2024 Para Optometric Schedule

Friday, June 7, 2024

8 – 9 am Light pastries and coffee in the hallway to the Grindelwald

9 – 10 am: Optometric Potpourri (Nick Colatrella and Jeff Varanelli) in Grindelwald

This interactive lecture will review many things related to the optometric office including: emergencies vs. urgencies, new therapies in ocular surface disease, new technologies in eye care among others. It will also review some clinical testing that will be encountered routinely.

10 – 11 am: Pharmacology for the para (Nick Colatrella and Jeff Varanelli) in Grindelwald

This interactive lecture will discuss many of the common medications that will be encountered in the optometric office. It will review indications, contraindications, and potential side effects. It will also review some common medications that may have ocular side effects.

11 – 12 pm  Para Jeopardy (Nick Colatrella and Jeff Varanelli) in Grindelwald

This one-hour lecture will be an interactive, educational presentation based on the popular quiz game show. Participants will be presented with clues in the form of answers and must phrase their responses in the form of questions. Answers are discussed, and background information is given regarding the correct response.  This lecture will highlight a review of previous lectures.

12 – 1:30 pm: Installation Lunch sponsored by Hoopes Vision in Matterhorn

1:30 – 4 pm: Exhibit Hall

4 – 6 pm: Anatomy review and cow eye dissection (Nick Colatrella and Jeff Varanelli) in Grindelwald ($5 workshop fee)

This two-hour workshop will start with a review of ocular anatomy before proceeding into the cow eye dissection.  Participants will work in small groups as the presenters guide them through the dissection process, pointing out the ocular structures.

6 pm – 7 pm: Ice cream social for families in the carousel area

7 pm: Adult only Dinner sponsored by Monson Vision in Matterhorn

Saturday, June 8th, 2024

7 – 8 am: Breakfast Challenge of the Clinics sponsored by Waite Vision in Matterhorn

8 – 9 am: Minor procedures and the technicians role (Peter Cass) in Grindelwald

This course will give an overview of minor procedures done in an optometry office, how the technician can participate and what is expected of the technician.  Various procedures will be explained and general guidelines will for each will be given. 

9 – 10 am: Patient Workup: Beyond the basics (Peter Cass) in Grindelwald

This lecture will cover the additional testing that can be delegated to staff to increase practice efficiency, provide more thorough care, and a higher level of care. Standard procedures, general guidelines, normal findings, and what to do when there are abnormal findings will be discussed.

10 – 12 pm: Exhibit hall with a giveaway from 12-12:30

12:30 – 1:30: Lunch for paras and docs sponsored by Superior Technical Solutions and MacuHealth in Matterhorn

Track 1:

Combined sessions with docs 4 hours
1:30 – 2:30 pm: Identifying and managing pharmaceutical complications (Jessica Steen) in Matterhorn

This course will present frequently encountered systemic medications which have associated ocular effects which range from benign to vision and life threatening. Clinical identification of ocular findings which may be related to systemic medication use and communication recommendations with comanaging providers will be highlighted.

2:30 – 3:30 pm: When good retinal surgery makes glaucoma go bad (Jessica Steen) in Matterhorn

The likelihood of development of glaucoma is increased following surgical management of vitreoretinal disease including pars plana vitrectomy, and intravitreal injections of gas, silicone oil, steroid, and anti-VEGF agents and therefore these individuals require special consideration. Using case examples, this course will discuss underlying cause of elevated intraocular pressure and glaucoma in patients who have undergone vitreoretinal procedures and will highlight treatment pearls and management considerations.

3:30 – 4:30 pm: The new era of patient communications: social media, automation, and telemedicine (Peter Cass) in Matterhorn

Patient preferred methods for communication are changing. This lecture will discuss those changes and provide advice on communication policy, social media policy for interacting with patients and look at what lies ahead. It discuss online reputation management and how to respond to reviews as well as the role of telehealth in optometry.

4:30 – 5:30 pm:  Cybersecurity (Peter Cass) in Matterhorn

This lecture will familiarize doctors with the data security risks facing practices. An overview of rules and regulations regarding protection of patient data will be discussed. Practical advice will be given on how to secure networks, computers, patient records, and data.

6:30 – 9 pm: Utah Optometric Association Family Carnival sponsored by Utah Eye Centers in Matterhorn