This Retina-Vitreous Center in NJ does a great job of explaining macular and retinal diseases. If you are interested in macular degeneration treatment trials be sure to look at their Retina scope newsletter from January 2008. Cut and paste the following link:
http://www.retinavitreouscenter.com/patient_education_macular.html#macular_hole
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
American Society of Retina Specialists Convention
I am excited to be attending the American Society of Retinal Specialists convention next week. Five years out of the clinical setting makes it essential I attend conventions to try and freshen up on the new and exciting progress in the retinal world. It doesn't hurt that the convention is being held on the island of Maui! This is my first tip back to Hawaii since holding my very first position in an ophthalmology practice. I was an ophthalmic assistant at the Hawaiian Eye Center under the direction of John M. Corboy, MD. He was a pioneer in cataract surgery and used the phacoemusification technique and refractive nuances to achieve an extraordinary percentage of naked visions under 20/40. And that was in 1989! Not to mention he was quite the business man. He encouraged me to get certified as an assistant, I was a youngster of 23 at the time. Later I certified as a technician and learned the skill of fluorescein angiography.
As I mentioned after a convention in New Orleans earlier in the year, there doesn't seem to be a great amount of change happening in the surgery for macular holes, but whatever is happening I aim to keep up with. A recent customer was involved in a study in California using some new techniques I hope to learn more about.
One of the few surgeons most adamant about the lack of a need to position face down after macular hole surgery will be there, Paul Tornambe, MD. When I met Dr. Tornambe at the ASRS convention in New York in 2003 he told me I would probably be in business for about five more years before face down positioning would be obsolete. Certainly the standard two weeks of positioning has fallen to more like 7- 10 days, but by far, most retinal surgeons continue to require patient compliance with the face down recovery process. Some retinal surgeons, even while requiring their patients to position, feel the positioning equipment my business revolves around is unnecessary or too costly. It is true some patients get through the recovery successfully without assistance, but no one is going to say it is easy. I cannot please everyone every time, but I continue to stay in business because many people are served well by Kelly Comfort and by me.
Undoubtedly, I will have much to learn next week about the progress being made in the treatment of macular degeneration. Really exciting things are happening there. When I left clinical work in 2003 I was actively involved with the latest treatment for exudative macular degeration at the time, Photodynamic Therapy or PDT. The practice I worked for in Pittsburgh, PA was involved in the clinical trials before it became FDA approved. It was an exciting time, but wow, the stuff they are doing now...I'll be taking lots of notes.
I look forward to sharing whatever I learn with you!
As I mentioned after a convention in New Orleans earlier in the year, there doesn't seem to be a great amount of change happening in the surgery for macular holes, but whatever is happening I aim to keep up with. A recent customer was involved in a study in California using some new techniques I hope to learn more about.
One of the few surgeons most adamant about the lack of a need to position face down after macular hole surgery will be there, Paul Tornambe, MD. When I met Dr. Tornambe at the ASRS convention in New York in 2003 he told me I would probably be in business for about five more years before face down positioning would be obsolete. Certainly the standard two weeks of positioning has fallen to more like 7- 10 days, but by far, most retinal surgeons continue to require patient compliance with the face down recovery process. Some retinal surgeons, even while requiring their patients to position, feel the positioning equipment my business revolves around is unnecessary or too costly. It is true some patients get through the recovery successfully without assistance, but no one is going to say it is easy. I cannot please everyone every time, but I continue to stay in business because many people are served well by Kelly Comfort and by me.
Undoubtedly, I will have much to learn next week about the progress being made in the treatment of macular degeneration. Really exciting things are happening there. When I left clinical work in 2003 I was actively involved with the latest treatment for exudative macular degeration at the time, Photodynamic Therapy or PDT. The practice I worked for in Pittsburgh, PA was involved in the clinical trials before it became FDA approved. It was an exciting time, but wow, the stuff they are doing now...I'll be taking lots of notes.
I look forward to sharing whatever I learn with you!
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