Capstone Lectures
Capstone Lectures: Innovations in Ophthalmology
October 17 – 19, 2025 | Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld ®- Page 17
Join us for IJCAHPO’ s Capstone Lectures. These fast-paced courses will highlight key ophthalmic issues and new technologies. They will be held on Friday, October 17, from 9:20 a. m.– 11:40 a. m. in Crystal Ballrooms A-C with a 20-minute break.
Course Code: 12FR23 Credits: 2.00 Moderator: Michael Stewart, MD
Global Health: Collaborations and Capacity Building
Bonnie Henderson, MD
Tufts University School of Medicine Boston, MA 9:20 – 9:40 a. m.
Description: This capstone lecture focuses on addressing and reducing preventable visual impairment and blindness around the world. The discussion will include international collaborations, capacity building in developing countries, research, and direct patient care.
Losing Sight of the Big Picture: The Myopia Surge
Aaron Miller, MD, MBA
Houston Eye Associates, Houston, TX 9:40 – 10:00 a. m.
Description: Myopia is no longer just a common vision issue— it’ s a rapidly growing global concern with serious long-term consequences. This talk examines the sharp rise in myopia prevalence, particularly in younger populations, and highlights the growing body of evidence linking high myopia to sight-threatening conditions such as retinal detachment, myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, and strabismus. Attendees will gain insight into the drivers of this global trend and explore current approaches to mitigating progression and reducing the burden of future ocular complications.
Orbit and Eye Transplantation
David Tse, MD
Miller School of Medicine Miami, FL 10:00 – 10:20 a. m.
Description: Whole eye transplantation remains technically and biologically challenging due to the complexity of optic nerve regeneration and immune compatibility. This lecture explores the technical feasibility and biological hurdles of human whole eye transplantation, the challenges of eye preservation and the technical challenges of eye implantation into a recipient orbit.
Do New Weight Loss Drugs Cause Blindness?!
Karl Golnik, MD, MEd
Barrow Neuroscience Institue, Phoenix, AZ 10:40 – 11:00 a. m.
Description: There have been several reports suggesting that the new class of weight loss drugs( GLP-1 receptor agonists) may be a risk factor for ischemic optic neuropathy and worsening of diabetic retinopathy. This talk will explore the data currently available.
The Future of Intraocular Injections: What Should We Expect
Michael Stewart, MD
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, FL 11:00 – 11:20 a. m.
Description: Intravitreal therapy with newly developed drugs has been the greatest advance in ophthalmology in the 21st century. Current treatment paradigms for anti-angiogenic conditions require frequent injections, increase the burden on vitreoretinal practices, and dominate clinic time. Newly approved therapies appear to have extended durability and those in development may further decrease the need for injections. But how will this actually affect ophthalmology practices? This course aims to look at future pharmacotherapy with an eye on resource utilization.
Why You May Be in Danger
Donny Suh, MD, FAAP, MBA, FACS
Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California at Irvine Irvine, CA 11:20 – 11:40 a. m.
Description: Ergonomics awareness is an integral component of career longevity in ophthalmology. Your daily activities cause wear and tear on your body. Left unchecked over the years, this wear and tear may lead to musculoskeletal disorders( MSDs), cumulative trauma disorders( CTDs) and repetitive strain injuries( RSIs). In caring for oneself while assisting and examining patients and to offset risk for musculoskeletal injury, Dr. Suh will discuss recommendations for performing daily task movements and maintenance of good ergonomic postures.