August 2019 Vol. 16, No. 2 News

A Cornea Society publication

2019 Cornea Day highlights ocular surface, corneal lamellar and transplant topics, and more

nea does not clear, Dr. Dhaliwal recom- mended DMEK. She said that DSO is indicated in patients with Fuchs’ dystrophy and: 1. The presence of central guttae is deemed to be the chief cause of visual symptoms. 2. There is a clear peripheral cornea with an endothelial cell count of greater than 1,000 cells/mm2 on confocal or specular microscopy. 3. The patient is otherwise contemplat- ing endothelial keratoplasty. She also shared several contraindica- tions for DSO: 1. Advanced corneal stroma edema 2. Peripheral endothelial cell count less Dr. Starr presents during Cornea Day on the ASCRS Preoperative OSD Algorithm. than 1,000 cells/mm2 3. Presence of secondary corneal pathology he 2019 Cornea Day took place be a hot topic at the 2020 World Cornea 4. History of herpes simplex virus or ahead of the ASCRS ASOA An- Congress. cytomegalovirus keratitis nual Meeting in San Diego and During the section on lamellar sur- Another section of Cornea Day T featured sections on anterior seg- gery, Deepinder Dhaliwal, MD, discussed focused on preparing the ocular surface ment reconstruction, corneal/lamellar the best candidates for DSO. She first for cataract surgery. Chris Starr, MD, or transplant surgery, the ocular surface, described the concept of DSO where highlighted the ASCRS Preoperative OSD and controversies and complications. the guttae are barriers to endothelial Algorithm, which was created by the “We asked the moderators to focus cell migration. You remove the central ASCRS Cornea Clinical Committee. Oc- on real-world, practical clinical challeng- 4-mm zone of Descemet’s membrane in ular surface disease is common but often es that cornea and anterior segment spe- patients with Fuchs’ dystrophy, and you asymptomatic in cataract patients. It cialists are faced with on a daily basis, don’t place any donor graft, she said. can also be visually significant. Visually and they delivered a program that ex- Dr. Dhaliwal said physicians need significant ocular surface disease (VS- ceeded all expectations,” said Elmer Tu, to be prepared for postop day 1, where OSD) reduces accuracy of preoperative MD. “The speakers took our direction patients may see massive central corneal refractive measurements, reduces visual and did a fantastic job of mixing theory edema. But she noted that most clear quality and quantity pre- and postoper- and practice together to deliver pearl after 4 to 12 weeks. atively, and blepharitis may increase the after pearl of practicable knowledge.” Dr. Dhaliwal said you should use risk of endophthalmitis. Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD, noted the this only in patients with central Fuchs’ The goals of the ASCRS Cornea Clin- high quality of the programming. The (with a clear periphery). It’s not for ical Committee were to create a “true sessions on advanced techniques for patients with pseudophakic bullous algorithm” that was consensus- and anterior segment reconstruction and the keratopathy. She also stressed the impor- evidence-based, that could be integrat- ocular surface for cataract surgery were tance of careful counseling and said that ed into preoperative surgery visits, had both excellent, she said. this is only for “patients with patience.” reliance on technicians and objective Dr. Colby mentioned presentations Vision can take 3 months to recover testing to reduce chair time, and that that touched on cataract surgery in the and is markedly reduced immediately identified all visually significant sub- cloudy cornea and Descemet’s stripping postop, and therefore, the patient needs types of OSD prior to surgery. only (DSO), which she said will likely good vision in the fellow eye. If the cor- continued on page 4 World Cornea Congress VIII Planning Committee

Program Directors: Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD Bennie Jeng, MD Elmer Tu, MD

Program Committee: Anthony Aldave, MD Jessica Ciralsky, MD Sophie Deng, MD Deepinder Dhaliwal, MD Luigi Fontana, MD Edward Holland, MD Marian Macsai, MD Parag Majmudar, MD Jod Mehta, MD Shahzad Mian, MD Shigeto Shimmura, MD Peter Veldman, MD 3

President’s message

Dear Cornea Society members,

I hope that the summer has allowed you some time to spend with family and friends, reinvigorated to tackle the coming fall and winter of work and, for some of us, back to school! There has been little rest for us at the Cornea Society over the last few months as we continue to provide support to our members but also implement a plan to ensure the growth and future of the Society. We’ve had an eventful spring and summer. This issue of the newsletter is dedicated to updating you on the works in progress and providing a preview of Cornea Society activities in the coming months. To briefly recap the spring, we had a fantastic Cornea Day held in collaboration with the ASCRS Cornea Clinical Committee in May. We had incredibly kind comments, but in the best test of the program- ming and quality of teaching, we had standing room only for much of the morning and a full room to the end of the day, in beautiful San Diego no less. There are more details in this newsletter, but thanks go out to Francis Mah, MD, my partner in organizing the meeting, and a deserved thanks to all of our moderators Elmer Tu, MD World Cornea and speakers. Earlier, in April, we held the first large scale, cornea-only meeting in the U.S., Cornea360, in Scottsdale, Arizona, jointly with APEX and CEDARS/ASPENS. It was a wonderful venue and a successful Congress VIII program that energized the attendees and speakers and has built a tremendous amount of anticipation for future cornea-only meetings. Looking forward, the Board has been hard at work structuring the Society to meet the considerable future challenges and needs of our Planning Committee membership. Subsequent to the departure of our long-time executive director, Gail Albert, in April, the Board has named a new executive director, Don Bell. Don brings a wealth of experience and exemplary recommendations from his continuing work with ASCRS, ASOA, and the ASCRS Foundation. The Board is very thankful to have Don available to us as he has stepped in to guide Society activities and initia- tives seamlessly over the past few months. Pura Valdez will be the primary contact for membership, among many other roles. Neither are Program Directors: strangers to the Cornea Society, having both worked closely for many years on Cornea Society projects and initiatives. We will be introduc- Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD ing more of the Cornea Society team in the coming months, but you can learn more about Mr. Bell in this newsletter. The Society would like to thank Ms. Albert for overseeing the unprecedented expansion and growth of the Cornea Society over the last 15 years. Bennie Jeng, MD Kathryn Colby, MD, president-elect/secretary-treasurer of the Cornea Society, has undertaken the herculean task of bringing order to and modifying Cornea Society bylaws to reflect many of the previously announced changes regarding membership categories, Executive Elmer Tu, MD Board positions, and terms of service. Most of these changes are “housekeeping changes,” but a more detailed discussion of these changes appears on page 5 of the newsletter. Please direct your questions and comments to the Board as these will be formally adopted in the fall. We would also like to introduce the new editor-in-chief of Cornea, Reza Dana, MD, from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/ Program Committee: . The Board had an incredible slate of candidates for the position, recommended by a search committee helmed by Alan Sugar, MD, our current editor-in-chief of Cornea. Dr. Dana is a nearly peerless researcher in corneal and ocular surface Anthony Aldave, MD disease and brings a wealth of experience in both clinical and basic science research to the journal. Needless to say, we are delighted that Dr. Dana has agreed to lead Cornea, the Cornea Society’s flagship journal, into the next decade and are excited to see the journal continue Jessica Ciralsky, MD to grow. Dr. Sugar will be stepping down as editor-in-chief at the end of 2019. The Cornea Society owes him a debt of gratitude for his hard Sophie Deng, MD work and guidance of the journal for many years that has seen the editorial process streamlined and the quality of work skyrocket, benefit- ing authors and readers alike. Deepinder Dhaliwal, MD In the fall, we look forward to seeing all of you at the Cornea and Eye Banking Forum, the hidden gem of the American Academy of (AAO) Annual Meeting to be held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, October 11. If you haven’t attended this meeting Luigi Fontana, MD before, ask some of your cornea friends and colleagues who attend every year to find out what you’ve been missing. Ivan Schwab, MD, our 2019 Dohlman Award recipient, will be honored for his lifetime of teaching at the Forum. AAO Cornea Subspecialty Day, “Keeping Disease Edward Holland, MD at Bay,” follows on Saturday, October 12 and promises to be another hit with attendees, consistently garnering exemplary reviews year after Marian Macsai, MD year. Also, don’t miss the AAO/Cornea Society symposium, “Picture This: Imaging for the Anterior Segment Specialist,” on Sunday, October 13, which features our 2019 Castroviejo Medalist, John Dart, MD, from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. It will be a busy but satisfying Parag Majmudar, MD meeting for all cornea attendees this year. Finally, despite all of the work that has gone into reshaping the Cornea Society, our focus has firmly been on the 2020 World Cornea Jod Mehta, MD Congress, to be held in Boston, May 13–15, 2020. The preeminent meeting for sharing and learning all of the innovations and knowledge Shahzad Mian, MD about the treatment of corneal disease from around the world will be held at the Boston Convention Center just prior to the ASCRS ASOA Annual Meeting. It promises to be a monumental event. The call for abstracts and videos will be launched in late August with a small Shigeto Shimmura, MD window for late-breaking abstracts in January. Program highlights and invited speakers will be streaming out to members in the coming months, and those wishing to register for the World Cornea Congress, the ASCRS ASOA Annual Meeting, or both events are able to do so Peter Veldman, MD by being a member of either the Cornea Society or ASCRS. If you would like to be kept apprised of details, please email Pura Valdez at [email protected] to get on the mailing list. Or better yet, register and book housing early in the beautiful Boston Seaport District. As you can see, the Board has been hard at work over the past year putting the Society in a position not only to continue delivering educational support to our members and the next generation of cornea specialists but to grow and prepare the Society for the future. I would like to thank the entire Board for their help in these varied initiatives, and the Board is very excited for the future of the Society. Read on!

Elmer Tu, MD Cornea Society President 4

Meet the executive director

on Bell Cornea Society: What challenges do and World Cornea Congress offer new took you see going forward? and trusted educational opportunities over for cornea specialists to remain current D as the Mr. Bell: Medical associations have un- and improve patient care. Cornea Soci- dergone tremendous change during the ety’s executive past 10 years. Access to educational con- Cornea Society: How is the Cornea director in May tent, meetings, and networking used to Society evolving? 2019. The long- be the sole property of organizations like time chief op- the Cornea Society. Today, a world of Mr. Bell: The Cornea Society Board of erating officer content is just a few clicks away, and we Directors has been remarkably respon- of the Ameri- network and interact as much digitally sive. They recognize that member needs can Society of as we do in person. Medical associations are changing, and they’ve been proac- Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), still fill a vital role, but we can’t rely tive in developing new programming Mr. Bell brings a deep understanding of on the old approach of a journal and to address them. The Society continues ophthalmology and association manage- meeting to keep members interested and to host meetings and to develop cor- ment to the position. engaged. We need to demonstrate on-de- nea programming for the ASCRS ASOA mand value every day for a constituency Annual Meeting, the AAO Annual Cornea Society: Discuss your back- that’s never been busier. Meeting, and international meetings. ground and experience. But we’ve also developed the Cornea Cornea Society: Are you saying journals Society University (CSU) webinar series, Mr. Bell: I’ve spent almost 25 years and meetings will go away? which offers hour-long single topic dis- in ophthalmology with ASCRS. I’ve cussions in the evening, and the Cornea had a number of jobs along the way, Mr. Bell: No, I think there will always Fellows Educational Summit that brings from membership director to executive be a place for curated, peer-reviewed 50 cornea fellows together for 2 days of director of the ASCRS Foundation, to journals in ophthalmology, and the dig- intensive didactic and wet lab training chief operating officer. I’ve been lucky ital experience will never fully equal or at no expense to the attendee. This enough to work with an innovative, replace live interaction. Our responsibil- combination of live and online educa- forward-thinking team that’s always ity is to provide that content and those tion, much of it with a focus on younger put members first, and I’m excited to opportunities in concentrated, conve- members, is a step in the right direction. bring this same approach to the Cornea nient ways that meet the needs of an Going forward I expect we’ll see more in Society. audience that’s drowning in information the way of tailored, on-demand educa- and strapped for time. I think the Cornea tion that allows members to find exactly journal, Cornea Subspecialty Days, the what they need when they need it. CN Cornea Fellows Educational Summit, continued from page 1

mine visual significance. Step 5 of the algorithm is to treat VS-OSD based on subtypes and severity. Overall, it’s more aggressive therapy than routine OSD, and Dr. Starr added that you should start at TFOS DEWS II step 2 or 3, then pre- scription medication, procedural treat- ments, and follow-up in 2 to 4 weeks. He said to proceed with surgery only when VS-OSD is converted to non-visually significantly OSD.CN Audience members listen intently to speakers at the 2019 Cornea Day. The sessions were often standing room only throughout the day. Editors’ note: Dr. Starr has financial interests related to his comments. Dr. Dhaliwal has no financial interests The algorithm begins with the a direct, quick exam to assess for related to her comments. preoperative visit, and the first step is VS-OSD. Dr. Starr said to use “LLPP” noninvasive refractive surgical planning (look, lift, pull, push), then stain. tests. The second step is an OSD screen, Next is that OSD is ruled in or out, looking at symptoms and signs. Step 3 is and if it’s ruled in, you need to deter- 5

Get to know Reza Dana, MD, the next editor-in- chief of Cornea

eza basic science fields of cornea in its Cornea to be a home for clinical trials Dana, totality. “I certainly want to thank Alan done in the field of cornea and ocular MD, Sugar [MD], the current editor-in-chief surface. R will … for the excellent job that he has done, Dr. Dana became interested in oph- take over the and for the rigor and care that he has thalmology while working in the corneal role of edi- brought to the journal.” immunology and transplantation lab at tor-in-chief of Overall, Dr. Dana said one of his Johns Hopkins while in medical school. Cornea, the So- primary goals as editor-in-chief will be to “That is when I became really interested ciety’s journal, engage with the Cornea Society mem- in ophthalmology and also developed Jan. 1, 2020. bers more closely. my interest in the field of cornea, an in- At Harvard “I would like the Cornea Society terest that I continued to retain through Medical School, members to feel like this is their jour- the rest of my training,” he said. Dr. Dana is the Claes H. Dohlman Pro- nal. I would like this to be their primary After his training, Dr. fessor of Ophthalmology, vice chairman go-to journal for submissions of rigorous Dana went on to maintain a focus on and associate chief of ophthalmology articles and interesting, novel, and infor- corneal immunology with fellowships for Academic Programs, director of the mative trials and case series,” he said. in cornea at Wills Eye Hospital and in Harvard-Vision Clinical Scientist De- Dr. Dana said he would like to both clinical aspects of ocular immu- velopment Program, co-director of the increase the journal’s impact factor by nology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Harvard Medical School Cornea Center encouraging more readership and cita- and the basic science of immunology of Excellence, and a member of the PhD tions of the work published in Cornea. at the Schepens Eye Research Institute. Program in Immunology. Dr. Dana also Social media use among membership, For the past 25 years, Dr. Dana has been directs the Cornea Service at the Mas- he said, could be increased to promote a clinician-scientist who has dedicated sachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and is articles and other interesting pieces that most of his time to clinical and basic sci- a senior scientist at the Schepens Eye the readers have noted in the journal. ence research in the area of cornea and Research Institute/Massachusetts Eye Dr. Dana also mentioned including more ocular surface immunology, including and Ear. He joined the Cornea Editorial content on controversial topics and immunology of transplantation, dry eye Board in 2002. idea-driven articles. “In other words, disease, graft vs. host disease, and other “I cannot thank the current and pri- complement the standard content of the inflammatory conditions of the cornea. or editors-in-chief enough for all they’ve journal with more ideas and controver- Apart from work and travel, Dr. done to maintain Cornea as a high-qual- sies beyond just the standard data-driven Dana is an avid skier and swimmer and ity journal and a voice for the Cornea articles,” Dr. Dana said. an aficionado of modern history and Society,” Dr. Dana said, later describing In addition to continuing timely music. He and his wife and children live Cornea as one of the only peer-reviewed and critical review of submissions to in Newton, Massachusetts. CN journals that covers the clinical and the journal, Dr. Dana said he would like

Update on the Cornea Society bylaws

he Board of Directors of 2. Separating the secretary-treasurer Additionally, after consultation the Cornea Society recently position into two positions: secretary with an attorney who specializes in approved several changes to and treasurer non-profit associations, we updated T the Society’s bylaws. These 3. Adding language to allow the Board to wording throughout the bylaws. changes include: hire an executive vice president The current bylaws are available on the Cornea Society website, 1. Adding a new category of member- 4. Adding an ex officio, non-voting www.corneasociety.org. CN ship (Fellow of the Cornea Society) board position for the editor-in-chief of the Society’s journal, Cornea 6

2019 Mid-Year Forum

he 2019 Mid-Year Forum brought another successful week for oph- thalmology advocacy in Wash- T ington, D.C. More than 400 oph- thalmologists from all over the country, including more than 170 Advocacy Ambassadors, gathered to advocate for our profession and patients on Capitol Hill. We met with our regional represen- tatives and senators to discuss key issues Dr. Zeglam, Aaron Noll, MD, and Lorick Andersen, MD, University of Florida, attend the that affect our patients and care. 2019 Mid-Year Forum in Washington, D.C. Rising drug costs and persistent drug shortages were major topics. We Again, members of Congress were very Forum. This is my second attendance. discussed the recent difficulty in patients receptive to these issues. We are hopeful I encourage everyone to attend at least obtaining certain commonly prescribed CMS will change these policies and that one Mid-Year Forum in their career. The eye drops such as dorzolamide/timolol private insurance plans will implement experience is eye opening and provides and prednisolone acetate. Congress these changes as well. insight into how policy making is influ- members who met with us agreed this These were just a few of the topics enced by advocating. We are our own was an ongoing issue that Congress that were addressed with our legislators. best advocates for our profession and hopes to address with new legislation. At the conclusion of our day on Capitol patients. Let our voices be heard! CN The CREATES Act is currently going Hill, the majority of us felt the day advo- through the legislative process in both cating was received well and will lead to —Ahmaida Zeglam, MD the House and Senate, and it hopes to policy changes that will ultimately help Cornea and external address this issue. our patients. disease fellow Prior authorization and step ther- I’m thankful that the Cornea Society University of Florida apy, specifically in regard to Medicare gave me the opportunity to participate Advantage plans, was also a big topic. in direct advocacy at the 2019 Mid-Year

Cornea Fellows Educational Summit to take place in Atlanta in September

he 2019 Cornea Fellows Educa- that opportunity fills the first day that DMEK, challenging case discussion, tional Summit will take place registration opens. and iris/IOL suturing. September 5–8 in Atlanta. “The 2-day meeting is a fantastic Dr. Ogawa also said that Cornea T The yearly event is geared learning opportunity since the entire Society University (CSU) programing toward fellows in cornea/external curriculum is developed and oriented will allow the faculty to share knowl- disease/refractive surgery programs specifically for cornea fellows who are edge and experience to educate fel- and features education that includes in the first few months of their fellow- lows on career options and a variety both classroom and skills transfer lab ships,” Dr. Ogawa said. This focused of other subjects related to practicing components. programming is one of the things that as a cornea specialist. This year’s program directors makes this meeting so exceptional, he “Since cornea fellowships are include Jessica Ciralsky, MD, Michael added. 1 year in duration, attending this Straiko, MD, and Gregory Ogawa, Ten invited members of the Cornea meeting is truly a once in a lifetime MD. Society will deliver didactic talks on a opportunity, and the Cornea Society “The Cornea Fellows Educational wide range of topics including lamellar has created and continues to improve Summit, sponsored by the Cornea keratoplasty (of all types), complex iris the Summit to make the meeting Society, has become an extremely and IOL surgery, ocular surface neopla- worthy of that unique distinction,” popular event for cornea fellows,” sia, corneal infections, refractive surgery Dr. Ogawa said. CN Dr. Ogawa said, adding that there is complications, and dry eye. The fel- space for 50 fellows to attend, and lows will rotate through labs on DSEK, 7

Cornea and Eye Banking Forum to highlight the future of eye banking and

he Cornea and Eye Banking and ample opportunity for the audience approaches for limbal stem cell deficien- Forum will take place on Friday, to ask questions,” he said. “The Forum cy and corneal endothelial dysfunction, October 11, ahead of the Ameri- provides new, useful information to the it is the right time for clinicians, eye T can Academy of Ophthalmology audience in a variety of formats that bankers, and vision scientists to learn Annual Meeting at the Palace Hotel in keeps the audience engaged.” about these cutting-edge, cell-based ther- San Francisco. This year, the theme of both apeutic approaches,” Dr. Aldave said. It will once again feature approxi- mini-symposia is “The Future of Eye The Cornea and Eye Banking Forum mately 25 free papers and two mini-sym- Banking and Corneal Transplantation.” will also feature the presentation of posia that will present the latest infor- The first mini-symposium will be “Man- several awards. This year, the Dohlman mation on a range of topics of interest agement of Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency Award will be presented to Ivan Schwab, to the attendees, said Anthony Aldave, and Corneal Stromal Opacification: MD, and the R. Townley Paton Award MD, one of the co-moderators of the Where Are We Heading?” and the sec- will be presented to Shahzad Mian, MD. event along with Michelle Rhee, MD. ond will be “Management of Corneal The Troutman Cornea Prize recip- “The Cornea and Eye Banking Fo- Endothelial Dysfunction: Where Are We ient will be announced at a later time, rum, formerly known as the Fall Edu- Heading?” and the Cornea Society/EBAA Best Paper cational Symposium, is one of the few “With the initiation of clinical trials of Session Award will be presented at the meetings that combines invited presen- in several countries to determine the Forum to a current fellow, resident, or tations, panel discussions, free papers, feasibility of these novel therapeutic medical student. CN

Castroviejo Medal awarded to John Dart, MD

he Cas- “It means a lot to me because for of the Orphan Drug for Acanthamoeba troviejo the uncommon and difficult-to-manage Keratitis (ODAK) project, which received Medal, conditions that I have spent the last 35 grant funding from the European Union T the Cor- years treating and researching, I have in 2012. The multicenter trial began in nea Society’s tried to be both the patient’s ophthal- 2017 and will finish recruiting patients highest honor, mologist and the ophthalmologist’s this year. If successful, Dr. Dart said it will be awarded ophthalmologist, providing unvarnished could standardize treatment protocol to John Dart, advice and evidence-based publications and result in the first licensed anti- MD, honorary that do not extend beyond the data,” Dr. amoebic ocular drug. professor at Dart said. Dr. Dart’s work has identified risk the University Dr. Dart’s lecture—“Acanthamoeba factors associated with AK (contact lens College London keratitis: Getting the treatment right”— hygiene and being exposed to con- Institute of Ophthalmology and consul- will discuss the available treatment taminated water sources while wearing tant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye options and protocols for this infection. contacts) and introduced PHMB as Hospital. Dr. Dart said his work in the early 1990s therapy. His work on the causes of con- The Castroviejo Medal and Lecture, introduced topical biguanide treatment tact lens-related microbial keratitis has presented at the American Academy with polyhexanide (PHMB), leading to promoted changes in contact lens use of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, PHMB and chlorhexidine (the other and hygiene that have impacted current is given to an individual whose con- topical biguanide in use) being current- standards of care. tributions have supported the Cornea ly recommended by major healthcare Dr. Dart said the research he has Society’s mission, which is to “promote organizations as first-line therapy for led in AK, microbial keratitis, cicatrizing knowledge, research, and understanding Acanthamoeba keratitis. conjunctivitis, and more has only been in cornea, external disease, and refrac- “Apart from these topical bigua- made possible because of the hard work tive surgery.” It is named in honor of nides, there are no other anti-amoebics and support of patients, colleagues, Ramon Castroviejo, MD, who pioneered available that are consistently effective trainees, national and international corneal transplantation and inspired the against the encysted form of the organ- collaborators, the management at Moor- founding of the Society. ism,” Dr. Dart said, adding that he and fields and the Institute of Ophthalmolo- Dr. Dart said he is “surprised and his team are completing a randomized gy, and from his family. delighted” to be honored with this controlled treatment trial of a more con- “This award is a tribute to all of us,” award. centrated formulation of PHMB as part he said. CN 8

Ivan Schwab, MD, selected as Dohlman Award recipient

he The award is named for Claes Dohlman, wrong in the future,” he said. “But if we Cornea MD, PhD, who started the first corneal don’t keep learning and maintain the Society’s fellowship program in the U.S. and went enthusiasm for knowledge, we will only T 2019 on to teach hundreds of fellows. fall behind the curve. Thinking for one- Dohlman “I’m touched and deeply honored self is the essence that is expressed from Award will be [to receive] the Dohlman Award,” Dr. continual learning.” presented to Schwab said. “We are all self-educated, Dr. Schwab is a cornea and exter- Ivan Schwab, yet no one learns like the teacher. Any nal disease and uveitis specialist with MD, emeritus such award I receive is not based on research interests including stem cell professor of what I know, but rather my enthusiasm grafting and wound healing. He has also ophthalmology for the knowledge itself. I can only open published research on comparative oph- at the Univer- the door to education and trust and thalmology and a book on the evolution sity of California, Davis, at the Cornea encourage the ‘student’ to walk through of the eye (Evolution’s Witness: How Eyes and Eye Banking Forum on October the threshold.” Evolved). Dr. Schwab is a member of 11 ahead of the American Academy of Dr. Schwab continued, saying that numerous professional societies, serves Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in San the acquisition of knowledge—and the on the editorial boards of the journal Francisco. realization that there is always more to Cornea and the journal Ophthalmology, The Dohlman Award recognizes an know—is what he hopes to communi- and has received several honors for his individual’s commitment to teaching cate and spread by his own example. contributions to teaching and the field in cornea and external disease, as well “Much of what we think we know of ophthalmology. CN as their other contributions to the field. will change, modulate, or be outright

2020 World Cornea Congress to precede ASCRS ASOA Annual Meeting in Boston

he 2020 World Cornea Congress applicable advances in corneal trans- and experiences in those first few years will take place from May 13–15, plantation, ocular surface disease, dry of practice,” he said. The programming 2020, ahead of the ASCRS ASOA eye diagnostics and treatment, cell will include traditional symposia as well T Annual Meeting in Boston. “Ev- therapy for corneal endothelial and as point/counterpoint discussions and ery 5 years, World Cornea Congress is epithelial disease, and more. “I think video case presentations. held to update the world on the progress that general ophthalmologists and Kathryn Colby, MD, PhD, said that of the field of cornea,” said Bennie Jeng, cornea specialists alike will be stunned the World Cornea Congress program will MD. “This is not only an outstanding by the advances that are just around the have a more expanded capacity for free opportunity to learn what’s new but also corner,” he said. paper presentations than in the past. to connect with colleagues from around The World Cornea Congress will fo- The space at the Boston Convention the world.” cus on diseases of the cornea and ocular Center will allow for more than just one As an added registration benefit, surface, which make up the bulk of the or two free paper sessions, she said, and those wishing to register for the World practice for both cornea specialists and electronic posters will also be featured at Cornea Congress, the ASCRS ASOA comprehensive ophthalmologists, Dr. the meeting. Annual Meeting, or both events are able Tu said. “I can’t think of any topics that Leading up to the meeting, the to do so by being a member of either the won’t appeal to both groups, but obvi- Cornea Society will be featuring video Cornea Society or ASCRS. ous areas will include the treatment of footage from the 2015 World Cornea “The World Cornea Congress will be difficult ocular surface/dry eye patients, Congress in its email blasts, particularly the must-attend cornea event of 2020,” cataract surgery in the setting of corneal on topics that have advanced in the field said Elmer Tu, MD. “More than any and ocular surface disease, anterior seg- since that time. For example, Dr. Colby other subspecialty in ophthalmology, ment imaging, ocular surface infections, said that there have been updates relat- innovations in the diagnosis and treat- and what’s new in office diagnostics.” ing to zoster, genetics in the manage- ment of corneal disease are occurring in Dr. Tu said they hope to have an ment of corneal disease, and more. every region of the globe.” interactive format with plenty of lively “Every 5 years, the cornea commu- The Cornea Society will be collab- debates among speakers and audience nity gathers to learn from each other orating with partners in Asia, South participation. “There will be a free paper and to get an update on what’s going on America, Europe, and beyond to session for interesting new research, as from the experts in the field,” Dr. Colby co-sponsor symposia at the meeting, well as a special track, open to everyone, said. “There’s nothing else like it in which will bring the latest in practical, focusing on young ophthalmologists terms of its depth and breadth.” CN