Optometrists and ophthalmologists come together to engage in curious conversation at EyeCon 2024

Image credit: AdobeStock/Uzladzislau

Optometrists and ophthalmologists gathered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to learn about some of the hottest topics in eye care at the 2024 Optometry Times EyeCon. From dry eye with Laura Periman, MD, and managing a social presence with Adam Ramsey, OD, the schedule was stuffed to the gills. Cochairs Kelly Nichols, OD, PhD, MPH, FAAO, and A. Paul Chous, OD, MA, FAAO, for the optometry track and Peter McDonnell, MD, and honorary chair Periman for ophthalmology kept the conversation flowing.

While in Fort Lauderdale, a few of the speakers spoke to Optometry Times about their lectures.

Kelly Nichols, OD, PhD, MPH, FAAO, and A. Paul Chous, OD, MA, FAAO, discuss multidisciplinary care and artificial intelligence in diabetes management

Kelly Nichols, OD, PhD, MPH, FAAO, and A. Paul Chous, OD, MA, FAAO.

Cochairs Nichols and Chous discuss the first day of the conference, which featured talks on thyroid eye disease, refractive technologies, and red flags in patient care. They note the importance of integrating insights from both optometric and ophthalmic fields to enhance overall patient management, emphasizing that the shared knowledge benefits all practitioners involved in patient care.

Watch the interview here.

Meet the Visionary in Eye Care Resident Recognition Award recipients

Khanh Hoang, OD

Three resident eye care physicians—Khanh Huang, OD; Anupam Garg, MD, PhD; and Shail Patel, MD—were honored with the Visionary in Eye Care Resident Recognition Award at EyeCon 2024, which recognizes their achievements and contributions during their residency programs.

Watch the interview here.

Bringing innovation from the conference floor to your practice

Adam Ramsey, OD

With a focus on innovation in eye care, talks given by Adam Ramsey, OD, are highly anticipated, as he constantly seeks to bring the latest advancements to his practice and the broader optometry community. During his engaging talk, Ramsey emphasizes the importance of staying ahead in a rapidly evolving field. “I spend the year looking for new innovations in practice,” he states, highlighting his commitment to integrating cutting-edge products and services into his clinic. This dedication not only enhances patient care but also enriches the learning experience for fellow practitioners attending the conference.

Watch the interview here.

To refer or not to refer? Inside neuro-ophthalmic dilemmas

Len Messner, OD, at EyeCon 2024.

Leonard Messner, OD, presented alongside Kelly Malloy, OD, and together, they aimed to provide an overview of the types of neuro-ophthalmic cases optometrists may encounter in their practices. In this interview, Messner explains that the goal was to help optometrists better understand which cases require urgent or emergency attention vs those that are more benign and can be managed over time. On the benign side, he discusses cases of pseudopapilledema, where the optic nerve appears elevated but is simply an anatomical variation that requires no further investigation. In contrast, true cases of papilledema, indicative of elevated intracranial pressure, necessitate neuroimaging, lumbar puncture, and appropriate management.

Watch the interview here.