Stay On Target: A Frank Discussion on Surgical Safety and Reviewing the Trends of Keratoplasty Techniques Over the Past Decade

Date: January 17, 2013
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Surgical Safety in Ophthalmology - George A. Cioffi, MD

Are ophthalmologists doing everything possible to protect their patients that are undergoing surgical procedures?  Despite numerous efforts in the past, so-called "never events" including wrong site surgeries and wrong implants continue to plaque our profession.  This lecture will be a frank discussion of the problem with published data from around the country examining the issue. Common themes will be discussed inherent in these occurrences and practical solutions will be offered to prevent them from happening in the future.

Trends in Keratoplasty Techniques Over the Past Decade - George J. Florakis, MD

For several decades full thickness corneal transplantation has been the treatment of choice for decreased vision due to various corneal pathologies. The recent trend in keratoplasty techniques has been tissue specific replacement. Endothelial Keratoplasty: preservation of normal stromal and surface with quicker rehabilitation , less astigmatism and suture related problems – less rejection. The goal of  DALK (Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty) is to leave a healthy Descemet’s membrane and endothelium intact and replace the stroma (as well as Bowman’s and epithelium).

Endothelial Keratoplasty is now the standard of care for endothelial dysfunction: - offers significant advantages over traditional penetrating keratoplasty. Long term results (rejection rates, survivability) seem favorable. New innovations are already improving this procedure which will hopefully result in even better outcomes for our patients.

DALK is a more technically difficult and time consuming procedure with certain advantages (many theoretical) over Penetrating Keratoplasty. Endothelial Keratoplasty similarly started as a more technically difficult and time consuming procedures with certain (often theoretical) advantages over PK.

Tissue targeted replacement of the cornea has come of age!

About the Speaker(s)

George A. Cioffi, MD is the Edward S. Harkness Professor and Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also holds the Jean and Richard Deems Endowed Professorship and is the Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. He received his medical degree at the University of South Carolina, completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Maryland where he also served as Chief Resident, and a fellowship in Research & Clinical Glaucoma at Devers Eye Institute under Dr. E. Michael Van Buskirk. More recently, he completed the inaugural Harvard Business School program in Managing Healthcare Delivery.

Dr. Cioffi is the Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Glaucoma, and is the current Chairman of the Basic and Clinical Science Course (BCSC) for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). He is the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Glaucoma Research Foundation in San Francisco. Dr. Cioffi has been supported with multiple grants from the National Eye Institute, continuously for 18 years, as well as several private foundation and industry grants. He has authored more than 200 articles and book chapters and edited a book for non-ophthalmologists, The Devers Manual: Ophthalmology for the Healthcare Professional.  He has received many awards throughout his career, including a Secretariat Award from the AAO and the Innovators Award from the Glaucoma Research Foundation, both in 2012.

George J. Florakis, MD graduated from Columbia College in 1979. He attended medical school at Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his residency at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. His fellowship in Cornea and External Eye Disease was with Dr. Jay Krachmer at the University of Iowa. He is currently a Clinical Professor of  Ophthalmology at the Columbia University Medical Center and Director of the Cornea Clinic of the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute. He is a member of many local and national ophthalmic organizations including both the national Eyebank Association of America and the Medical Advisory Board of the Eye Bank for Sight Restoration in New York. Dr. Florakis enjoys actively teaching medical students and residents at Columbia University. His areas of expertise are in Cornea and External Eye Diseases including corneal transplants, corneal dystrophies, corneal degenerations, ectasias (keratoconus), anterior segment trauma and reconstruction as well infectious diseases such as Herpetic (viral) and bacterial keratitis.

Registration Information
Cost: Free, but advance registration is required
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