2017 Royal college of Ophthalmologist annual conference
Mr Lee attend the 4 day conference in Liverpool learning about the latest developments in Ophthalmology and the latest developments in equipment. The key points he learnt were
Anti-Vegf injections for Proliferative diabetic retinopathy - Growing evidence that Intravitreal injections are proving as good as laser for all types of Diabetic retinopathy including for the first time those with the most severe type – New vessel proliferation. Laser is a destructive process. Anti-vegf injections have proven so effective in AMD, Vein occlusions and Diabetic macula odema, there is now good evidence that they will be more effective than traditional Peripheral laser treatment. Despite numerous studies the drug companies have not started the trials needed to get their drugs licensed and the approved by NICE. This is likely to take 5 years or more sadly. However there is safety and effectiveness evidence to support any of the anti-vegf use in proliferative disease.
Mr Lee has always felt this to be the case and the presentation of the Moofields Clarity study confirms this view.
Hand held portable Tear Osmolarity for dry eyes. Studies have shown that Tear Osmolarity ie how salty your tears are is an indication of how dry your eyes are. Devices to measure this have been bulky before but now a simple hand held device allows this important measurement to be made helping decide which dry eye product to use. Mr Lee is looking forward to trialing this out in his practice.
Dementia awareness. With his mother having dementia he and Michele are only too aware of the added difficulties this can present. There were a couple of talks discussing aspects of this.
Updated information about using tablets (eplerenone ) to treat central serious retinopathy
Mr Lee attended the Cataract symposium day, and presented his results of the new Hoya toric Lens on Monday. He was pleased that his results fall in the top 5% of predicted outcomes in comparison to the Italian experience.
Mr Lee and his wife attended the Macular Society evening meeting and met with Cathy Yelf the Macular society CEO. He also met with the Zeiss team to learn about the latest developments especially in regards to his OCT-Angiography – K9
Overall this was a really useful meeting keeping both Mr and Mrs Lee right up-to-date with current trends, thinking and practice.