2017 KOA Spring Congress 

The 2017 KOA Spring Conference will be  April 27-29 at the Hyatt Hotel in Lexington, KY.  The KOA is offering 20 hours of continuing education for ODs.  There will be an exhibit hall during the meeting.  Food functions are included in the registration price. 

 The KOA will offer 13 hours of CE for Paras/Opticians/Staff.  Those registration materials are separate - click here to view.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

Thursday, April 27

11:00am        Registration Opens
 Box Lunch included with registration

12:00pm-1:00pm    “Update from CGS Medicare”
Earl Berman, M.D.
CGS Medicare will be giving an overview of Medicare policy/general concepts for KY optometrists.  Other topics discussed will be medical review/audits/error rates for optometrists.
1 Hour CE
            
1:00pm-3:00pm    “Diagnosis to Treatment: Expert Guidance in the Glaucoma Clinic”
Ben Gaddie, O.D. & Tony Realini, M.D.
This course will guide the doctor on evaluating the optic nerve, the OCT and Visual Fields. Target IOP & current glaucoma treatment algorithms will be discussed.  We will also discuss the role of new medications and SLT in the management of glaucoma.  New laser techniques in development will be reviewed.
2 Hours CE  (ETP/TPA)

3:00pm-5:00pm    “Landmark Clinical Trials and the Glaucoma Suspect: How Your Glaucoma Specialists Sees It”
Tony Realini, M.D.
This course will examine the practical results of the main landmark clinical trials in glaucoma.  In addition, the approach to managing the glaucoma suspect will be outlined.  Other topics including optomizing the glaucoma referral process-what is needed and what is not!
2 Hours CE  (TPA)        
    
5:00pm-6:00pm    “Updates and Reminders of Kentucky Optometry Law”   
Kentucky Board of Examiners
Board members and the Board attorney will cover legal issues most frequently addressed by the board and provide recommendations on best practices to comply with the law.
1 Hour CE    

6:00pm-7:00pm    KOA Membership Meeting
        
7:00pm-8:00pm    Opening Reception

Friday, April 28

7:00am-8:00am    Registration / Breakfast

8:00am-9:00am    “Diagnosis & Treatment of OSD Conditions Focus on Blepharitis”
Paul Karpecki, O.D.
This lecture allows the participant a better understanding of anterior blepharitis and meibomian gland dysfunction MGD. The various forms of anterior blepharitis including staphylococcal, demodex and seborrheic, will be differentiated and the focused treatment options will be elaborated on. Likewise a better understanding of MGD will be provided including how to best diagnose and treat the disease as well as its role in dry eye disease.
1 Hour CE  (TPA)

9:00am-11:00am    “What, Why, How about Dry Eye Disease Management”
Paul Karpecki, O.D.
This course will be an in-depth discussion of Dry Eye Disease.
2 Hours CE (TPA)

11:00am-12:00pm    “Hosting Clinical Externs”
 Cliff Caudill, O.D., F.A.A.O.
This course will outline the rewards of hosting optometry students in your practice.  Details about requirements, expectations and administration of an externship program.
1 Hour CE (Practice Management)

12:00pm-2:00pm    Presidential Awards Luncheon    

2:00pm-4:00pm    “Eyelid Lesions and Dry Eye Reasons”
Blair Lonsberry, OD
Patients present with a variety of conditions that affect the ocular and periocular tissues. This interactive presentation will review the various periocular lesions focusing on differentiating the benign from malignant and examining the various relationships that exist in ocular surface disease. The latest in diagnostic testing and treatment management will be discussed.
 2 Hours CE  (ETP/TPA)
        
4:00pm-5:00pm    “In-Office Procedures for the Anterior Segment”
Fraser McKay, O.D.
Both new and old: the what when and how.  A look into corneal procedures, emergencies and post-operative care.      
1 Hour CE  (ETP/TPA)

5:00pm-7:30pm    Exhibit Hall  Reception

7:30pm-8:30pm    Student  Reception

Saturday, April 29

7:00am-8:00am    Registration / Breakfast

8:00am-9:00am       “Not So Fast - Some Cases Might Fool You”
Eric Schmidt, O.D.  
This course will feature case presentations that turn out to be complicated entities. Detailed differential diagnosis schemes will be presented for each case and potential therapy paradigms will be outlined. Each case will be followed to its end so that the attendee will be able to completely work through the presentation from its start to completion.
1 Hour CE (TPA)

9:00am-11:00am       “New Therapeutics for Clinical Practices”
Eric Schmidt, O.D.
Many new pharmaceutical agents and procedures to treat ocular disease are being introduced to eye doctors.  This course will highlight the new products on the market and their clinical indications.  Detailed discussions of their clinical effect as well as side effects using these drugs will ensue.
2 Hours CE (TPA)

11:00am-1:30pm    Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall

1:30pm-2:30pm    “The Optic Nerve Head in Glaucoma”
Eric Schmidt, O.D.
This course is designed to provide an overview of the optic nerve as it is affected by glaucoma, specific     pathologies of the glaucomatous optic nerve and how progression of these changes appear. This very      detailed course will strengthen the doctor’s clinical acumen in the diagnosis of glaucoma.
1 Hour CE (TPA)

2:30pm-4:30pm    “Oral Pharmaceuticals in Anterior Segment Disease”                                                       Blair Lonsberry, O.D.
This interactive course examines the use of oral pharmaceuticals (including those for pain management) in the treatment management of a variety of anterior segment diseases.
2 Hours CE (TPA & Pain Management)
**This course will count towards the two hours needed for those who have a DEA# & need Pain             Management CE.**

4:30pm-5:30pm    “Uveitis Systemic and Ocular Approaches to Management”
Blair Lonsberry, O.D.
Diagnosing and managing a patient with a uveitis is much like finding a needle in a haystack. The various presentations of uveitis combined with the numerous underlying etiologies makes the diagnosis and ultimate treatment of the patient a clinical jigsaw puzzle. The following presentation utilizes the latest in interactive technology to examine the various presentations of a patient with uveitis, the diagnosis and management/exploration of the various etiologies that underlie uveitis.
1 Hour CE (TPA)

NOTE: Conference is finished at 5:30pm on Saturday.  No Sunday classes this year.

HOTEL INFORMATION:
The KOA does have a block of rooms at the Hyatt Hotel.  Call the Hyatt 1-800-233-1234 and ask for the KY Optometric Assn rate of $179 a night.  The block will only be open until March 29 or when the block is sold out.

Register Now!IMPORTANT: If you plan to pay by credit card the KOA only accepts VISA, MasterCard & Discover. The KOA does not accept AMEX.  There will be an icon on the payment page that shows AMEX, but your payment will not process if you enter your AMEX CC information.  Sorry for any confusion, but constant contact will not allow KOA to delete the icon because it is embedded in their formatting. Thank you.