Annual Meeting for America's Leading Corneal Transplant Surgeons

Just returning from the annual Eye Bank Association of America's Annual Meeting in Hilton Head. Congratulations to Bruce Varnum, CEO and President of the Georgia Eye Bank, for completing his term as Chair of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA). While I spend a good proportion of my time doing cataracts and LASIK, I also serve as one of the medical directors to the Georgia Eye Bank and perform a large number of corneal transplants to patients in Tennessee, Georgia, and adjacent states in the southeast. It is truly an honor to work with Bruce and the EBAA, the organization that provides corneas to people all over the country who are blind and need cornea transplants to see. Bruce is a true example of "paying it forward". After receiving cornea transplants at a young age after going blind, he has paid it forward to pave the way for many others to receive sight through the gift of cornea transplantation. Myself and all of Georgia should thank Bruce!! We are very fortunate to have him here in Georgia as the head of OUR eye bank!!

The World Cornea Congress VI- Meeting of World's Elite Cornea Specialists

World Cornea Congress VI was held in Boston this year. This is a 2 day meeting that is held every 5 years and involves presentations of new research and cutting edge cornea and refractive topics from the best cornea specialists all over the world. I was asked to present data on correction of astigmatism after corneal transplantation. This included my data on laser vision correction for astigmatism in these patients using our state-of-the-art technology at Piedmont Better Vision.



This was my first visit to Boston. What a great city!! I was able to visit some historical places between meeting days including the countries oldest restaurant.

Focal Points Interview with Dr. Lee on Laser Vision Correction

Focal Points is a quarterly publication by the American Academy of Ophthalmology for teaching and training of ophthalmologists on various topics. I was interviewed in this edition (Feb. 2010) focusing on "Innovations in Advanced Surface Laser Refractive Surgery" along with several other experts across the country. A very nice review of "Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA)" indications and outcomes. For those of you who do not know what ASA is, it is a refractive procedure for vision correction of patients who are not candidates for LASIK. Usually these patients have thin corneas or prescriptions that are too high for LASIK. ASA affords a safer form of vision correction in these situations. If the cornea is too thin, a phakic lens or implantable contact lens is sometimes needed over LASIK or ASA.

American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Winter Meeting

A wonderful meeting at the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery on the Mexican Riviera in Playa del Carmen. What an honor to speak at this great meeting! Great to see old friends and meet new colleagues. Also had time to visit the ruins of Tulum. Spectacular!!

Caught looking over the bay in front of Alcatraz. I love meetings in San Francisco! I loved living in this part of the country in 2002 and 2003 and always love to return whenever I get the chance. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) annual meeting was in a great venue at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. I was honored to be accepted as one of the upcoming classes of the Leadership Development Council of the AAO for the upcoming year. Our elite group of young ophthalmologists is a superb class from throughout the United States and Latin America. We also had some exceptional talks at the Federated Societies Symposium hosted by the Cornea Society and the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), including my fellow's presentation (Dr. Lusk) of our work on endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). He did a great job!

SICCSO Meeting in Sorrento, Italy

I had the chance to visit Sorrento, Italy for the S.I.C.C.S.O. Meeting which is a meeting of cornea and refractive specialists all over the world. Professor Sarnicola runs an exceptional meeting. One of the best meetings I have had the privilege to speak throughout the world.

Eye Net Interview

I have an interview in this month's EyeNet which focuses on "A Look at LASIK" as well as new corneal transplant techniques. EyeNet is a monthly publication presented by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.