SAN FRANCISCO – Issues from around the world will help provide an international perspective to The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) 2007 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Nov. 11-13. Registration for the Annual Meeting is available online until October 17 at www.aao.org.

Highlighted sessions include:

Spotlight on Refractive Surgery: New Imaging Technology
Sunday, Nov. 11 from 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Today's refractive and cataract surgeon has to obtain numerous biometric measurements to qualify preoperative candidates as well as to calculate accurate intraocular lens powers. An increasing array of individual instrumentation is available to measure some, but not all of the needed parameters. Although these instruments output similar measurements, the lack of standardization between them and/or the absence of peer reviewed studies confirming the benefits of the data make it difficult if not impossible for contemporary ophthalmic surgeons to scientifically determine which instruments they should acquire. This symposium will provide an understanding of current technology's ability to acquire and present useful data as well as permit a comparison of ease of use and data output. Simultaneous interpretation in French and English will be available this session only.

2007 International Forum: Debates and Updates
Monday, Nov. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Global blindness and visual disability continue to be a major problem worldwide, in spite of increased effort and breakthroughs by VISION 2020 and related initiatives. Accordingly, why not train non-ophthalmologists to perform cataract surgery in appropriate locations? What is the best environment in which to deliver eye care services in developing countries: through immediate eye services or by building service institutions? What is the cataract procedure of choice: phaco or manual small incision? Ophthalmologists and public health authorities with extensive experience in developing counties will debate these critical issues. A new program for sub-Saharan Africa will be described, and answers to the question "How can I get involved?" will be discussed.

Around the World in 80 Minutes
Monday, Nov. 12 from 4:10 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Despite significant progress in refractive surgery over the past decade, the surgical correction of presbyopia remains a challenge. The international experience with presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens implants is vast and the variety of lens implants available to international surgeons exceeds those approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. This symposium will bring together experienced and thoughtful clinician scientists from around the world to highlight the latest advances in our understanding of presbyopia correction, including new multifocal and accommodative designs.

International Perspectives: Diabetic Retinopathy in India
Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

In the year 2025, India is projected to become the diabetes capital of the world, with 57 million diabetic patients. With such large numbers, in the Indian context, screening for diabetic retinopathy using indirect ophthalmoscopy seems to be a more expedient option than retinal photography. The Aravind comprehensive eye study in rural southern India and the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiological Study (CURES) showed the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy to be 10.5% and 20.8%, respectively, in known diabetics. Diabetic retinopathy was more prevalent in men than women (21.3% vs. 14.6%, P < .0001) and the risk of diabetic retinopathy increased with the duration of diabetes and the level of glycosylated hemoglobin. This session will discuss the issues in epidemiology, screening, genetics, diagnosis, medical and surgical management of diabetic retinopathy and the measures for reduction of the disease burden at various levels in the Indian health-care scenario.