10 highlights from AAO 2016

1.     Eye models, anyone?

The AbbVie booth gave ophthalmologists an opportunity to further test their hand-eye coordination in a game to win an enlarged eye-model for their office. Judging by the crowd, it seems like attendees were in the competitive spirit! To read more about recent research about AbbVie’s drug for uveitis, click here.

2.     Virtual reality

In this virtual reality experience, attendees had the opportunity to be the sustained-released implant (Iluvien, Alimera) for DME and see its mechanism of action in the retina.  To read a retinal surgeon’s experience with the implant, click here.

3.     More benefits of a Mediterranean diet

According to a presentation at the 120^th annual meeting of AAO, those who closely follow a Mediterranean diet may be 33% less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration. The study, headed by Rufino Silva, MD, PhD, is also the first to identify caffeine as an especially protective factor against AMD.

4.     10-year anniversary marked with new approval

Just in time to celebrate the 10-year anniversary for ranibizumab injection (Lucentis, Genentech) approval, the company announced FDA approval of the ranibizumab prefilled syringe at AAO.

5.     GlobeChek

If this is the first time you’re hearing about GlobeChek, it’s sure not to be your last! These comprehensive eye exam technology kiosks may soon be found in major airports and malls. The goal of GlobeChek is to increase visual health awareness and prevent unnecessary vision loss by providing a referral network of doctors to those who need it. To learn more, visit www.globechek.com.

6.     Are you an artistic ophthalmologist? 

The Ophthalmic Photographer’s Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to highly specialized photography pertaining to ophthalmology. They also incorporated a 3-D component to their booth. For more information, visit their site at www.opsweb.org. Speaking of photos, are you following OT’s Instagram page? Learn more at www.instagram.com/ophthalmologytimes.

7.     Orbital Gala

If you didn’t make it to AAO’s Orbital Gala at Chicago’s Field Museum this year, it also means you probably didn’t have the chance to meet Sue, the largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered. Attendees viewed the museum exhibits, participated in a silent auction, and showed off their dancing skills.

8.     OWL awards

At the standing-room only OWL event, Elizabeth Yeu, MD, offered a keynote address focused on leadership development and shared her personal struggles in becoming a successful leader within her communities. At the event, Heather Ready, OWL president, announced that the organization is also restructuring their focus to advance all diversity in leadership, whereas the W stood for “women” in the past, it now will signify “world” in an effort to advance diversity in ophthalmic leaders globally.

The organization also awarded the following awards:

Rising Star Award: Marjan Farid, MD

Catalyst Award: William Trattler, MD

Visionary Award: Marsha Link, PhD

Don't miss your chance to chat with the inspiring @Argus_BionicEye users at the Second Sight booth 135! #AAO2016#clientlove#ArgusIIpic.twitter.com/WACQFp92wr

- Pascale (@PascaleCom) October 16, 2016

9.     Giving sight back to the blind

After the recently released 5-year safety and efficacy results from the retinal prosthesis system (Argus, Second Sight), actual users of the device spoke with attendees about the effect the device has had on their lives. To read more in depth about the 5-year study, click here.

10.  Personalized eyelove graphics

Shire's eyelove booth offered attendees an opportunity to scan their eyes for personalized artistic graphics. To read more about Shire’s latest dry eye drug (Xiidra) efficacy results, click here.