This online series will educate those on the front line — optometrist, ophthalmologist, and retina specialists — on screening, diagnosis, as well as future treatments which might be available.
Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 02, 2017
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a chronic disease and the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the elderly of industrialized countries. The advanced form of dry AMD is geographic atrophy (GA) or atrophic AMD, a progressive, irreversible and blinding disease for which effective treatment remains a significant unmet medical need.
Optometrists play a crucial role in the ongoing eye care of patients with AMD and GA, from screening to combining imaging or functional data with a careful patient history to determining the need for subsequent care. They readily assess recognized risk factors with advanced AMD and provide disease management in the early stages, as well as prompt referral and follow up after treatment.
However, as a practical consideration for delivering eye care, the historic methodology of optometric practice may not keep pace with population aging, which leads to a corresponding increase in the prevalence of several macular diseases, and there are proportionally fewer eye care providers to care for older patients.
To help close this gap, New England College of Optometry (NECO) and PlatformQ Health are partnering to launch a free online CE series on ClinicalSeriesLive, one of PlatformQ Health’s virtual learning channels. “PlatformQ Health is honored to partner with NECO on this innovative series for optometry health care professionals,” says Robert Rosenbloom, CEO of PlatformQ Health. “We look forward to helping bring much needed attention to the most prevalent cause of blindness in our aging population.”
Clinicians can engage live with two top optometry faculty:
1. Rishi P. Singh, MD, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at Lerner College of Medicine, Staff Surgeon at Cole Eye Institute, and Medical Director of Informatics at Cleveland Clinic;
2. Mark T. Dunbar, OD, FAAO, Director of Optometric Services and Optometry Residency Supervisor at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Health System.
“Age related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual loss in older adults. Thus far, diagnosis and treatment have been limited to the wet or exudative form of this disease. New emerging insights in the dry or non-exudative form have added a significant understanding to the mechanisms of this disease,” says Rishi P. Singh, MD. “This online series will educate those on the front line — optometrist, ophthalmologist, and retina specialists — on screening, diagnosis, as well as future treatments which might be available."
This program intends to improve awareness, knowledge, and competency of optometrists about AMD and GA. The three-part series will cover screening, how to interpret results, underlying pathophysiology, the importance of referral to specialists, the crucial role of follow up, monitoring of therapeutic response in patients receiving treatment, and more. All three programs will be available on-demand following the live broadcasts.
Details on the series:
New Insights into Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Geographic Atrophy
Session I - Geographic Atrophy: Causes and Consequences
Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 3:00-4:00 PM ET
Session II - The Referral to the Ophthalmologist and Treatment Options for Patients with Geographic Atrophy
Thursday, May 18, 2017 from 4:00-5:00 PM ET
Session III - Focus on the Patient: Empowering Communication for Improved Outcomes
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET
Topics of Interest:
- Pathogenesis and natural history of the AMD and progression to GA
- Monitoring parameters for AMD and GA, and considering clinical and imaging findings
- Points of referral to a retinologist for AMD progression and treatment
- Patient education and management with multiple and often coexisting disorders
- Role in post-treatment management of the patient
About New England College of Optometry
New England College of Optometry, NECO, is an independent graduate college of optometry that educates students for careers in eye care delivery, research, and education. For over 120 years, New England College of Optometry has been educating optometrists and leaders in the field. Originally founded in 1894 as the Klein School of Optics, NECO prepares the next generation of eye care providers, educators, leaders, and innovators through a rigorous curriculum and extensive clinical experiences. http://www.neco.edu
About PlatformQ Health
PlatformQ Health is the leading provider of live online medical education events, with 15 websites dedicated to different therapeutic areas. Their unique education platform allows physicians and other healthcare professionals to connect online from any computer, learn about the latest treatments options, and engage in real-time Q&A with top faculty. http://www.platformqhealth.com