Ophthalmic Technicians' Meeting Set for Saturday May 2, 2009

     On Saturday, May 2, 2009 SureVision Eye Centers is proud to host the annual Ophthalmic Technicians Meeting at the Comfort Inn Westport, in St. Louis.  Each year this meeting draws technicians from the midwestern region to spend a day learning about new procedures and advanced skills to help with patient care in their practices.

This year the seminar starts off with Dennis Zukosky, COA, CRA speaking on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT).  This technology has opened new avenues to imaging and visualizing the human eye. This course will focus on the different views of OCT as seen by patient, technician and physician, concentrating on expanding the technician’s ability to understand and apply the technology. Basic retinal anatomy will be reviewed. Specific clinical findings of retinal disease will be presented using case examples. 

Upon completion of this presentation participants will be able to:

• Explain the process of creating and improving an OCT image.

• Identify key retinal layers and understand the 3D geographic characteristics of retinal tissue.

• Identify retinal layers as imaged on OCT.

• Identify the location within the retina of common clinical findings for retinal diseases and glaucoma.

• Understand the strengths and limitations of OCT and the technician’s role in acquisition.

The next presentation will be on Ocular Surface Inflammatory Disease with Sean Mulqueeny, OD and Lawrence Gans, MD.  Patients with ocular surface disease (OSD) suffer from a myriad of problems, often including corneal surface scarring. Dr. Mulqueeny will discuss causes and treatments of OSD with an emphasis on anti-inflammatory control through oral and topical agents. 

Upon completion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of OSD.

• Instruct the patient on the use of OTC and prescription medications.

• Understand causes and predispositions of OSD. 

The next presentation will discuss "Creating a High Performing Team" by renowned practice consultant, Greg Raeman, COE, CCOA, OCS.  This presentation defines team and teamwork, the impact of a high performing team on a group of participants and the related impact on business. 

Upon completion of this presentation, the participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate the value of teamwork and how it can benefit staff in the workplace.

• Highlight ways that staff can contribute to the team.

• Point out the benefits/risks of working or not working together as a team in an eye care practice.  

Dan Walsh, OD worked as an Ophthalmic Technician before he became an Optometrist and has an ideal persective on the issues that are of interest to techs.  He will present: Case Studies for the Ophthalmic Technician.  We all have patients who ended up dissatisfied or who have had to have their glasses remade because of mistakes or conditions that were overlooked at the patient’s initial exam.  Dr. Walsh will discuss ways to avoid these problems.

The goals of this presentation are to teach the participant to:

• Position progressive addition lenses properly in order to arrive at the correct add power.

• Detect prism with the automatic and manual lensometer.

• Measure patient and glasses PD.

• Properly measure vertex distance.

Edward A. Doisy, III, MD is one of the St. Louis areas most prolific cataract surgeons.  He will discuss:  Prophylaxis and Anti-Infective Care Pearls for the Cataract Patient.   

Prophylaxis has become the “standard of care” for patients who are having cataract surgery. Dr. Doisy will explain anti-infective use before and after cataract surgery and the reasons why it is necessary. He will discuss endophthalmitis, its signs and symptoms and course of treatment, as well as other types of infection and inflammation that can occur after cataract surgery.

 This presentation will teach you to will be able to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of infection in post operative patients.

• Distinguish the different classes of anti-infectives.

• Explain post operative instructions to patients.

If you ever saw Dr. Lawrence Gans sing with his barbershop comedy quartet, Expanded Sound, you would certainly wonder how he could give a presentation entitled:  Beauty and the Ophthalmologist. But Lawrence Gans, MD is one of the regions respected experts on Corneal & External Ocular Disease and Refractive Surgery.  Having helped so many people to no longer hide their faces behind glasses, he now focuses on the ways that Ophthalmologists can help make eyes more attractive.  Botox Cosmetic for wrinkles and Latisse to lengthen, thicken and darken eyelashes are the two subjects of this presentation.  This course will focus on teaching technicians how to prepare patients and medication for Botox Cosmetic injections, and how to give patients instructions for administering Latisse safely and effectively.

Upon completion of this presentation the participant will be able to:

• Describe the pharmacology of botulinum toxin and bimatoprost ophthalmic solution

• Describe treatment options, risks and benefits, post operative care and evaluations.

• Understand the basics of treatment for both Latisse and Botox Cosmetic.

This will be the most exciting program offered for Ophthalmic Technicians this year.  Don't miss it.

For meeting brochure and to register click here