October is the AAO Meeting

We are leaving for Orlando, FL in a few days to attend the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting.  It is our industry’s largest meeting of the year…worldwide.

The meeting has become so large that only a certain cities can host the event;  Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Orlando.  Literally tens of thousands of people will attend;  doctors, administrators, technicians, vendors, etc.

This will be the largest collection of eye related people anywhere in the world.

New scientific discoveries will be announced, new products for patients will be displayed, advanced technology will be highlighted, and hundreds of courses will offered. It’s a huge showcase for anyone related to “eyes.”

We, too, are going to launch MME.

Iluvien Has New Data for the FDA

It is anticipated that Alimera will announce successful completion and submission of some long-awaited data to the FDA.

Alimera Sciences has been trying to obtain FDA approval for a sustained intraocular drug delivery system called Iluvien.  This is similar to Ozurdex (Ozurdex is used for the treatment of retinal swelling due to vein occlusions).

Iluvien will release steroids inside the eye for a period of months to control diabetic macular edema.  It is anticipated that this last bit of data will satisfy the FDA and prove that it is indeed safe and effective.

Stay tuned.

Treatment of Macular Degeneration

I don’t think there will be any earth shattering news in this field. VEGF-Trap Eye is probably going to get some press as this is another drug that promises to be quite effective in the treatment of wet macular degeneration.

VEGF-Trap Eye, or afilbercept, is a compound similar to Avastin and Lucentis, but may need to be injected less often than the aforementioned.

Medical Marketing Enterprises

This is our baby.  Amy and I are very excited.  We will be teaching no fewer than 4 courses on medical marketing using websites, blogs, SEO and social media.  There are only about 10 courses offered in total!

I have been invited to address the “Young Ophthalmologists” about marketing.  This group is comprised of young doctors who are still in training (aka residents, fellows) or those who have been in medical practice fewer than five years.

What Does this Mean? I’ll be wearing several hats this time.  I’ll be wandering the floors and attending lectures to learn more about being a retinal specialist.

On the other hand (or under another hat), Amy and I’ll be teaching other doctors how they, too, should create websites such as this to enhance patient education, improve the Internet, and provide marketing solutions.