23 November 23-26, 2011 Starting at 08:00am
San Francisco Moscone Center, 603 Red River St
tickets from $120 Register Today >

Skills transfer courses

COS Surgical Skills Transfer Courses (STCs) are physician-developed and physician-led hands-on wet-labs or interactive workshops that offer instruction, demonstration, discussion and simulation of surgical, diagnostic and management techniques. Topics can include any ophthalmic surgical technique. COS has developed the STCs with the overall goal of providing intensive instruction leading to new knowledge and/or skills.

Delivered as part of the COS Annual Meeting, Skills Transfer Courses are planned and facilitated independently by the STC Chair, AMPC Session Chair and STC Course Directors, according to Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’s (RCPSC) accreditation guidelines. STCs are accredited for Section 3 – Simulation credits of the MOC Program as designated by the RCPSC.

COS first introduced surgical STCs during the 2010 Annual Meeting and was the recipient of the 2014 Royal College Accredited CPD Provider Innovation Awards in recognition of its Surgical Skills Transfer Courses. These awards recognize innovative educational and administrative policies, processes, resources and tools implemented by an Accredited CPD Provider.

PLEASE NOTE: You must register in advance for the skills transfer courses. On-site registration is not permitted. Registration is restricted for some courses. Non-refundable fees apply for some courses.

Skills Transfer Course: Strabismus

Strabismus surgery review and newer techniques

Friday, June 16, 1045–1215
Room 524AB, Palais des congrès

This hands-on lab will transfer the surgical skills required for the use of both standard and newer strabismus techniques. Attendees will actually perform the procedures. In addition to reviewing basic strabismus techniques, newer specific techniques will include use of the grooved hook for safe suturing of tight muscles and suturing of muscles during topical anesthesia surgery. Techniques for amniotic membrane transplant useful in the treatment of restrictive strabismus will be taught. Minimally invasive techniques of partial rectus tenotomy and plication for use in the treatment of small-angle strabismus will be presented. Course includes an interactive didactic session occurring concurrently with a hands-on wet lab using rabbit heads and operating microscopes. This course is open to both ophthalmology residents and practicing ophthalmologists.

FACULTY

Course director: Yi Ning J. Strube, MD, MS, FRCSC
Course instructors: Ian Clark, MA MB BChir FRCSEd (Ophth) FRCSC; Annick Fournier, MD, FRCSC; Christine Law, MD, FRCSC; Andrea Leung, MD, FRCSC; Michael O’Connor, MD, FRCSC

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • More proficiently conduct strabismus surgery and suturing of extraocular muscles
  • Apply newer strabismus surgical techniques to improve surgical outcomes and reduce complications

REGISTRATION

Advance registration is required.
Registration is open to residents, fellows, comprehensive ophthalmologists and pediatric ophthalmologists.
Maximum number of participants: 22
Fee: $250

Skills Transfer Course: Glaucoma

MicroInvasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS)

SOLD OUT – Wait list available
Friday, June 16, 1330–1500
Room 524AB, Palais des congrès

This session will include a didactic and wetlab educational session highlighting three current and emerging options of MicroInvasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS) that are available in Canada. At the end of the session, participants will have acquired hands-on experience on these MIGS procedures: the XEN gel implant, Gonioscopy-assisted transuluminal trabeculotomy (GATT), and Kahook dual blade. They will be able to describe the indications, compare the advantages/disadvantages, and identify the optimal patient population for these various devices. Furthermore, participants will be able to integrate simulation-based learning of MIGS into residency/fellowship training programs.

NOTE: In order to maximize time in a hands-on learning setting, the didactic presentation period will be kept to a minimum and will be focused primarily on questions and answers. In preparation for the course, kindly take the time to review the available hand outs.

FACULTY

Course directors: Toby Chan, MD; David Marshall, MD

Course instructors: Younes Agoumi, MD; Catherine Birt, MD; Ralf Buhrmann, MD; Xavier Campos-Möller, MD; Patrick Gooi, MD; Priya Gupta, MD; Paul Harasymowycz, MD; Garfield Miller, MD; Paul Rafuse, MD; Kenneth Roberts, MD; Hady Saheb, MD; Steven Schendel, MD; Matthew Schlenker, MD; Harmanjit Singh, MD; James Taylor, MD; Jing Wang, MD; David Yan, MD; Darana Yuen, MD; Barend Zack, MD

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the indications and techniques for these MIGS procedures: the XEN gel implant, gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy (GATT), and Kahook dual blade
  • Compare the advantages, disadvantages, and differentiate the optimal patient population of various MIGS devices

REGISTRATION

Advance registration is required.
Registration is open to glaucoma specialists, comprehensive ophthalmologists, senior residents and fellows.
Maximum number of participants: 22
Fee: $250

Skills Transfer Course: Cornea

Fundamentals of simple limbal epithelial transplantation (SLET)

SOLD OUT – Wait list available
Friday, June 16, 1545-1715
Room 524AB, Palais des congrès

The session will be a combined 1.5 hours of initial didactic lecture followed by wet lab. Participants will gain knowledge in the preoperative assessment of potential patients for SLET and features of good and poor candidates. Participants will learn the surgical steps of SLET, including pearls for the more challenging portions of the procedure. By the end of the session, participants will gain knowledge of the expected postoperative course of patients, possible complications, and their management.

FACULTY

Course director: Joshua Teichman, MD
Course instructors: Kashif Baig, MD; Jamie Bhamra, MD; Mona Harissi-Dagher, MD; Jodhbir S. Mehta, BSc (Hons.), MBBS, FRCOphth, FRSC (Ed); Louis Racine, MD; Marie-Claude Robert, MD; Allan Slomovic, MD; Setareh Ziai, MD

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the patient selection process for SLET and differentiate good and poor candidates for SLET
  • Demonstrate the ability to preform SLET
  • Assess the postoperative course and complications of SLET, and describe complication management

REGISTRATION

Advance registration is required.
Registration is open to cornea specialists, comprehensive ophthalmologists and fellows.
Maximum number of participants: 22
Fee: $250

Skills Transfer Course: Retina

Scleral fixated intraocular lens implants

SOLD OUT – Wait list available
Saturday, June 17, 1045–1215
Room 524AB, Palais des congrès

This practical hands-on session will deliver one-on-one instruction of sutured and sutureless scleral fixated intraocular lens implant techniques. A combination of teaching with video, pig and human eye specimens will be used to outline the surgical steps of these methods. Each participant will have a microscope and can approach this practice at their own pace.

FACULTY

Course directors: Karim Hammamji, MD, FRCSC; Nigel Rawlings, MD; Deepa Yoganathan, MD, FRCSC
Course instructors: Ghassan Cordahi, MD; Ali Dirani, MD; Renaud Duval, MD; Mark Greve, MD; Efrem Mandelcorn, MD; Flavio Rezende, MD; Matthew Tennant, MD
Course assistants: Alex Kaplan, MD; Amandeep Rai, MD

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize indications for scleral fixated intraocular lens in eyes with absence of capsular support
  • Describe surgical steps of sutureless scleral fixation of a 3-piece intraocular lens implant
  • Explain the surgical steps of fixating intraocular lens implants (including AKREOS) with Gore-Tex sutures

REGISTRATION

Advance registration is required.
Registration is open to retina specialists and anterior segment surgeons.
Maximum number of participants: 22
Fee: $250

Skills Transfer Course: Cataract

Anterior vitrectomy for the cataract surgeon

Saturday, June 17, 1330–1500 SOLD OUT – Wait list available
or
Saturday, June 17, 1545–1715 SOLD OUT – Wait list available
Room 524AB, Palais des congrès

Note: This course is being offered twice: at 1330-1500, then again at 1545-1715. Please be sure to register for only one session.

This is a hands-on wet-lab session where participants will have the opportunity to learn and practice the art of bimanual anterior vitrectomy. Faculty will include both experienced cataract and vitreoretinal surgeons.

NOTE: A limited number of three different models of phaco machines will be available for use during the Cataract STC. Choice of phaco machine will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive early and present yourself at the STC registration desk outside Room 524AB if you would prefer to practice on a specific machine. Otherwise, all participants will be assigned a phaco machine at the organizers’ discretion.

FACULTY

Course directors: Netan Choudhry, MD, FRCSC; Patrick Gooi, MD, FRCSC
Course instructors: Ahmed Al-Ghoul, MD; Jamie Bhamra, MD; Michael Butler, MD; Xavier Campos-Möller, MD; Toby Chan, MD; Garfield Miller, MD; Kenneth Roberts, MD

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the principles of bimanual anterior vitrectomy
  • Describe pars plana anterior vitrectomy
  • Recognize vitreous dynamics during anterior vitrectomy

REGISTRATION

Advance registration is required.
Registration is open to cataract surgeons, comprehensive ophthalmologists and residents (space permitting).
Maximum number of participants: 22
Fee: $250

Skills Transfer Course: Oculoplastics

Botulinum: Smooth moves

SOLD OUT – Wait list available
Sunday, June 18, 1045–1215
Room 524AB, Palais des congrès

This course is designed for comprehensive ophthalmologists and residents who are interested in learning and reviewing functional and cosmetic injections of botulinum toxins. Attendees will learn how to choose the appropriate toxin (Botox, Dysport or Xeomin) for a variety of cases and patients. The preparation and dilution methods for each toxin will be reviewed and participants will practice various functional and cosmetic injection techniques under the direct supervision of an instructor (experienced botulinum toxin injector).

NOTE: Due to licensing restraints, out-of-province participants will be provided synthetic heads for use during the STC, while Quebec licensed physicians will be permitted to practise on live patients. All residents will be required to practise techniques on synthetic heads.

Should you hold a license outside of Quebec and wish to practise techniques on a live patient, please request and provide proof of a Special Authorization from the Collège des Médecins du Québec (CMQ). The Special Authorization fee is $450 and is the responsibility of the delegate. All information and forms are available on the CMQ website. Please allow 4 weeks to complete this process.

FACULTY

Course director: Patrick Boulos, MD, FRCSC
Course instructors: Chantal Arès, MD, FRCSC; Bryan Arthurs, MD, FRCSC; Mounir Bashour, MD, FRCSC; Dan Boghen, MD, FRCSC; Paul Denton, MD, FRCSC; Marcele Falcao, MD, FRCSC; Isabelle Hardy, MD, FRCSC; Conrad Kavalec, MD, FRCSC; Yasser Khan, MD, FRCSC; Lucie Khouri, MD, FRCSC; Pierre Lepage-Létourneau, MD, FRCSC; Babak Maleki, MD, FRCSC; Navdeep Nijhawan, MD, FRCSC; Quynh Nguyen, MD, FRCSC; Jamie Wong, MD, FRCSC

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Assess the functional and cosmetic indications for treatment with botulinum toxin and describe the related muscular anatomy
  • Choose the appropriate botulinum toxin and describe proper dilution and preparation methods
  • Apply the injection techniques learned during the course on patients in their practice

REGISTRATION

Advance registration is required.
Registration is open to comprehensive ophthalmologists and residents (space permitting).
Maximum number of participants: 20
Fee: $250