EyeCon 2024: Key takeaways for enhanced patient care from Day 1

Cochairs Kelly K. Nichols, OD, MPH, PhD, FAAO, and A. Paul Chous, OD, MA, FAAO, highlighted the start to the EyeCon 2024 conference, September 27 and 28 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Day 1 featured presentations on key topics such as red flags in eye conditions, thyroid eye disease, and advancements in refractive technologies.

The meeting emphasizes collaboration between optometry and ophthalmology, fostering an integrated approach to patient care. Nichols shared a takeaway from a talk by ophthalmology cochair Peter J. McDonnell, MD, regarding the management of hospitalized patients with unilateral red eye, emphasizing that herpes simplex should be considered until proven otherwise. This insight underscores the importance of vigilance in diagnosing and treating eye conditions.

The Day 2 agenda will include discussions on dry eye management, a subject close to Nichols' interests, along with other relevant topics that promise to enrich the knowledge of both optometrists and ophthalmologists. Chous will be giving a presentation alongside Mark Dunbar, OD, FAAO, on multidisciplinary care in diabetes, reflecting a commitment to comprehensive patient management strategies.