Eyeworld Daily News

ASCRS•ASOA SYMPOSIUM & CONGRESS, SAN DIEGO 2015 Even small leaks can lead to BIG COMPLICATIONS. Visit us in Booth #443 www.resuresealant.com ReSure Sealant is indicated for intraoperative management of clear corneal incisions (up to 3.5mm) with a demonstrated wound leak for which a temporary dry surface can be achieved, in order to prevent postoperative fluid egress from such incisions following cataract surgery with intraocular lens (IOL) placement in adults. SGR repeal among topics in legislative session by Ellen Stodola EyeWorld Staff Writer EyeWorld Daily News • The official ASCRS•ASOA Show Daily Tuesday, April 21, 2015 digital.eyeworld.org continued on page 3 Innovators Session highlights the future of corneal endothelial therapy by Ellen Stodola EyeWorld Staff Writer T his year's Charles D. Kelman Innovator's Lecture was given by Shigeru Kinoshita, MD, PhD, Kyoto, Japan, on the topic of "Novel Treatment Dimensions for Corneal Endothelial Dysfunction." The ultimate goal for surgeries like PK, DSAEK, and DMEK is to obtain a high corneal endothe- lial cell density with good physio- logical function using donor corneal endothelial cells, he said. When we think outside the box in the future, we may need to think of a novel strategy, he said. Possible options for advanced stage treat- ment are corneal endothelial cell (CEC) sheet transplantation or CEC cell injection. When attempting to test the option for sheet transplantation, Dr. Kinoshita cultivated monkey corneal endothelial cell sheets. This was partially successful but not 100%, he said. He then moved onto trying to use CEC injection instead of sheet transplantation. He tested this in both rabbit and monkey models. He determined possible advan- tages of endothelial transplantation using cultivated corneal endothe- lial cells. Young donor corneas can be used as master cells with good longevity and physiological function. "Also, we could cultivate many, many cells from just one donor cornea," he said. This would N ancey K. McCann, AS- CRS•ASOA director of government relations, and Ashley McGlone, ASCRS•ASOA manager of regulatory affairs, gave an update on legislative and regulatory issues on Monday morning. Ms. McCann began by talking about the recent repeal of the SGR. "Obviously, we've been working on this issue for 12 years," she said. There have been 17 short-term fixes, and now it's repealed, she said. The principles for SGR reform were, first and foremost, to repeal the SGR, Ms. McCann said. H.R. 1470/S. 810 was first introduced to eliminate SGR. Budget offsets and the extension of certain programs were added to this legislation and the bill became H.R. 2., which ultimately passed and was signed into law by the president. There were 2 important issues relating to Medicare entitlement reform in the legislation, which Ms. McCann said was why many conservatives voted for it. Medigap plan coverage will now be limited to costs above the continued on page 3 Dr. Kinoshita receives his award after presenting the Innovator's Lecture. Thomas Carter, MD, Okla., wins 2015 Tesla! ASCRS President Robert Cionni, MD, left, and Edward Holland, MD, right, congratulate ASCRS attendee Thomas Carter, MD, center, on winning the 2015 Tesla drawing. See pages 16 and 17 for photos.

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