A NEW ERA IN THE TREATMENT OF DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Harold A . Stein , MD Lecture
Saturday , November 4 , 2023 7:30 – 8:30 a . m ., Continental 5
On-Site Program
A NEW ERA IN THE TREATMENT OF DRY AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
The Harold A . Stein , MD Lecture presented by Philip J . Rosenfeld , MD , PhD .
Philip Rosenfeld , MD , PhD , Professor of Ophthalmology , is a leading vitreoretinal specialist and researcher in age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ) from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine . He will present the current thinking regarding complement inhibition for the treatment of geographic atrophy ( GA ), the late stage of dry AMD and will propose that OCT imaging will be the preferred imaging strategy for the detection and management of wet AMD .
He will emphasize the need to recognize those AMD patients most likely to benefit from new complement inhibitor treatments and how clinics will need to accommodate the significant increase in the number of patients requiring injections every 4 – 8 weeks . Dr . Rosenfeld will compare drugs in development and already approved for the treatment of nonexudative ( dry ) age-related macular degeneration ( AMD ), with an emphasis on how these therapies will impact patients and clinical practices worldwide . These drugs are pegcetacoplan , a novel inhibitor of complement factor 3 ( C3 ), which was approved by the FDA in February 2023 , and avacincaptad pegol , an inhibitor of complement factor 5 ( C5 ), which completed its phase 3 trials and is nearing FDA approval .
Dr . Rosenfeld will also discuss the best imaging strategies for following these patients , since both drugs increase the risk of conversion from nonexudative ( dry ) to exudative ( wet ) AMD , and he will present the latest OCT angiography imaging studies , with a special emphasis on the characteristic features of dry AMD that indicate the likely progression from drusen to GA , and the progression from dry AMD to wet AMD .
While fundus autofluorescence imaging has usually been used to diagnose GA in both clinical trials and clinical practice , recent retinal expert consensus panels have concluded that OCT is the preferred imaging strategy to detect and monitor GA in AMD . OCT can acquire macular images rapidly without the need to dilate the pupil , which facilitates rapid screening for new wet AMD since patients with dry AMD will receive injections every 4 – 8 weeks . Therefore , the imaging
Philip J . Rosenfeld , MD , PhD Professor of Ophthalmology at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute University of Miami , Miller School of Medicine
strategy of choice for diagnosing , following , and managing our patients with dry as well as wet AMD will be OCT imaging .
Important Technician Takeaways : Since these new therapies for dry AMD will not improve vision but will only slow and then hopefully stop disease progression , clinicians and their practices will need to educate patients and manage their expectations while they undergo injections every 4 – 8 weeks . Dr . Rosenfeld will review the predictive OCT features in eyes with dry AMD that will help identify those at highest risk of disease progression .
With the development of home OCT monitoring , clinicians will have the opportunity to remotely detect new exudation even between visits . However , the greatest advantage of OCT imaging is the availability of OCT angiography , which can identify those patients wet AMD without the need for fluorescein angiography .
Dr . Rosenfeld has made major contributions to the clinical development of anti-VEGF therapies , the use of optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) guided treatment using anti-VEGF therapy , the clinical development of OCT instruments , and the development of novel OCT algorithms for the diagnosis and management of macular diseases and for its use as clinical trial endpoints .
SEATING IS LIMITED ! Admission ticket required . If you plan to attend , check the appropriate box on your registration form . 1.00 IJCAHPO CE CREDIT
Harold A . Stein , MD , FRCSC
The Harold A . Stein , MD Lecture
This year marks the 21 st Annual Harold A . Stein , MD Lecture , in honor of Harold A . Stein , MD , FRCSC . The JCAHPO Education and Research Foundation established the Harold A . Stein , MD , FRCSC , Endowed Lectureship in 2000 .
Dr . Stein was instrumental in organizing the first Plenary ( Keynote ) Session held in San Francisco , CA , in 1985 , and one of the early founding Commissioners of JCAHPO ( now IJCAHPO ). He served as IJCAHPO ’ s President from 1986 – 1987 , and served as a Commissioner from 1972 – 1992 . In 1968 , Dr . Stein wrote his first textbook , The Ophthalmic Assistant , which is in its 11 th edition . Dr .
Stein ’ s book sale proceeds are generously donated to the Foundation to support technician education and certification .
Dr . Stein was a co-founder of The Bochner Eye Institute in Toronto , Ontario , Canada , where he resided with his wife , Anne . After many years of a prestigious career , Dr . Stein passed away in January 2021 .
If you would like to remember Dr . Stein with a contribution to benefit IJCAHPO ’ s programs for technicians , visit the JCAHPO Foundation ’ s website : jcahpo . org / foundation .
14 IJCAHPO ' s 51 st Annual Continuing Education Program