Bootcamp something special

Ever wonder why it's so difficult to get a new procedure like Ortho-K accepted by the community of eye care practitioners? It has to do with something called critical mass. That is if you can involve enough of the practitioners in performing the specialty you will soon arrive at a point where there are so many fitters doing corneal reshaping that the procedure like a tidal wave engulfs the whole community.Of course this does not happen in a vacuum.You need to get the word out and also do some serious training.This fact is not lost on your academy.That's why over the last three years we have been hosting a full day of education devoted to training docs on the basic principles involved in Ortho-K.We call it Bootcamp and this year it will occur on Thursday April 28th in Orlando at Vision By Design 2011. This will be a full day of sessions and over 8 hours of education devoted to the current information a inexperienced doc in corneal reshaping will need to get started or improve his skills. Sessions include the basics of how these lenses work and a tour of who is making what in today's marketplace. Courses offered in topography and practice management are also offered with many useful pearls. These presentations and others presented by the leading figures in the field. So if you need to catch up on some basics in Ortho-K make sure to make your reservations to attend an OAA Bootcamp. That way we can get that critical mass working in our favor.

- Cary Herzberg OD FOAA

www.orthokacademy.com

Sunday's Best

Back by popular demand is the interactive presentation EYE-Q at Vision By Design 2011 on Sunday morning May 01.  This was our most popular presentation from our last event.  Randy Kojima and Pat Caroline will be presenting corneal reshaping cases they have worked on and through the use of interactive devices have the audience participate in the solution(s) to the fitting problems.  What a wonderful way of teaching corneal reshaping and it's so much fun.  Look forward to seeing even more from Randy and Pat as they have even more case examples to bring this time around.  After this presentation John Mountford will be talking about the future of myopia control designs with Ortho-K.  This should be a real eye opener from one of the leaders in the field of corneal reshaping.  I hope all the attendees can stick around for the Sunday presentations which will be among the best from the whole weekend.

- Cary Herzberg OD FOAA

www.orthokacademy.com

Ophthalmology and Corneal Reshaping Times Are Changing

It should come as no surprise here in the US that most OMDs oppose corneal reshaping.  I didn't say all because we have some more open minded Ophthalmologists who accept the fact that there are safe alternatives to refractive surgery like Ortho-K.  For the majority of OMDs, however, it's viewed as an Optometric specialty and competition for refractive surgery.  It's also not hard to understand why many Optometrists still oppose the procedure and will not implement it or recommend it.  They see the OMDs opposing it and either they have no stomach to choose a path in opposition to that or they will not take up the necessary learning curve to perform the procedure correctly.  This is in part why the misinformation about corneal reshaping still exists even though extensive studies have been done addressing the safety and efficacy of the procedure.

For all of us who have faced this opposition - times are changing rapidly.  You will get to see this change in Orlando at VBD 2011 when the academy goes international.  You see most of the doctors who will be performing corneal reshaping outside the US and especially in Asia are OMDs.  In fact, they are doing much more Ortho-K than we are in the states! This very fact defies what your patient hears from your local Ophthalmologist who still opposes the procedure on whatever grounds. They are not speaking for the entire community.

There is a difference of opinion and that is one reason why it's so important for all of you to support this academy as it moves into the international theater.  The Ophthalmologists outside the US in Asia and Europe will be encouraged to join with us and become an integral part of this academy going forward.  This is a powerful fact that you should be focusing on. When you talk with your local OMDs or your patients encounter one who is opposed to corneal reshaping, you need to put this forward because it's a game changer!

When faced with the fact that a good portion of corneal reshaping in the world will be done by Ophthalmology, any opposition going forward will be drowned out by the facts of the situation.  So what can you do for the academy?  Get fully behind the OAA as it becomes the IAO (International Academy of Orthokeratology) with your presence in Orlando and continued support of this group going forward.  Approach your colleagues who are doing Ortho-K and are not yet members and push them to join because each and every member that signs up gets us closer to our mission goal, which in the end will take care of a lot of big issues and concerns that persist for you.  Like a plea for a pledge drive - get this done today.  It's important for all of us.

- Cary Herzberg OD FOAA

www.orthokacademy.com

Hot Topics At VBD 2011

Vision By Design will be offering the latest courses on the hot topics that will be the future of our profession going forward.  Myopia itself is considered by the CDC to be in an epidemic mode with all its negative connotations.  Our Orlando meeting will be offering all the latest info on the studies and what they are telling us.  In addition, we will be offering all the latest techniques on how to manage this condition including corneal reshaping, soft contacts, glasses and vision training.

In our breakout sessions you can learn how to setup your own myopia control practice from leading experts in the field.  In the face of refractive surgery and its significant rate of complications, corneal rehabilitation will be another active area of practice going forward.  We have several lectures and seminars dealing with corneal management of less than desirable surgical outcomes in Orlando.  After attending the meeting, you will have all the up to date information in managing both these conditions and be able to gear your practice to grow as it meets the needs of these patients.

  

- Cary Herzberg OD FOAA

www.orthokacademy.com

Articles For CLS & Review

I have this really bad habit.  Whenever I am presented an opportunity and it's legit, I will usually take it on even with my busy schedule.  So it is that I have had to spend the last few months preparing two articles for publication.  The first was a joint project with Jerry Legerton on corneal refractive therapy.  It will appear in Review in the April issue and it covers the topic very well.  It was a pleasure to co-author this.  The other article is on GP technology and how it has improved the comfort and success in fitting these lenses.  Though a lot of work, it was written from a labor of love.  Look for this in CLS June issue.  Now that both of these are done, I can now focus on the next big thing - our Orlando meeting which is fast approaching.

- Cary Herzberg OD FOAA

www.orthokacademy.com