Retinal Disease Digest: Opportunities for Optometrists - Focus on RVO
This activity is supported by independent medical education grants from Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Overview
Provider Statement
This continuing education activity is provided by 
Support Statement
This activity is supported by independent medical education grants from Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Activity Description
The diagnosis and treatment of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and geographic atrophy (GA) continue to evolve as new technologies and therapies are integrated into management protocols. As noted by the American Optometric Association, optometrists are front-line eye healthcare providers who play an important role in delivering eye and vision care. As essential healthcare providers, optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases and disorders of the eye. It is thus crucial that optometrists are aware of best practices for the accurate diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of retinal diseases to ensure early diagnosis and management initiation. It is also important that optometrists are aware of the recently approved therapies and recommendations for monitoring and can collaborate with ophthalmologists to provide optimal care for their patients. In this CE monograph, experts in optometry and retinal diseases review best approaches for diagnosis and monitoring of patients with or at risk for RVO and GA, assess optimal therapeutic protocols for the treatment of RVO, and discuss optimal strategies for interprofessional collaboration in the care of these patients.
Target Audience
The intended audience for this activity is optometrists and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of patients with retinal diseases.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Assess new and emerging techniques and technologies used in the diagnosis, assessment, and monitoring of retinal diseases.
- Review recent evidence regarding the optimal use of novel diagnostic techniques in specific retinal conditions.
- Review recent advances in the treatment of retinal diseases to inform and improve the management and referral of patients.
Activity Chair
Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO
Professor
Southern California College of Optometry at Marshall B. Ketchum University
Chief of Optometry
Sepulveda VA Ambulatory Care Center
North Hills, CA
Faculty
Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO, FORS
Director, Residency Programs
Associate Professor
Oklahoma College of Optometry
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, OK
Vahid Ownagh, MD
Research Fellow
Duke University Eye Center
Durham, NC
Mohammad Rafieetary, OD, FAAO, FORS, Dip ABO
Consultative Optometric Physician
Charles Retina Institute
Germantown, TN
Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS
Director, Duke Surgical Vitreoretinal Fellowship Program
Co-Director, Duke Pediatric Retina and Optic Nerve Center
Director, Duke Eye Center Continuing Medical Education
Associate Professor of Ophthalmology With Tenure
Adult and Pediatric Vitreoretinal Surgery and Diseases
Duke University Eye Center
Durham, NC
Medical Writer
Valerie Zimmerman, PhD
Planner/Reviewer
Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, Vindico Medical Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation
COPE Course Number: 90511-TD
COPE Activity Number: 128020
This enduring material is approved for 1 year from the date of original release, March 15, 2024, to March 14, 2025.
How to Participate in This Activity and Obtain CE Credit
To participate in this activity, you must read the objectives, answer the polling and pretest questions, view the content, and complete the posttest and evaluation. Provide only one (1) correct answer for each question. A satisfactory score is defined as answering 70% of the posttest questions correctly. If a satisfactory score on the posttest is achieved, Vindico Medical Education will issue a CE Certificate.
Disclosures
Vindico Medical Education adheres to the COPE Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a continuing education activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others, are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
The interview with Dr. Steven Ferrucci was written by medical writer Valerie Zimmerman, PhD, and has been approved by Dr. Ferrucci as an accurate representation.
Relationship information is accurate at the time of content development.
Activity Chair and Faculty report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
Steven Ferrucci, OD, FAAO
Consultant: LKC Technologies, Science Based Health, Visible Genomics
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Apellis, iCare, IVERIC bio, LKC Technologies, Regeneron
Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO, FORS
Advisor: Apellis, IVERIC bio, LENZ, Notal Vision, OcuTerra, Regeneron, Zeiss
Consultant: Apellis, IVERIC bio, LENZ, Notal Vision, OcuTerra, Optomed, Regeneron, Zeiss
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Apellis, IVERIC bio, Optomed, Regeneron, Zeiss
Vahid Ownagh, MD
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Mohammad Rafieetary, OD, FAAO, FORS, Dip ABO
Consultant: Apellis, Heidelberg, IVERIC bio, Notal Vision, OccuTerra, Regeneron
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: Apellis, IVERIC bio, Notal Vision, Optos
Lejla Vajzovic, MD, FASRS
Advisor: Clearside, Ocugen, Regenxbio
Consultant: AbbVie/Allergan, Alcon, Alimera, Apellis, Bausch + Lomb, BVI, BMC, Clearside, Coherus, DORC, Genentech, Guidepoint, Gyroscope, IVERIC bio, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Ocugen, Ocular Therapeutix, Ocular Surgical, OcuTerra, Outlook Therapeutics, Regenxbio
Speaker Contracted by Ineligible Company: AbbVie/Allergan, Alcon, Apellis, DORC, IVERIC bio, Ocular Surgical
Independent Research Contractor: AGTC, Alcon, Aldeyra, Apellis, Genentech, Gyroscope, Heidelberg Engineering, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Ocular Therapeutix, Regenxbio
Planners/Reviewers report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
Ronald A. Codario, MD, EMBA, FACP, FNLA, RPVI, CHCP
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Medical Writer reports the following relevant financial relationship(s)
Valerie Zimmerman, PhD
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Vindico Medical Education staff report the following relevant financial relationship(s)
No relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Signed disclosures are on file at Vindico Medical Education, Office of Medical Affairs and Compliance.
Unlabeled and Investigational Usage
The audience is advised that this continuing education activity may contain references to unlabeled uses of FDA-approved products or to products not approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The faculty members have been made aware of their obligation to disclose such usage. All activity participants will be informed if any speakers/authors intend to discuss either non–FDA-approved or investigational use of products/devices.
Copyright Statement
Created and published by Vindico Medical Education, 6900 Grove Road, Building 100, Thorofare, NJ 08086-9447. Telephone: 856-994-9400; Fax: 856-384-6680. Printed in the USA. Copyright © 2024 Vindico Medical Education. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The material presented at or in any Vindico Medical Education continuing education activity does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Vindico Medical Education. Neither Vindico Medical Education nor the faculty endorse or recommend any techniques, commercial products, or manufacturers. The faculty/authors may discuss the use of materials and/or products that have not yet been approved by the FDA. All readers and continuing education participants should verify all information before treating patients or utilizing any product.
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