The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) held its annual meeting last week at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California. This year's event was a must-see thanks to a wide variety of continuing education courses, a first-class exhibit hall and exciting social events.
On Wednesday, Academy 2016 kicked off with the Plenary Session "Today's Research, Tomorrow's Practice® — Current State of Health Care and Research," presented by world-renowned speaker and five-time New York Times bestseller Malcolm Gladwell.
A wide variety of CE opportunities were made available to Academy 2016 participants on topics such as new frontiers in glaucoma, ocular pain, neuro-ophthalmic and binocular vision disorders, corneal crosslinking, low vision, and vision in aging. There were also scientific poster sessions and product information breakfasts for attendees to learn from. And Saturday's education featured a Residents Day Program with paper and poster presentations.
Additionally, there were a number of joint symposia held throughout the conference, such as the OGS/AAO Joint Symposium on glaucoma management, AAO/AARVO Joint Symposium on control versus correction in early myopia, and 2016 American Academy of Optometry and American Academy of Ophthalmology Joint Symposium "Corneal Infections and Contact Lens Wear: An Evidence-Based Approach to Navigating the Risks and Complications."
Awards & Accolades
On Friday, the AAO announced the establishment of the Brien Holden Humanitarian Award to honor the memory and work of Professor Brien Holden — founder of the Brien Holden Vision Institute and a global leader in eye care and vision research. The award will reportedly recognize an individual or organization who made significant contributions to improve eye care within a country or region. The award will be given annually starting in 2017. Nominations are due by April 1, 2017 and should include two letters of nomination from Academy fellows and a CV of the nominee.
The American Optometric Foundation (AOF), in partnership with the Allergan Foundation, announced Dr. Stephen A. Burns, professor at Indiana University School of Optometry, as the recipient of the 2016-2017 Allergan Research Grant. Burns was reportedly awarded a $60,000 grant for his project, “High Resolution, Adaptive Optics Imaging of the Trabecular Meshwork in Vivo.” Drs. Brett J. King and Thomas J. Gast at Indiana University were co-investigators on this project.
Women in Optometry announced the recipients of its first-ever Theia Awards of Excellence during a live ceremony on Thursday evening. Winners included current American Optometric Association President Dr. Andrea P. Thau; Dr. Melissa Barnett of Sacramento, Calif.; Dr. Stacy Ayn Lyons at New England College of Optometry; Dr. Linda M. Chous of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Eyefoods authors Drs. Barbara Pelletier and Laurie Capogna.
Around the Exhibit Hall
Here’s a look at just a few of the companies, products and technologies featured at Academy 2016.
Bausch + Lomb announced the launch of its #ONEbyONE recycling program at the show, which will allow patients and practitioners the ability to recycle used contact lenses and blister packs. Developed in partnership with TerraCycle, patients can send in their lenses and packaging to be recycled and doctors can sign up through BauschRecycles.com for collection bins for their offices.
Exhibit hall attendees had the chance to see Forus Health's 3nethra classic compact, portable and easy-to-use non-mydriatic digital imaging device, designed to take, display, store and transmit posterior and anterior images. The device is also durable, compatible with Windows PC, and offers automatic and manual selection of images for report generation.
Ocutech, Inc. featured their bioptic telescopes that enhance distance or near vision for those with visual impairments from macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Stargardt's Disease, rod/cone dystrophy, macular holes, and other eye conditions. The company offers models that can either be attached to a patient's glasses or come pre-attached to frames.
Alcon introduced its new AIR OPTIX® plus HydraGlyde monthly replacement contact lenses at this year's AAO show. The latest addition to the AIR OPTIX family combines SmartShield® Technology for deposit resistance with HydraGlyde® Moisture Matrix for a longer-lasting surface moisture.
Clear Eyes® was in the Exhibit Hall, showcasing its Clear Eyes Pure Relief™ for Dry Eyes — a preservative-free lubricant eye drop in a multi-dose bottle. The drops contain sodium hyalouronate, a form of hyaluranic acid, for advanced comfort and are housed in a bottle with a patented built-in purifying filter that helps keep bacteria out.
Vivid Vision unveiled an at-home virtual reality therapy device for binocular vision issues, including amblyopia, strabismus and convergence insufficiency. The at-home device would provide more tools to doctors and allow them to monitor sessions remotely. According to Vivid Vision, the home version is being offered to pre-existing customers through a soft launch, with a hard launch expected within a year.
Vision testing and visual acuity product producer Precision Vision, Inc. released its new MN Read Pocket Card at Academy 2016. Designed to be a quick assessment tool, the card features tests on one side and practical applications on the other. Its small size allows it to be easily carried around, and it is laminated to help keep it clean.
First-time Academy exhibitor Innexus by Innereactive Media showcased its website, social media and marketing solutions for eye care practices. In addition to web design and social media work, the company also helps practices use their existing practice management software for direct marketing to patients.
Annidis Corporation showcased its RHA™ Multi-Spectral Imaging (MSI) that takes high-resolution, 80 degree panoramic images of the retina and choroid for the early detection and treatment of such diseases as diabetic retinopathy, dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and other ocular issues. The device also offers wavelength fundus autofluorescence, stereo imaging and vascular oxygenation contrasted maps.
Eye hydration products and therapies company Eye Eco Inc. launched its new d.e.r.m. Wellness Kit at the AAO conference. The kit, which is available pre-order, features a Tea Tree Eyelid & Facial Cleanser™, Essential Nine Eyelid & Skin Therapy™, and mild dry eye treatment mask.
OrCam Technologies featured its MyEye wearable intuitive device for assisting people who are blind or have low vision. The device includes a smart camera mounted on the wearer's spectacles and connected to a smartphone-sized computer. As the wearer "sees" with the camera, the device reads text, identifies learned products, or recognizes previously identified faces through the wearer's earpiece.
And Euclid Systems Corporation offered Academy 2016 attendees information on its Emerald™ lenses for treating myopia and mild astigmatism. These FDA-approved lenses provide practitioners with a non-surgical alternative to refractive surgery with an easy fitting procedure that is not restricted to only adult patients.
Academy 2017 will take place October 11-14, 2017 at McCormick Place in Chicago. For more information, visit AAOpt.org.