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New research sheds light on how the dry eye medication lifitegrast works beyond the ocular surface, targeting the underlying immune system to provide relief for patients.

Tear Film and Ocular Surface 2024: Uncovering the systemic mechanism of lifitegrast

This quiz accompanies THIS article from our December issue

c. One-third eye width, canthus to canthus

d. One-third eye fissure opening vertically

Quiz: Know the ocular effects of eyelash growth serums

Technological advancements have revolutionized the way we travel and navigate the world. From getting directions to the closest coffee shop to ordering a rideshare back from the airport, technology has made travel more efficient, convenient, and less stressful. However, for someone with vision loss, navigating a route and doing it safely still has many challenges.

Challenges for people with a visual impairment may include reading a street sign, crossing a busy street, or avoiding an obstacle. Finding the restroom in an unknown indoor environment has been reported as the biggest challenge, followed by locating signage, stairs, and elevators.

 Consequences of these challenges often result in avoiding travel, social isolation,

 Outdoor head-level accidents requiring medical attention are not uncommon for people with vision loss.

Early technologies, dating back to the 1960s, concentrated on protection from injury. Known as electronic travel aids, ultrasonic sensors were used to detect a potential hazard through haptics or sound.

 Although this technology is still in use today and is combined with other technologies, it is important to understand that limitations still exist, such as false positive feedback in crowded or urban environments.

One of the tools most associated with vision loss is the white cane. Although not meant to replace a cane, technologies can assist by providing additional information for orientation and mobility that extend beyond a cane. Orientation and mobility play a vital role in someone’s journey with declining vision. Knowing one’s orientation helps to define where someone is in their environment, such as knowing nearby landmarks or stores, whereas mobility is the ability to move safely within that environment, avoiding both static and dynamic obstacles. Although optometry plays an indirect role, providing best corrected vision, contrast, and telescopic or magnification solutions, we should also be aware of the digital technologies available, of which many are integrated right in our smartphones.

The Global Positioning System (GPS), initially developed for the military, is now used by millions of people every day, giving directions all over the world. GPS can be extremely helpful to someone with a visual impairment, as it is readily available on a smartphone and gives audible directions. However, the accuracy of GPS can be off by as much as 4.9 m or even more in urban areas.

 This now becomes a safety concern for turn-by-turn navigation, and a discrepancy often means that the user will only get close to their destination, complicating travel for those relying on accurate positioning cues to compensate for their vision loss. In addition, GPS cannot be used indoors and many applications heavily rely on a visual display. However, there are accessible GPS applications available that are designed and adapted for use by someone with vision loss. Two popular apps are Lazarillo and BlindSquare.

The Lazarillo and BlindSquare apps are specifically designed for travelers with low vision and blindness. They have similar features that provide audible information on current locations, intersections, nearby points of interest (POI), public transportation, and turn-by-turn walking directions.

A distinguishable difference in the Lazarillo app includes the ability to turn on or off nearby POI by category that the user wants to be notified about. The POI are organized by categories such as food, stores, banks, or health. It also allows an individual’s choice to be provided by their mode of transportation, either heard when walking or when riding in a vehicle. This can help users discover new places or assist in their orientation for recognizing known places along a route.

The BlindSquare application also searches and vocalizes POI, and although you can pick a specific category, if not specified, the app will speak out all POI. BlindSquare allows customization of the search radius ranging from 82 feet to 1.2 miles. This flexibility enables users to hear about POI within their specified area. Additionally, BlindSquare includes features such as Look Around, providing information about the environment in the direction that the user is facing within their set range, as well as the Around Me feature, giving a comprehensive 360° overview of the surrounding environment that extends beyond the set range. The feature can also enhance an individual’s orientation, helping them discover new areas.

In a review and study on assistive GPS application user experiences, Theodorou et al found that BlindSquare was favored due to its customization options.

 However, when they compared BlindSquare and the Lazarillo app with their external and more accurate GPS system, they found that people were willing to forgo personalization features for greater accuracy.

The choice of one application over the other comes down to preference and preferred operating system. The Lazarillo app is free and is available on both iOS and Android, whereas BlindSquare costs $39.99 and is only available on iOS. Both companies also provide other technology solutions for indoor navigation using sensor technologies that businesses can purchase.

Another assistive GPS, HapticNav, is optimized for on-foot travel and is unique, as it guides through haptic feedback on a smartphone. While providing turn-by-turn instructions, the app uses vibrations to alert the user to stay on course. If the person is walking in the correct direction, there is no vibration. The user can also choose to have a haptic pulse. You can think of it as a corridor, and if you veer off course or step out of the corridor, the app will notify you via vibrations. Navigating through haptics can be advantageous in noisy environments, which can drown out audio guidance, or for those with a hearing impairment. The company reports that in 2017, a runner who was blind was able to run 15 miles of the New York City Marathon without sighted assistance using their haptic feedback technology.

 It also reports that the app will soon work on the Apple Watch. HapticNav is free and is available on iOS and Android.

Although GPS-based apps and tools provide mapping and directional information, obstacle avoidance is still challenging and adds another layer of complexity. As previously mentioned, initial technologies concentrated on obstacle avoidance alone.

The premise of the WeWALK Smart Cane is to incorporate a blend of technologies with the traditional white cane. The WeWALK Smart Cane is a traditional folding cane with a plastic attachment on the handle housing an ultrasonic sensor, trackpad, and speaker. Unlike a conventional white cane, the ultrasonic sensor offers a 55° coverage area to detect obstacles above the chest, protecting users from head injury. The user is alerted to a potential hazard by haptic feedback. The speaker and trackpad also allow the user to receive audio feedback with a Bluetooth headphone option and to control the WeWALK app directly from the cane, eliminating the need to hold the phone in their hand.

The WeWALK GPS app provides location feedback, discovery of nearby POI, step-by-step navigation along with location and directions to public transportation, and updates on bus/train arrivals and can create an entire route to complete a journey, transitioning from foot travel to public transit and back again. WeWALK offers use of their app to anyone in a subscription model, but cane owners have access to the app at no additional cost. The application is available on both iOS and Android.

The WeWALK Smart Cane 2, with a design closer to the feel of a traditional white cane, is due out later this year. The company has also integrated artificial intelligence (AI) with this cane, providing the option of AI-assisted mobility training and the ability to connect to someone for sighted assistance.

Wearable assistive navigation technologies for obstacle avoidance

Although WeWALK integrates technology with the white cane, wearables by biped and Strap Tech allow hands-free obstacle avoidance. These devices use a combination of sensors and AI to provide analysis and feedback about the environment.

The Ara device by Strap Tech communicates the location and distance of obstacles through vibrations, alerting a user to low-lying, chest, and head-level obstacles while walking (

). This obstacle alert system is worn across the midtorso, weighs just over three-quarters of a pound, and encases advanced sensors, including LiDAR (light detection and ranging), ultrasonic sensors, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and haptic actuators. When worn, Ara’s AI continuously processes the sensor’s data, prioritizing feedback based on size, speed, and proximity of a potential obstruction risk, providing that to the wearer through vibrational patterns. When used with a white cane or guide dog, the Ara features the White Cane Mode, which dampens low-level obstacle feedback, reducing any unnecessary alerts.

Similar to how autonomous vehicles scan for risks on the road, biped—which is

worn as a harness over the shoulders—uses specialized cameras to scan a 170° field of view and alerts the user to potential obstacles via spatial sounds through a bone conduction headset (

 With a detection range of up to 15 feet, its algorithm warns the user of the most significant potential risk, scanning the environment for stationary and moving targets such as cars and people. For example, it can predict a potential head-level collision with a tree branch that the user is advancing upon while filtering out other objects that pose no threat and gives audio feedback to avoid it.

 biped also incorporates AI scene description (photo-to-text generative AI) and GPS instructions to provide more comprehensive information about a route.

A new, noteworthy wearable technology is SideSight, developed by Ocutech. SideSight helps people with hemianopsia avoid obstacles on their blind side. Attached to the user’s glasses, ultrasonic sensors (in which range and angle can be customized by the optometrist) detect an obstacle and provide proximity information through vibrations to the individual.

Başgöze Z, Gualtieri J, Sachs MT, Cooper EA. Navigational aid use by individuals with visual impairments. 

Curriero FC, Pinchoff J, van Landingham SW, Ferrucci L, Friedman DS, Ramulu PY. Alteration of travel patterns with vision loss from glaucoma and macular degeneration. 

. 2013;131(11):1420-1426. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2013.4471

Ireland - Clear Our Paths campaign. EBU. Accessed June 21, 2024. https://www.euroblind.org/newsletter/2023/september/en/ireland-clear-our-paths-campaign

Manduchi R, Kurniawan S. Mobility-related accidents experienced by people with visual impairment. 

Real S, Araujo A. Navigation systems for the blind and visually impaired: past work, challenges, and open problems. 

 2019;19(15):3404. doi:10.3390/s19153404

van Diggelen F, Enge P. The world’s first GPS MOOC and worldwide laboratory using smartphones. In: 

Proceedings of the 28th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of the Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2015)

. The Institute of Navigation; 2015:361-369.

Theodorou P, Tsiligkos K, Meliones A. Multi-sensor data fusion solutions for blind and visually impaired: research and commercial navigation applications for indoor and outdoor spaces. 

. 2023;23(12):5411. doi:10.3390/s23125411

About. Haptic. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://haptic.works/about-1

How it works. Strap Tech. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://www.strap.tech/the-device

biped AI. Accessed June 30, 2024. https://biped.ai/

Navigation and orientation technologies offer practical solution for people with vision loss.

The white cane and beyond

The US FDA has accepted LENZ Therapeutics’ New Drug Application (NDA) for LNZ100 for the treatment of presbyopia, according to the company in a news release.

 The NDA submission is supported by positive data results from the pivotal Phase 3 CLARITY study, released in April 2024, which reached all primary and secondary near vision improvement endpoints with participants reaching 3-lines or greater improvement in Best Corrected Distance Visual Acuity at near and did not lose 1 line or more in distance visual acuity.

“With the acceptance of our New Drug Application for LNZ100, we are pleased to be one step closer towards potential approval and look forward to continuing to collaborate with the FDA to deliver the first once-daily, well-tolerated and rapid acting eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia to the 128 million individuals living with blurry near vision in the United States,” said Eef Schimmelpennink, president and CEO of LENZ Therapeutics, in the release. “Since our public debut in March 2024, we have generated tremendous momentum and demonstrated consistent clinical, regulatory and financial execution, and are focused on transforming LENZ into a robust commercial organization in anticipation of a potential launch as early as the second half of 2025.”

LENZ Therapeutics had submitted the NDA to the US FDA in August 2024.

 Currently, the FDA is not planning to hold an advisory committee meeting to discuss the application. LENZ Therapeutics has been assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of August 8, 2025.

“This is an important milestone as we advance our commercial preparations in anticipation of a potential approval in August 2025,” said Shawn Olsson, LENZ Therapeutics chief commercial officer, in the release. “With a highly accomplished commercial leadership team in place, we look forward to the continued build-out of our commercial organization with an aim to clearly define the market and establish LNZ100 as the standard of care eye drop for the treatment of presbyopia.”

Aceclidine a new chemical entity in the US and is not approved for the treatment of presbyopia in any country.

LENZ Therapeutics announces FDA acceptance of New Drug Application for LNZ100 for the treatment of presbyopia. News release. LENZ Therapeutics. October 21, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. 

https://ir.lenz-tx.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/22/lenz-therapeutics-announces-fda-acceptance-of-new-drug-application-for-lnz100-for-the-treatment-of-presbyopia

Joy J. LENZ Therapeutics announces positive results from Phase 3 CLARITY trials. 

April 10, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. 

https://www.optometrytimes.com/view/lenz-therapeutics-announces-positive-results-from-phase-3-clarity-trials

Joy J. LENZ Therapeutics submits NDA for LNZ100 for the treatment of presbyopia. 

August 12, 2024. Accessed October 24, 2024. 

https://www.optometrytimes.com/view/lenz-therapeutics-submits-nda-for-lnz100-for-the-treatment-of-presbyopia

The company previously released positive data results from the pivotal Phase 3 CLARITY study in April, with the NDA submitted in August of this year.

US FDA accepts NDA for LENZ Therapeutics' LNZ100 for the treatment of presbyopia

Biotechnology company Aldeyra Therapeutics announced the resubmission of the New Drug Application (NDA) to the US FDA for the investigational new drug candidate topical ocular reproxalap, intended for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED).

 The application was resubmitted with a draft label reflecting acute activity in reducing dry eye symptoms in a dry eye chamber trial, chronic activity in reducing dry eye symptoms in a field trial, and acute activity in reducing ocular redness in 2 dry eye chamber trials, according to a news release. Previously disclosed positive results from a completed DED symptom trial were also submitted after being requested by the FDA following review of the previously submitted NDA.

“If approved, reproxalap would have the potential to be the first DED therapy for chronic use with pivotal data demonstrating acute activity in reducing dry eye symptoms and ocular redness, 2 characteristics of dry eye disease of primary importance to patients,” said Todd C. Brady, MD, PhD, Aldeyra’s president and CEO, in the release.

Reproxalap is also in development for allergic conjunctivitis and works as a first-in-class small-molecule modulator of RASP, which are found to be elevated in ocular and systemic inflammatory diseases. The drug candidate has been studied in more than 2500 patients with no observed safety concerns, with mild and transient instillation site irritation as the most commonly reported adverse event in clinical trials assessing reproxalap.

Aldeyra announced in August 2024 that the primary endpoint was met in a Phase 3 randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled dry eye chamber clinical trial assessing reproxalap in patients with DED. Reproxalap was found to be statistically superior to vehicle for the primary endpoint of ocular discomfort (P=0.004), which is acknowledged by the FDA as a symptom of DED, the release stated. Aldeyra also stated that it believes the results are supportive of the potential rapid clinical effect of reproxalap on reducing ocular discomfort as associated with DED.

Per the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, the NDA resubmission is slated for FDA acknowledgement of acceptance for review within 30 days of submission, with completion of submission review to be completed within 6 months.

Aldeyra Therapeutics resubmits reproxalap New Drug Application for the treatment of dry eye disease. News release. Aldeyra Therapeutics. October 3, 2024. Accessed October 3, 2024. 

https://ir.aldeyra.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aldeyra-therapeutics-resubmits-reproxalap-new-drug-application

Reproxalap was previously found to be statistically superior to vehicle for the primary endpoint of ocular discomfort (P=0.004) in a Phase 3 randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled dry eye chamber clinical trial.

Aldeyra Therapeutics resubmits NDA for reproxalap for DED signs and symptoms treatment

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, DIPABO speaks with Optometry Times about the new optometry program and integrated family time in the upcoming 2024 EnVision Summit

EnVision Summit 2024: Family time and eye care take center stage

EnVision Summit, already known for its unique integration of the family unit into its programs, just got more expansive this year with the addition of an optometry program. Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, DIPABO, sat down with 

to chat about this year's event, running from February 16 to 19.

: This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Hi, everyone. Today I'm here with Cecelia Koetting, one of the co-chairs of the 2024 EnVision Summit Optometry Program. Welcome, Dr. Koetting, good to see you, as always.

 Of course. So first, can you tell me what drew you to help kickstart the EnVision Summit Optometry Program?

 I actually was brought in by a friend of mine, who had been speaking with Bonnie [An Henderson, MD, cofounder of EnVision Summit] at the last EnVision Summit, and Jen Lyerly, [OD,] who's a fellow optometrist, and she went last year and really was very overwhelmed by how amazing the conference was, and wanted to see how we could get optometry more involved. Jennifer Lyerly wasn't able to really devote the time this year to help build up the program, so she brought myself and a couple other people into chat with Bonnie. So here we are, 6 months later, where we're really starting to get this built up.

 Fantastic. Can you share what it is about the meeting that attracted you?

 The meeting itself is inclusive, it's inclusive of family and I think that that's really interesting. It's very different, as opposed to many of the conferences that we go to that are in these really fun places (such as Puerto Rico, where we're going) [that] unfortunately don't lend themselves to family really getting to spend time with us as the doctors while we're in class. So EnVision is actually open to family. If kids want to come in and hang out with us while we're in the lecture hall, they're invited. Family members are allowed to come to the meals and spend time with us. So I thought that was just a really different, unique vibe that EnVision offers. Yeah, absolutely. It makes it very welcoming, very cozy, very homey. Yeah, and now I want optometry to be part of it. We really want it to be where it's cohesive, not just optometry, ophthalmology. Eventually as time goes on, that's kind of more of the pipeline dream, but right now we've got it so that all classes on the MD track and the OD track are actually both going to be COPE and CME approved, so that everybody is encouraged to criss-cross and go to whatever course sounds interesting.

 Yeah, I think that's a fantastic idea. So you're participating in the hot topics rapid-fire session on coolest cases. Can you give us a little sneak peek on what you're bringing to the table?

 Yeah, so we got all of the 5 female optometrists that are there lecturing, including myself. We will be kind of going through a smorgasbord because if you've looked at the lineup, we have women who are top of their game in so many different respects that it's going to be fun. We're going to be looking at nevuses and melanomas, we're going to be talking about diplopia. I know you don't love it, but believe me, it'll be fun. We're also getting into some retinal issues as well. So again, we're just kind of going all over the place here with it.

 That sounds so cool. I'm so excited to hear more. Do you have any other panels or programs that you're not participating in that you're particularly excited to see?

 Yeah, since I got to have a little hand and how this went, I kind of was like, "Well, what makes me interested?" or pulling people from other places I've seen that I think are phenomenal speakers and women that I think, again, are just able to deliver this great content and really make it useful for us. So both Dr [Carolyn] Majcher and [Sherrol] Reynolds are going to be there speaking about retina and updating us on what's changing with geographic atrophy and diagnosis and treatment. I'm really excited to hear them talk about that. The other one, which is completely left field, actually, is Dr Jackie Theis and Sara Etheredge, who is actually an occupational therapist. I actually heard them in Ireland do a live panel with a patient where they brought the patient in to do traumatic brain injury assessment and neurological assessment, and then also looking at it from an occupational therapist direction, and figuring out why this patient was having so much trouble. It's just a really neat application of things that we can do, that we may not otherwise be doing. So, if you can't tell, I'm really excited to get to learn from them again.

 Absolutely, I mean, it sounds like there's a lot to learn about that. They're such rock stars, so it'll be so cool.

 So kind of turning away from education and moving towards extracurriculars, are there any elements outside of the education portion that you're eager to explore?

 Well, yes, I am. The yoga classes which will be taught by yours truly. Occasionally you guys have maybe heard that that's one of the things they do. I've taught before at some other conferences, and I was happy enough to find a home for time for me to lead classes both for the optometrists and family. So there is adult yoga on Saturday, Sunday morning, and then there's family yoga on Monday. Friday, I will be hanging out with the kiddos and doing young adult yoga.

 That sounds so, so fun. I'm a little jealous, but it'll be great. Is there anything else that you'd like to share that we haven't touched on?

 I think it's just going to be a great conference and great collaboration. I'm really excited. If you know, people haven't heard about this yet, go look it up. Come join us. If you don't come this year, definitely come hang out with us next year, because I think this is something that we'd like to see long term grow and turn into something just, like I said, really collaborative between both optometry and ophthalmology.

 Absolutely, and that collaboration is always so, so wonderful. So thank you so much for taking the time to chat today, Dr Koetting, it's been a pleasure.

Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, DIPABO chats with Optometry Times about her role with EnVision Summit's new optometry program and the excitement surrounding the event.

Conference

Bonnie An Henderson, MD, cofounder of EnVision Summit, outlines key takeaways of the family and diversity-centered event

EnVision Summit 2024: Bringing diversity to eye care meetings with Dr Bonnie An Henderson

With EnVision Summit 2024 on the horizon, the meeting's cofounder Bonnie An Henderson, MD, outlines its purpose of family inclusion and highlighting diverse backgrounds. She sat down with 

to share what's new at this year's meeting, running from February 16 to 19 in Puerto Rico.

Hi everyone, I'm here with Bonnie Henderson, program director and cofounder of the EnVision Summit. Welcome Dr Henderson. I'm so glad that you could join us.


Well, thank you so much, Emily. Please feel free to call me Bonnie.


Alright, Bonnie. So first, can you tell us what's new and exciting at the 2024 EnVision Summit?


Absolutely. So first of all, thank you so much for having me on and talking about EnVision. EnVision Summit is very near and dear to my heart, and I'd love to share information about it. So what's new this year at EnVision Summit is that we are focusing [on] what we usually focus on, which is the amazing science and clinical work that ophthalmologists do. Of course, we focus on having a very casual family-friendly environment, but also empowering women leaders and giving them a chance to network with each other, and to be on the podium and to get involved in in clinical trials, to get involved in research projects together. 

So that's what we always do, but what's new and different this year is that we have this amazing optometry program that we're starting. I'm really excited about it because we've had so many questions about, "Can we have a concurrent program that is really focused on educating optometrists?" So I'm excited about it this year, I'm really hoping that it will be well received and well attended. 

We hold it every February, it's Presidents' Day weekend. We hold it in Puerto Rico, so it's nice and warm. Remember, Puerto Rico is a US territory, you don't need a passport, you don't need a visa. We choose Puerto Rico because they've been hit with a lot of natural disasters of the recent past. It's a way to help the community as well, and bring in the colleagues from the continental US, as well as from North, South, and Central Americas as well. So please join us, and we're really looking forward to having you participate in EnVision Summit.


Yeah, that sounds so exciting. So can you tell me a little bit more about how the optometry program came about?


Absolutely. So I've been working with our CME provider, which is Physicians' Education Resource; they're part of MJH Life Sciences, and they have been our accreditation partner for this upcoming year. As part of that company, I met this amazing optometrist Dr Peg Achenbach, and she was instrumental in helping me brainstorm about putting this program together. She really tapped into the fact that a lot of optometrists out there really are looking for this type of education, not only really good science, but also the ability to network with other female optometrists, as well as male optometrists too, and ophthalmologists, together. She really was the one that helped me think through this and figure out what type of program would be very useful and very helpful. She introduced me to Dr Cecilia Koetting and Dr Danica Marrelli, as they are the chairs of the program. They have put together a fantastic program with wonderful speakers and really, really interesting topics. So, I'm thrilled to see this launch. I'm really hoping that people really enjoy the content and really learn from being together.


Absolutely, and what is it about the EnVision Summit that keeps you engaged as program director?


Sure, so there are many meetings out there, so almost every weekend, you can find a ophthalmology or optometry meeting. They are ubiquitous nowadays, so it's easy to find a meeting. However, what I love about EnVision is that it's a very different atmosphere. Not only do you still get really high quality speakers and high quality topics about real ophthalmology and optometry, but you also get it in a really amazing supportive, casual environment. 

I think the the unique aspect about EnVision Summit is that it is really family-friendly, so whether you're male or female, whether you have many kids or no kids, people tend to bring their spouse, their children, and you don't stash them away in the hotel room while you go and listen to the talks. Instead, they're incorporated into the weekend. So all the meals, the breaks, all the events are really welcome to the families of the participants. I think that's really unique because up until now, I think there's been this really big separation between what a meeting is, meaning that you have to see it and sit in in a ballroom or auditorium by yourself, and it's almost always on a weekend, so your spouse, your children are suffering because they're away at home or even if they're with you they're not with you at that time. So it's been really unique to bring them into the entire meeting program so that your children could actually see their mom or their dad on the podium and they can see their role model speaking about ophthalmology, and they really get a sense of what their parent does. 

I think it's inspiring for the children. I think it's really healthy for the parent who's a physician. We start to rethink what our job is, and we talk about work life balance, but this is really living work life balance. It's not just talking the talk, it's really walking the walk. I do hope that medical meetings in the future really evolve into something like this. It shouldn't have this big separation where, you know, before I think a generation or two ago, the spouse usually was a stay-at-home spouse, and they were at home, and they watched the kids. Often times, it was the man who was a physician, and they would go off on to this conference. Well, that's really different now, and I think the caretaker is male or female, and they could be a parent. So I don't think it's reasonable to really expect the patient care provider to actually leave their home, especially on a weekend, and to do this many weekends a year. I think it's much smarter. It lends to job satisfaction and happiness throughout their whole life, their holistic life. I'm hoping that this becomes a healthier way to attend a medical meeting.


Absolutely. I know you just talked a lot about how the EnVision Summit goes above and beyond to be family-friendly. How do you feel like this enriches the experience?


I think it's a really enriching experience to have both the physician program, but also we have a youth program that runs at the same time. We always have a room that's a youth room, or a kid's room, that's connected to the lecture hall. You don't have to be worried about what your child is doing, they literally are right next door. In that room, we have programming specifically for children, it could be as young as toddlers, all the way up until teens. We have things like face-painting and magicians, but we also have things like yoga for teens or life skills, how to give a presentation. Even things like, how do you study for standardized tests, or how do you think about college prepping? Those types of ideas and fun activities are really incorporated, so it allows the age-appropriate youth participant, to be fully engaged and to be excited. 

This is our fifth year, and what I'm thrilled to see is that the children of the physicians, they come back every year, and now they've made friends and they are growing up together. They're so excited to come back to EnVision Summit because they can see their friends. They are having a ball or that weekend, so they're off swimming together, or running around together, or watch the movie together. Then that way, the parents feel really good about the fact that their children and their families are also equally engaged, while they're really educating themselves and continuing medical education. I think it's a really great marriage between the two.


Absolutely, that's so heartwarming. It's just so wholesome, I love it. There's also a huge emphasis on women empowerment at EnVision, how does this translate into the educational program?


Sure. So what you'll notice in this program, if you didn't actually see the faces or the names of the speaker, you would not be able to tell that this would be any different than an American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting, for example. The topics are really relevant, they're fantastic. The talks are amazing, but what you will notice that if you actually do look at the names of the speakers and the program committee, you will notice that the majority of the program committee members are women, and the majority of the speakers are women. What that allows women to do is allows them to actually be on the podium. 

The reason why I think it's really important, in this day and age, you would think, "Well, why don't we meet that need that? Women have plenty of opportunities, it's equal, there's no need for this type of meeting." I've heard that comment many times, but what you realize is when you go to a national meeting or a regional meeting for ophthalmology, you notice that even if it's 50/50 of the people in the audience are men and women, the people who are on the podium, the people who are making the decisions, the people on the program committee, the people on the boards of these organizations, the majority are still men. I love men, I'm married to a man, I have sons, so I have nothing against men, but the idea is it would be great to have equal representation in the board seats and on the podium that are equally represented in the audience. If in the audience you have 50/50 men and women, I think the speaker should also be equal and the leadership should be equal, that way you have equal representation, and you have a diverse opinion about what topic should be given, who should speak. 

I think that having that type of diversity is really, really important to make sure you have a very balanced program. That's really the goal, is to make sure that the program is very reflective [of] what what people want to hear, what people want to learn. The best way to do that is to make sure that the people making the decisions about the topics and the speakers are also coming from diverse backgrounds.


Absolutely. Diverse voices just enrich the content, helps us delve deeper, makes us all better, smarter, happier humans.


So one of the things that I want to highlight is we talk about gender a lot, but really, when you look at the speakers, you'll notice that there's also diversity in backgrounds too. So it's not really just men and women, but you'll see people of different ethnic backgrounds, religious backgrounds, you'll see all different types of people on our speaker list. It's really enriching to have a program and speakers that really reflect the practitioners. I think that that's incredibly important as we move forward in medicine.

Bonnie An Henderson, MD, cofounder of EnVision Summit, sits down with Optometry Times to detail the upcoming event that takes a unique, family-friendly approach to centering diversity in the eye care profession.

Pedram Hamrah, MD

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