Join us for our next webinar in our EyeNovation: International Webinar Series for Ophthalmic Expertise! 

“Unveiling the pachychoroid disease spectrum: a deep dive into central serous chorioretinopathy and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy”, presented by Dr. Angie H.C. Fong, University of Hong Kong school of Clinical Medicine. 

This engaging session exploring the evolving understanding of the pachychoroid disease spectrum (PDS) with a focus on central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). This webinar will provide an in-depth review of pathogenesis, recent clinical trials, and emerging management strategies. Participants will also gain insights into the incidence and risk factors for PDS progression based on natural observation studies. This webinar will take place on Tuesday, March 25th from 7:00 – 8:00 PM ET.

Dr. Fong joined the Department of Ophthalmology, School of Clinical Medicine in February 2023 as Clinical Associate Professor of Practice. She leads the vitreoretinal service at the Queen Mary Hospital & Grantham Hospital where she is an honorary consultant. She is also an honorary consultant of the United Christian Hospital.  Dr. Fong graduated from the University of Hong Kong with distinction in medicine & was the recipient of the Medic ’67 Gold Medal in Clinical Medicine for being top of her class. She completed her Masters in Public Health degree from the School of Public Health in HKU with distinction & is an HKAM accredited specialist in Ophthalmology. Having been awarded the Ho Hung Chiu Medical Education Foundation Scholarship, she went on to further her training in both surgical & medical retina under Prof. Peter Stalmans in Belgium & the Will’s eye hospital in the US. Her research interests include vitreoretinal surgeries, retinal imaging, macular & choroidal diseases, artificial intelligence & translational care. She was awarded 2 patents for her work on AI in OCT imaging in age related macular degeneration. She has 50+ publications in international peer reviewed journals & has co-authored a textbook in OCT imaging in central serous chorioretinopathy. She participates in major clinical trials with international sites in both the HKU & CUHK clinical trials centres.

Learning objectives
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Assess the evolution and current understanding of the pathogenesis of pachychoroid disease spectrum (PDS) disorders. 
• Integrate the diagnosis and management of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) by analyzing recent clinical trials and management strategies. 
• Describe the incidence and risk factors for PDS progression in a natural observation study.  

We encourage you to register in advance of the webinar. To register, click the button below:

We’re excited to announce the next webinar in our “EyeNovation: International Webinar Series for Ophthalmic Expertise” series, ‘The value and importance of the double layer sign’, was presented by Dr. Usha Chakravarthy on February 18, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET.

Dr. Chakravarthy will provide a background on the double layer sign, its definition, and how it’s detected. She’ll discuss data from the EDNA trial, which captured longitudinal imaging data in over 500 high-risk eyes and obtained solid rates of progression to neovascularization. You’ll learn about the relationship between the DLS and the SIRE sign, as well as the clinical significance of these findings.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Know what the double layer sign is and become aware of its clinical relevance
• Consider how the DLS influences progression to from intermediate to late neovascular AMD
• Understand the relationship between the DLS and the SIRE sign

If you missed this webinar, not to worry! The recording is available below:

The Wills Eye Hospital and University of Toronto are excited to bring you the next installment of the Cornea Surgical Video Learning Series:

Date:  Saturday February 15th 2025
Time:  10:00 – 11:30 EST

Co-moderated by Professors Sadeer Hannush (Wills Eye Hospital) and Allan Slomovic (University of Toronto).

Keynote Presentation:
Alain Saad, MD 

Vice Head 
Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery

Rothschild Fondation, Paris, France

Guest panelists
Stephan Ong Tone, MD FRCSC and Hall Chew, MD FRCSC (University of Toronto)

Nick Hadjokas, MD and Brenton Finklea, MD (Wills Eye Hospital)

Surgery Case Presentations:
Meena Zakher, MD (Wills Eye Hospital)

Dana Baraquet, MD (University of Toronto)

CME credits are available for the following:

· Royal College Maintenance of Certification Section 1: 7.5 credits (1.5 Section 1 hours per session)

· American Medical Association Category 1: 7.5 credits (1.5 Category 1 credits per session)

· European Union for Medical Specialists UEMS-EACCME®: 7.5 credits (1.5 ECMEC credits per session)

You will need to register in advance for this webinar. To register, please click the button below:

This webinar took place on January 23, at 7:00 PM EST. If you missed it, not to worry! A recording is now available at the bottom of this page.

Hear from speakers on key topics, including: Advocacy in Eye Health Barriers, Corneal Donation, Ergonomics and Injury Prevention, Ethical Considerations in Ophthalmology, and Annual Meeting Updates: 2025 AI Stream Preview.

After this session, participants will:

• Understand how COS is advocating for policy changes at the government level to improve eye care accessibility and quality. 
• Be more aware of the latest information on ergonomics and injury prevention and how the profession is affected by injury. Present the latest updates on funding opportunities to CMA and outputs related to project development. 
• Know more of the status of the COS Annual Meeting in 2025 and provide information about our new stream on Artificial Intelligence. 
• Understand the importance of ethics in our profession and learn about the virtues exemplified by the ethical physician. 

Join Dr. Nina Ahuja, Chair of the Council on Advocacy for the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, as she explores the multifaceted role of advocacy in ophthalmology. Discover how advocacy shapes clinical practice, drives research, raises public awareness, and influences health policy. Learn actionable strategies to amplify our collective voice, inspire meaningful change, and ensure a future of eye care defined by inclusivity, innovation, and excellence.

*Elisabeth Fowler covers this topic in our French Forum on January 29.

Dr. Adam Muzychuk shares exciting updates on the planning process and highlights of what to expect at the 2025 COS Annual Meeting in Vancouver. As the COS Annual Meeting Chair and a new member of the COS Board, Dr. Muzychuk discusses how the event is shaping up to be an extraordinary experience for Canadian ophthalmologists, featuring world-renowned experts across every subspecialty.

*Dr. Mona Dagher covers this topic in our French Forum on January 29.

Dr. Samir Jabbour delves into current guidelines on corneal donation and their impact on the Canadian eye banking system. His presentation will address the specific limitations faced by corneal donors from the MSM community and explore future opportunities to improve these regulations.

Dr. Chryssa McAlister runs a diverse comprehensive ophthalmology practice with an academic focus on bioethics and organizes the biennial Macrae Bioethics and Professionalism Course for senior ophthalmology residents. McAlister is a frequent speaker at conferences on topics of bioethics in ophthalmology and medical education. Her presentation will highlight how to cultivate virtues in a business model of ophthalmology. 

Dr. R. Rishi Gupta is on a mission to educate every Canadian Ophthalmologist on injury prevention and ergonomics. His presentation will highlight the strong collaboration and efforts of the newly established COS working group, and their lofty goals for the years to come. Not to worry – we’ve got your back!

*Dr. Cyril Archambault covers this topic in our French Forum on January 29.

Our COS President, Dr. Mona Dagher, will be moderating the session.

The University of Alberta and ACUPO are eager to present: Tuesdays with the Titans: Ophthalmology Update and Review Lecture Series. This is a series of webinars that will be hosted on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 – 7:30 PM, MST. Learners are expected to:

• Apply the latest updates in comprehensive ophthalmology
• Review the 10 ophthalmic subspecialties prior to OKAP and the Royal College written exams.

The schedule is as follows:

These webinars are eligible for MOC Section 1 Credits. Please contact [email protected] for registration information.

We are excited to announce the next webinar in our “EyeNovation: International Webinar Series for Ophthalmic Expertise” series, “Impact of corneal spherical aberration and pupil dynamics on premium IOLs’ optical behavior,” presented by the esteemed Professor Damien Gatinel from Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Université Paris Cité.

Professor Gatinel, a Hospital Practitioner currently on secondment at Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Université Paris Cité, has an impressive background. He has been leading the Anterior Segment and Refractive Surgery Department at the Rothschild Foundation Hospital since 2009 and serves as an Associate Professor at the International Abulcassis University of Health Sciences in Rabat, Morocco. With a PhD in applied mathematics, Professor Gatinel has pioneered a new classification of ocular optical aberrations and issued several patents, including the first design of a diffractive trifocal lens. His contributions have earned him over 25 international awards and recognition as a Knight of the Order of the Crown by the Kingdom of Belgium.

In this webinar, Professor Gatinel will:

• Analyze how corneal spherical aberration influences the optical behavior of premium intraocular lenses (IOLs), with a focus on their interaction with different corneal profiles.
• Examine how variations in pupil size affect the modulation transfer function (MTF) and other optical parameters of premium IOLs under simulated conditions.
• Apply insights from measurements and simulations to optimize the selection of premium IOLs.

If you missed this incredible opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the field and advance your ophthalmic expertise, you can review the recording below:

Stay tuned for future webinars in the EyeNovation series, as we continue to bring you the latest advancements and expert perspectives in ophthalmology. Together, we can improve patient care and push the boundaries of what is possible in this dynamic field.

Date: Friday, November 8th, 2024

Time: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM (Eastern Standard Time)

Title: Lessons Learned from Uveitis Cases

Speaker: Dr. Nisha Acharya

Zoom link: Register in advance for this webinar

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Objectives:

1. To understand the pros and cons of systemic vs. local therapy for the management of uveitis;

2. To become familiar with the evidence available to guide management of uveitic macular edema;

3. To learn about prevention strategies for herpes zoster ophthalmicus.

The VPP Grand Rounds Local and Visiting Professor Program is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. You will be able to claim 1 credit for this round.

Date: Thursday, November 7th, 2024

Time: 7:30 – 9:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Title: Cell therapy for Corneal Endothelial Dystrophies

Speaker: Dr. Joshua Teichman

Zoom Link: Register in advance for this webinar

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Objectives:

1. Understand the current standard of care in the management of corneal endothelial dysfunction;

2. Describe medical and surgical options for treatment of symptomatic Fuchs dystrophy and bullous keratopathy;

3. Learn about future alternatives for corneal endothelial cell replacement.

The VPP Grand Rounds Local and Visiting Professor Program is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. You will be able to claim 1 credit for this round.

We are thrilled to announce the next webinar in our “EyeNovation: International Webinar Series for Ophthalmic Expertise” series, “The Light Adjustable Lens: Impressions after 500 and my 2 eyes,” presented by esteemed ophthalmologist Dr. Samir Melki from Harvard Medical School. This webinar took place on October 30th, from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET.

Dr. Melki, an associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, has an impressive background, including completing a fellowship in Cornea and Refractive Surgery at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, an MD PhD from Vanderbilt University, and an Ophthalmology residency at Georgetown University. He is the founder of Boston Vision, an academically-oriented practice, and has published 4 textbooks and 57 articles in respected peer-reviewed scientific journals.

In this webinar, Dr. Melki shared his LAL experience with the first 500 eyes, discussing the technology, process, and outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into:

• The process of the LAL;
• Comparison of the visual outcomes of the LAL and other IOLs;
• Patient satisfaction after LAL implantation.

Dr. Melki also discussed the success rate of monovision after LAL, the percentage of patients requesting a change in refractive aim, and his personal experience with LAL and LAL plus from a surgeon’s perspective.

You can watch the recording below:

Missed this webinar? Stay tuned for future webinars in the EyeNovation series, as we continue to bring you the latest advancements and expert perspectives in ophthalmology. Together, we can improve patient care and push the boundaries of what is possible in this dynamic field.