2025 PGC Course Objectives
CATARACT SURGERY
Challenging Cataract Surgery Cases | UDAY DEVGAN, MD, FACS, FRCS
A compilation of video highlights accompanied by live narration to show to how to deal with challenging cataract cases.
Learning Objectives:
- Characterize how to deal with posterior polar, white, intumescent, brunescent & pseudoexfoliative cataracts.
- Recognize capsule rupture during cataract surgery and learn to recover from this complication.
- Address astigmatism management with LRI’s and paired phaco incisions.
Challenging Cataract Complications | UDAY DEVGAN, MD, FACS, FRCS
A compilation of video highlights accompanied by live narration to show to how to deal with challenging cataract surgery complications.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe techniques to deal with weak zonular support and capsular laxity, including capsular tension rings.
- Implement strategies to prevent, recognize, rescue and rehabilitate phaco wound burns.
- Recognize risk factors for and effectively manage floppy iris and iris prolapse.
Challenging IOLs | UDAY DEVGAN, MD, FACS, FRCS
A compilation of video highlights accompanied by live narration to show to how to deal with implantation of advanced technology IOLs (intraocular lenses) and managing challenging IOL situations.
Learning Objectives:
- Outline techniques to deal with pupil size, centration, weak zonular support and capsular laxity when implanting presbyopic IOLs.
- Explain techniques for IOL exchange and for intra-scleral GORE-TEX for scleral fixation of IOLs.
- Summarize anticipated future of accommodating IOLs and the use of AI/machine learning for IOL calculations.
Tough Cataract Case Studies – What is your next move? | UDAY DEVGAN, MD, FACS, FRCS
A compilation of video highlights with interactive case discussion to demonstrate to how to deal with specific challenging cataract surgery cases.
Learning Objectives:
- Manage a ruptured posterior capsule during cataract.
- Anticipate and address potential surgical complications in patient with prior blunt ocular trauma.
- Describe approach to surgery in patient with weak zonular support and capsular laxity.
CORNEA
Molecular, Cell and Gene-based Therapies for the Corneal Dystrophies | Anthony J. Aldave, MD
While treatment of the corneal dystrophies has traditionally been limited to phototherapeutic keratectomy and corneal transplantation, insights into the pathogenesis of the corneal dystrophies and advances in the understanding of corneal biology have led to the development of molecular, cellular and gene-based therapeutic strategies for epithelial, stromal and endothelial corneal dystrophies. This lecture will review these novel therapeutic approaches, several of which are in ongoing or planned clinical trials, and highlight the promise and potential pitfalls of each.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn different molecular and cell-based therapeutic approaches to the treatment of the corneal dystrophies.
- Identify gene-based therapeutic approaches to the treatment of corneal epithelial, stromal and endothelial dystrophies.
- Describe the use of cultured allogenic human corneal endothelial cells to treat corneal endothelial dysfunction in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and pseudophakic corneal edema.
Customized Corneal Transplantation: A Revolution in Evolution | Anthony J. Aldave, MD
Customized corneal transplantation is the selection of a specific form of corneal transplantation that is the most appropriate for a given patient at a particular time. This case-based lecture will guide the audience through the criteria that are used to decide which form of corneal transplantation is the most appropriate in a wide variety of clinical scenarios.
Learning Objectives:
- Learn the various forms of corneal transplantation that are currently available.
- Recognize the advantages of lamellar corneal transplantation over penetrating keratoplasty.
- Assess the relevant criteria to be considered when deciding when to implant a keratoprosthesis (artificial cornea transplantation).
The Science of Sight: Addressing Corneal Blindness in the Developing World | Anthony J. Aldave, MD
The vast majority of the global burden of vision impairment and blindness due to corneal disease is in the developing world. Unfortunately, both the supply of donor corneas and the number of trained corneal surgeons are insufficient in the majority of developing countries to adequately address this burden. This lecture will address what is being done to address corneal blindness in the developing world through increasing the supply of donor corneas for transplantation (imported tissue, locally recovered tissue, maximizing use of donor corneas and alternatives to traditional cadaveric donor corneas) and to increase the number and training of corneal surgeons.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the overall process of corneal transplant surgical skill transfer.
- Describe ways of increasing the utilization of corneas in area of relative corneal tissue shortage.
- Give an example of the outcomes of corneal transplant skill transfer in the developing world.
- Describe the prevalence and causes of visual impairment and blindness from corneal diseases.
- Describe the challenges faced in addressing visual impairment and blindness from corneal diseases.
- Describe the effectiveness of approaches to decrease the burden of visual impairment and blindness from corneal diseases.
Cataract Surgery in the Patient with Corneal Disease: Pearls and Pitfalls | Anthony J. Aldave, MD
This case-based lecture will provide guidance regarding the planning and performance of cataract surgery in patients with a variety of corneal pathologies. Topics that will be discussed include: proper intraocular lens (IOL) model and power selection in patients with previous keratorefractive surgery, keratoconus and endothelial disorders that may require DSEK or DMEK surgery; selection and exclusion criteria for the use of toric IOLs in patients with both regular and irregular corneal astigmatism; and indications and techniques for management of epithelial basement membrane dystrophy and Salzmann’s nodular degeneration prior to cataract surgery.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify ocular surface pathology that may have an impact on cataract surgery outcomes, and to determine when treatment is needed for these pathologies.
- Describe the performance of accurate IOL power calculations in the cataract surgery patient with corneal ectasia
- Determine the criteria that should be met prior to considering the implantation of a toric IOL in a patient with corneal ectasia.
- To understand the approach to planning cataract surgery in patients with prior penetrating keratoplasty
- To describe IOL type and power selection in patients with prior keratorefractive surgery.
RETINA
Impact of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Eye Conditions: from Diabetic Retinopathy to AMD | Aleksandra Rachitskaya, MD
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) are a class of medications being used with increased frequency in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. The effect of GLP-1RA on such conditions as diabetic retinopathy is controversial. This course will focus on the effect of this drug class on eye conditions including diabetic retinopathy and AMD.
Learning Objectives:
- Educate on the role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in diabetic retinopathy.
- Elucidate the relationship between GLP-1 RA and AMD.
- Understand the impact of novel systemic medication on the diseases of the eye.
Adults with a History of Prematurity: Why and When Perform Multimodal Retinal Imaging | Aleksandra Rachitskaya, MD
Advances in perinatal care and increasing rates of in vitro fertilization have led to an increased incidence of viable premature births in recent decades. Although the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has also increased in this time, the majority of babies born prematurely do not develop treatment-requiring ROP. There are known late complications seen in adults who were born prematurely, even among those who never developed treatment-requiring ROP. These patients are at higher risk of developing retinal detachments and the rate of single surgery success for retinal detachment repair in this population is lower and post-operative visual acuity outcomes are worse. Multimodal imaging might help us identify patients at risk.
Learning Objectives:
- Examine the risk of retinal disease in adults with the history of prematurity.
- Identify OCT imaging biomarkers seen in adults with the history of prematurity.
- Identify OCT angiography imaging biomarkers seen in adults with the history of prematurity.
Update on Retina Imaging in Clinic, Operating Room, and Patients’ Home | Aleksandra Rachitskaya, MD
This talk will provide an update on novel imaging modalities utilized in retina clinic, operating room, and patients’ homes.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the utilization of intraoperative OCT and FA in the OR.
- Identify patients who might benefit from home OCT imaging.
- Utilize the new retina imaging modalities in clinic to assess retinal conditions.
Approach to a Patient with Retinoschisis-Associated Retinal Detachment | Aleksandra Rachitskaya, MD
This talk will focus on imaging and surgical approach of retinoschisis-associated retinal detachment.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the exam and imaging findings to establish a diagnosis of retinoschisis-associated retinal detachment.
- Explain the intra-operative findings suggestive of retinoschisis-associated retinal detachment.
- Establish the most optimal surgical approached in management of retinoschisis-associated retinal detachment.
PEDS
Myopia Management | K. David Epley, MD
The prevalence of myopia has increased dramatically over the past 50 years and is predicted to reach 50% of the population in the United States in the coming decade. Research has uncovered pharmacologic and optical methods of slowing progression, which may help reduce how many people reach higher levels of myopia, with its associated risk of myopic macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataract and retinal detachment. This course will educate the practitioner on the methods of slowing down the progression of myopia in childhood.
Learning Objectives:
- Name pharmacologic methods for slowing myopia progression.
- Name contact lens methods for slowing myopia progression.
- Name spectacle options for slowing myopia progression.
- Name environmental interventions that can help slow myopia progression.
- Able to implement one or more of the possible interventions in your practice.
Understanding Digital Treatments for Amblyopia | K. David Epley, MD
Two new digital therapeutic treatments for amblyopia have been approved by the FDA since 2022. Both treatments involve binocular methods of improving the vision in the amblyopic eye. This course will review both new treatment methods and familiarize the clinician with how to prescribe and monitor patients undergoing treatment.
Learning Objectives:
- Able to prescribe Luminopia for a patient with amblyopia.
- Able to prescribe Curesight for a patient with amblyopia.
- Understand which patients with amblyopia are best suited for digital therapeutic treatment.
- Understand the literature and be able to advocate for these treatments with insurance companies.
Moral Injury in Medicine: How to Recognize it and Strategies to Combat it in Your Practice | K. David Epley, MD
Moral injury refers to the stress and anxiety provoked in clinicians by knowing what’s best for their patients but being constrained by a healthcare system that is increasingly being run like or by big businesses.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify sources of moral injury in their practice.
- Understand steps that can be taken to minimize stress, anxiety and moral injury at work.
Myopia Case Studies | K. David Epley, MD
Multiple cases of myopia will be presented from real life patients to stimulate a discussion about how best to reduce progression of myopia for each individual case.
Learning Objectives:
- Feel comfortable prescribing low dose atropine for myopia.
- Understand when contact lenses should be used to slow progression of myopia.
- Understand future spectacle options that can be used to slow myopia progression.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Lessons Learned from Glaucoma Claims | Jeannette Domask, MPH, CPHRM
Using OMIC glaucoma specific cases we will highlight and discuss mitigating liability risk through effective communication and documentation.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of effective communication and co-management to mitigate liability risks.
- The appropriate way to make an addendum to the medical record.
- Define the role and responsibility of ancillary personnel.