Developments and clinical results at the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in New Orleans

The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans was the venue selected for the 117th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) from 15-19 November. The event enabled specialists from throughout the world to explain the progress and developments in the research into the various ocular pathologies.

The Meeting witnessed the publicising of the results of the principal international clinical trials performed at different centres to treat age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema, vascular occlusions of the retina and pathological myopia among other pathologies. These studies have assessed the different treatments available for each of these diseases and the results on visual acuity.

Another major topic to concern all the specialists in eye disease is exudative AMD. Great importance was attached at the Meeting to the need for fast action to overtake the disease and to continue with treatment over time in order to halt it and prevent blindness from occurring. Accordingly, for some years the Institut de la Màcula has applied the Fusion protocol, which consists of combining on-demand and maintenance treatment. Discussion also took place on diabetic retinopathy and the different therapeutic techniques which exist at the present time.

There was also illustration at the Meeting of new techniques for obtaining images which will help the study of these diseases and the development of new surgical instrumentation systems. These advances will improve and reduce the effects of the treatment of the various pathologies.

Sharing in this and other information were Dr. Jordi Monés, the Director of the Institut de la Màcula and an ophthalmologist who specialises in diseases of the macula, retina and vitreous, and Dr. Josep Badal, an ophthalmologist at the Institut who specialises in retinal diseases and in vitreoretinal surgery.