Eyeworld Daily News

APRIL 5, 2024 | EYEWORLD DAILY NEWS | 3 ASCRS ANNUAL MEETING DAILY NEWS continued from page 1 to this new role. "Over the years, ASCRS has played such a large part in my education and networking with fellow ophthalmologists and industry and my interest in research and development," he said. "It was a 'pinch myself' moment when I was asked to be the chairman of the Re- fractive Surgery Clinical Committee, and that led to being asked to be on the Executive Committee, and now comes my presidency." Dr. Thompson also previously served as Refractive Editor of EyeWorld. "I've learned a lot from Elizabeth Yeu and other past presidents and ASCRS leaders. I have also learned from Steve Speares, our talented and inspirational Executive Director of ASCRS, and the dedicated staff at ASCRS who do the jobs that support all of us. They have taught me so much, and it has blown me away to see their 'behind the scenes' talent and impact to help us ophthalmolo- gists help our patients and practices. I feel prepared, but I also feel a deep sense of responsibility," Dr. Thomp- son said. "It's a time in my career where I sincerely love and appreciate what we do as ophthalmologists." Dr. Thompson said that his pas- sion is refractive surgery, but he likes to think of himself professionally as a physician first, an ophthalmologist second, and a refractive surgeon third as he thinks about the patient as a whole and their total eye health. He considers his "if you were my family member" surgical or non-sur- gical recommendation. When thinking about refractive surgery, Dr. Thompson said that the utilization of presbyopia-correcting implants in the U.S. is still lower than patient interest shows in many studies. He thinks that this relates to some of the challenges of delivering the business end of refractive cata- ract surgery, so he's making it one of his major goals during his presidency to address this. "One of my initiatives this year is to take this wonderful Annual Meeting education, which is a mix of 90% surgical/medical and 10% business, and flip that on its head and have a fall meeting that's 90% on the delivery and business of refractive cataract surgery and 10% the highlights of surgical delivery," he said. "That's something that I'm excited that ASCRS is supporting in my year as president. Cataract surgeons are so busy, and for those who truly desire to grow in their premium implant use and under- stand the amazing practice potential, we want to give them the tools to empower them and their team to provide patients an A–Z journey in a way that fits into their busy schedule. Since this meeting will be taught by the implant surgeons and business leaders who have mastered premium implants, coupled with the industry support for the practices attending, the response has been amazing. We are limiting this first meeting to 75 surgeons and requiring that the staff person in charge of the team and implementing the patient premium implant experience attend also." This meeting will take place the last week- end of September in Dallas, Texas. "I think as incoming president, you're thinking about what way could you give something back," Dr. Thompson said. "I tell my fellow ophthalmologists that with reduced reimbursements, it helps the practice health if we're comfortable delivering advanced technologies that patients are willing to invest in. For me, my comfort with delivering the patient pay side of medicine helps to fund technology for my Medicare and Medicaid patients." Dr. Thompson finds value in this hybrid approach of having cash-pay procedures and third-party reimbursement comple- menting each other. He wants to help ophthalmologists who have been so dependent on third-party reimburse- ment to have the tools and comfort to deliver advanced technologies that patients will invest in. This will help serve their patient population who wants to learn about options as they make their lifelong vision decisions, which in the end will also help the health of the practice, he said. Dr. Thompson again stressed the honor he feels to be the next ASCRS president. "It has been a beautiful evolution for me, and I am so thank- ful for all those who have supported me in my journey," he said. "I tell my fellow ophthalmologists that with reduced reimbursements, it helps the practice health if we're comfortable delivering advanced technologies that patients are willing to invest in. For me, my comfort with delivering the patient pay side of medicine helps to fund technology for my Medicare and Medicaid patients." –Vance Thompson, MD

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