ESONT 2006 Meeting
LONDON 9-11 SEPTEMBER 2006

ExCel London – International Exhibition and Conference Centre,
One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL, United Kingdom

Course & Wetlab Programme

Biometry Basics
Pre-requisite: Basic knowledge of ocular anatomy.
Accurate axial eye length measurements are essential in any practice where cataract surgery is performed. Knowledge of the principles of sound waves passing through different ocular tissues is vital in order to correctly interpret A-scan spike
patterns to assure alignment along the visual axis. Contact and immersion techniques will be presented, as well as a description of common errors and how they can be avoided.
The course will include:
Ultrasound principles and spike acquisition
Sound beam incidence
Gain settings
Calculating eye lengths with biometers
Measurement techniques

Biometry Challenges
Pre-requisite: Knowledge of ocular anatomy and basic A-scan biometry principles.
This course is designed to discuss the principles of IOL calculations and the formulae considered most accurate today.
Also discussed will be challenging situations in IOL calculations that may be encountered, such as high myopia, silicone oil, and post refractive surgery patients.
The course will include:
Basic principles of IOL calculations
The challenge of the high myope
The challenge of the silicone oil-filled eye
The challenge of the post refractive surgery patient

Optical Coherence Tomography
Optical Coherence Tomography is a new technique of imaging the posterior pole. It is a method that uses interferometry, a process analogous to ultrasound, using optic instead of acoustic reflection. OCT allows a tomography of the retina and its different layers with an axial resolution of ≤10 microns in a few minutes. Its final image is a false colour image (depending on the degree of light backscattering from tissues at different depths) representing different layers, from RPE to the RNFL layer. This permits the exact localization of the pathology and an evaluation of its volume.

OCT is an advantageous method because it is not invasive, and in many cases pupil dilatation is not necessary. Therefore good results are obtained with only 3mm dilatation. The purpose of this course is to show the basis of the technique, its advantages and applications and some results in different
cases of retina pathologies. It also aims to provide some tips to facilitate its use in practical clinic and thus to get the best results. In the practial component of the course, all participants can try the equipment and carry out some examples of examinations.

Phacoemulsification
Discover the thrills and stress of phacoemulsification through the operating microscope and gain a greater understanding of the problems faced by your surgical colleagues. This wetlab course will cover wound construction, capsulorhexis, phacoemulsification, I/A and IOL implantation.

Refractive Surgery
Participants will have the opportunity to look at current techniques used in Refractive Surgery, both theoretical and practical, where you will learn to do exams and discuss important details with the instructors. Critical points regarding patient selection, decision-making concerning a photorefractive candidate, and evaluating the quality of vision following refractive surgery will be covered.
An overview of the most popular microkeratomes will be given, where participants can look at assembling tips for a safe procedure. More advanced issues including emergencies, postoperative complications and re-operations will also be covered.

Part 1 - Theory:
Current techniques I.Pallikaris
Evaluating visual performance following refractive surgery S. Plainis
Patient selection/Decision making V. Katsanevaki
Emergencies/Postoperative complications G. Kymionis
Re-Operations N.Tsiklis

Part 2 - Practical:
Topography N. Astyrakakis
Overview of microkeratomes S. Panagopoulou

Please note: All those attending Part 2 must also participate in Part 1 of the course. However it is possible to attend Part 1 without attending Part 2 of the course.

Slit Lamps
The slit lamp is essentially a binocular microscope and is a way of combining magnification with illumination. When first encountered the slit-lamp appears to be a complex piece of equipment, but a few basic rules can make it much easier to use. This course welcomes both beginners and those who have a greater understanding of the area and will provide an informative demonstration of the microscopic slit-lamp.

Visual Fields
This course provides the opportunity for hands on learning as an introduction or as an update of your existing skills. Visual field testing provides extremely important information and is a vital skill to master. Detailed visual field analysis requires sophisticated machinery.

Workshop: How to write and review an article
This workshop is aimed at all those who are interested in writing and reviewing articles for publication. Whether you have written an article before and would like to work on your technique, wondered how reviewers come to a decision about your article or you have never written an article before and are
interested in finding out how to go about it, come along to this workshop session.
You may also find this workshop of interest if you have already reviewed an article and would like to discuss some of the issues that arose, or you would be interested in reviewing articles in the future.