" session will explore options for tailoring ophthalmology training to meet each resident's needs and potential future directions for the structure of residency programs. EW by Lauren Lipuma EyeWorld Staff Writer or With Harm?" session on Sunday, November 15, experts will debate whether glaucoma and corneal conditions can coexist without causing harm. Speakers will discuss keratoplasty outcomes in the setting of glaucoma and the best modes of glaucoma treatment in the setting of keratoplasty. The symposium will conclude with the Castroviejo Lecture, given by Elisabeth Cohen, MD, New York. Nanotechnology has recently entered the ophthalmic arena, with ophthalmologists and scientists using it to enhance drug delivery systems and to target diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and ocular tumors. The "Nanotech- nology in the Diagnosis and Treat- ment of Ocular Diseases" sympo- sium on Monday, November 16 will provide an overview of currently available nanotechnologies and their use in the treatment of ocular disease and regeneration of ocular tissues. The glaucoma subspecialty is driven by many large randomized clinical trials, yet many of the day- to-day clinical decisions ophthal- mologists make are not backed by strong data and therefore are more controversial. In "A Day in the Clinic," taking place on Monday, November 16, speakers will empha- size daily clinical issues encountered in glaucoma management that are relevant to the comprehensive ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist. Experts will discuss the use of generic versus brand-name drugs, combination versus separate glaucoma and cataract surgeries, and the treatment of advanced glaucoma with medications versus surgery. Session chairs will introduce cases to panelists who will discuss them from differing viewpoints, and after each case, attendees will vote for the most convincing management approach. The physician-industry relation- ship has been at the forefront of eth- ical issues over the past several years. In a combined symposium with the Ethics Committee, Carl Elliott, MD, PhD, Minneapolis, will explore this complex issue in "The Dark Side of Medicine." Through first-hand inter- views and revelations of true events, Dr. Elliott will dive into the sensitive issues of conflicts of interest, the T his year's American Acad- emy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting will do more than provide at- tendees with basic clinical education—symposia at the 2015 meeting will offer new and insight- ful perspectives on the management of ocular disease and the practice of modern medicine. In the following sessions, speakers will delve into some of the most controversial topics in the field, highlight the potential of emerging technologies, and challenge physicians to change how they think about ophthalmic education. Symposia highlights In addition to cataracts, corneal issues and glaucoma remain ma- jor causes of blindness around the world. Surgical treatments for corne- al disorders often lead to glaucoma, however, and glaucoma treatments often lead to corneal complications. In the "Glaucoma and the Anterior Segment: Coexistence in Harmony Sessions will highlight ophthalmic education, new technologies, and controversies in the field AAO Preview • November 14–17, 2015 Symposia not to be missed October 2015 avoiding complications, using guid- ance tools in conjunction with the femtosecond laser, surgery in pre- vious corneal surgery or pathology, and increased patient and surgeon interest. Monday, November 16 "Laser Refractive Surgery" Skills Transfer Lab 128A 8:00–10:00 a.m. Veronese 2503 Participants in this wet lab will work with George O. Waring IV, MD, and a team of other experienced sur- geons to learn techniques in laser re- fractive surgery. The lab is designed to help attendees become acquaint- ed with equipment like mechanical microkeratomes, femtosecond lasers, excimer lasers, and corneal inlays. "Solving the High Myopia Problem with Phakic IOLs" Instruction Course 469 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Marco Polo 707 This instruction course will give participants the opportunity to assess phakic IOLs as a good choice in refractive surgery. Instructors will cover IOL selection, patients, techniques, management of complications, and other important information. Tuesday, November 17 "Therapeutic Corneal Refractive Surgery" Instruction Course 640 10:15–11:15 a.m. Galileo 1003 This new instruction course will cover the diagnostic approach and optimal therapeutic actions to be used in complicated corneal refrac- tive cases. A number of available systems like wavefront-guided and topography-guided ablation will be discussed. Additionally, some of the best papers published in the Therapeutic Refractive Surgery section of the Journal of Refractive Surgery will be presented. "Transitioning to Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE), the All-Femtosecond Laser Vision Correction: Why and How?" Instruction Course 668 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Galileo 1001 This instruction course will discuss some of the benefits of the small-in- cision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedure and will give tips on transitioning to SMILE. EW Refractive continued from page 48

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