Issue 70 - August 2019

Contact Lens-Related Infections
Deepinder K. Dhaliwal MD, L.Ac and Tarika Thareja, MD

Medical and Ophthalmic Implications of Ocular Surface Microbiota
Joseph M. Blondeau, PhD

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the risk factors for contact lens-related infections and the signs and symptoms for differential diagnosis of the main types of presentations.

• Describe the therapeutic management for contact lens-related infections and advise patients to prevent future occurrences.

• Understand the importance of ocular and gut microbiota in prevention and pathogenesis of diseases.

• Describe microbiologic consequences of contact lens wear and dry eye disease (DED).

Issue 69 - December 2018

Update on Prevention and Management of Blebitis
Leon W. Herndon, Jr., MD

A Review and Update of EKC
Nambi Nallasamy, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Optimize peritrabeculectomy clinical care to minimize risk for bleb-related infection.

• Recognize risk factors, signs, and symptoms of bleb-related infection. 

• Diagnose and manage individual cases of EKC.

• Implement procedures to prevent the spread of adenovirus within healthcare facilities.

Issue 68 - August 2018

Advances in Understanding and Managing Blepharitis
Preeya K. Gupta, MD

Intracameral Antibiotics in Cataract Surgery
Neal H. Shorstein, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Develop a risk-stratified plan for long- and short-term blepharitis treatment.

• List potential approaches to Demodex infestation. 

• Describe current trends and practice patterns of antibiotic prophylaxis against endophthalmitis during cataract surgery in the US.

• Improve prophylaxis of endophthalmitis in cataract surgery with appropriately selected intracameral antibiotics.

Issue 67 - April 2018

PACK-CXL: Corneal Collagen Crosslinking for Infectious Keratitis
Erica Bernfeld, MD

Common Infections in the Presence of Chronic Ophthalmic Disease
Melissa B. Daluvoy, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Interpret the available research on corneal collagen crosslinking for infectious keratitis.

• Explain the proposed mechanisms by which photoactivated riboflavin may work to treat corneal infection.

• Recognize medication-related risk factors for common infections and counsel patients with a chronic ophthalmic disease on their risk.

• Manage common infections more diligently to prevent serious complications in patients with another chronic ophthalmic disease.

Issue 66 - December 2017

Antibiotic Therapy in Acute Conjunctivitis
Misbah Keen, MD, MBI, MPH and Matthew Thompson, MBChB, MPH, DPhil

Compounded Drugs: Risks and Benefits
Charles Leiter, Pharm.D.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss current diagnostic and treatment issues in acute conjunctivitis.

• Improve management of acute conjunctivitis by adopting evidence-based prescribing.

• Describe the benefits and risks associated with the use of compounded ophthalmic antibiotics.

• Describe strategies to minimize the risks of using compounded antibiotics. 

Issue 65 - October 2017

Ocular Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts
Anat Galor, MD, MSPH

Long-term Management of Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus
Elisabeth J. Cohen, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Uncover possible immune deficiency and infection risk factors in their patients.

• More quickly and accurately diagnose infection in immunocompromised patients.

• Describe the shifting trends in the epidemiology of herpes zoster.

• Educate and advise eligible patients to encourage adoption of zoster vaccine.

Issue 64 - December 2016

HIV-associated Ocular Surface and Anterior Segment Infections
Ron Adelman, MD, MPH, MBA

Topical Ophthalmic Antibiotics: Current Options and Role of Fortified Antibiotics
Bennie H. Jeng, MD, MS

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the clinical presentation of common infections of the ocular surface and anterior segment associated with HIV/AIDS. 

• Describe the key elements in diagnosing and treating infections of the ocular surface and anterior segment in patients suspected of HIV infection.

• Employ a combination of fortified agents to treat potentially serious corneal ulcers.

Issue 63 - November 2016

Fluoroquinolone Generations: What’s Next?
Parag A. Majmudar, MD

Applying MIC in Antibiotic Drug Selection and Resistance Prevention
Joseph M. Blondeau, PhD

Learning Objectives:

• Factor antibiotic generation into clinical decision-making in the treatment and prevention of ocular infection.

• Recognize limitations of generational antibiotic categorization. 

• Explain changing trends in antibiotic resistance to common ocular pathogens and the techniques used to establish these.

• Describe strategies for minimizing antibiotic resistance through changes in clinical practice.

Issue 62 - September 2016

Intraocular Antibiotics for Cataract Surgery Prophylaxis
William B. Trattler, MD

Keratoconjunctivitis and Blepharokeratoconjunctivitis
Raj K. Goyal, MD, MPH

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of currently available intraocular antibiotic prophylaxis methods.  

• Choose appropriate antibiotic prophylactic regimen in cataract surgery based on efficacy and safety considerations.

• Improve diagnosis and management of KC and BKC.

• Identify and mitigate risk factors for ocular surface infection.

Issue 61 - June 2016

Preventing and Managing Bleb-related Infections 
Sameh Mosaed, MD

Generic vs. Branded Antibiotics: Do the Differences Matter?
John R. Wittpenn, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate risk factors for bleb-related infection.

• Detect and take appropriate initial steps to manage bleb leak and related infection.

• Improve clinicians’ drug selection by identifying patient/disease situations in which there may be clinical reasons to consider branded drug rather than generic.

• State two reasons why differences in the formulations may matter more for topical ocular drugs than oral agents.

Issue 60 - April 2016

Flap-related Infections 
Steven Schallhorn, MD

Factors in Infectious Complications of Corneal Transplant
Bennie H. Jeng, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Explain changing trends in infectious keratitis following LASIK.

• Minimize the risk of flap-related infections in LASIK patients by improving surgical and clinical approaches.

• Describe factors related to the increase in fungal infection incidence following corneal transplantation.

• Reduce risk for bacterial and fungal infection in corneal transplant recipients.

Issue 59 - March 2016

Herpetic Anterior Uveitis 
C. Stephen Foster, MD, FACS

Pragmatic Microbiology for Eyecare Providers
Deepinder K. Dhaliwal, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize a herpetic etiology in patients with anterior uveitis based on distinctive clinical findings.

• Formulate the appropriate treatment strategy for presumed or proved herpetic anterior uveitis to reduce tissue damage and serious complications.

• Obtain an adequate ocular tissue sample to identify pathogens present in superficial ocular infections.

• Determine which cases are most in need of microbiology laboratory assessment.

Issue 58 - December 2015

The Human Microbiota: New Frontiers in Ophthalmology and Beyond
Rob Knight, PhD

Acanthamoeba Keratitis: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Medical Therapy
John E. Sutphin, Jr., MD

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the therapeutic potential associated with microbiome modulation.

• Describe the status of ocular surface microbiome characterization.

• Make timely diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis based on patient’s history and clinical findings.

• Choose appropriate antimicrobial therapy for patients diagnosed with Acanthamoeba keratitis.

Issue 57 – October 2015

Keeping MRSA in Check
Francis S. Mah, MD

Exotic Ocular Infections: Beyond the Tropics
Sivakumar R. Rathinam, PhD

Learning Objectives:

• Identify patients at risk for MRSA colonization.

• Design strategies to reduce MRSA transmission in the clinic and operating room.

• Identify signs and symptoms of exotic ocular infections that are present in the West.

• Conduct a thorough history when exotic infection is suspected.

Issue 56 – August 2015

Atypical Organisms in Postoperative Infections
Virender Singh Sangwan, MD

The Quinolone Antibiotics: Past, Present, and Future
Christopher N. Ta, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Distinguish presentation of typical vs. atypical postoperative infection.

• Lower their rates of missed diagnosis of rare organisms.

• Make maximally effective treatment decisions, employing both the older and newer generation fluoroquinolones.

• Design treatment protocols that minimize the risk of provoking fluoroquinolone resistance.

Issue 55 – June 2015

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in Ophthalmology
Janet L. Davis, MD, MA

Infectious Scleritis: A Review and Update
Anat Galor, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Define a role for PCR within their own practices

• Describe the types of PCR in current use

• Identify clues that should raise suspicion of infectious scleritis

• Discuss when to obtain a culture of conjunctival or corneal scrapings in cases of potential infectious scleritis

Issue 54 – April 2015

The Spectrum of Options for Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Cataract Surgery
Rosa M. Braga-Mele, MD, MEd, FRCSC

Infectious Aspects of Blepharitis
Preeya K. Gupta, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of current antiinfective prophylaxis options for cataract surgery.

• Establish an antiinfective prophylaxis approach in clinical practice that effectively minimizes cataract patients’ risk of endophthalmitis.

• Consider and recognize Demodex infestation in patients with anterior blepharitis.

• Formulate a staged treatment strategy for patients with staphylococcal blepharitis.

Issue 53 – March 2015

Culturing Ocular Infections in the 21st Century
Joseph Blondeau, PhD

Advances in Managing Adenovirus Ocular Infections
Shachar Tauber, MD

Learning Objectives:

• Refine their practice of ocular culture and transport for a range of infection types.

• Interpret reports from microbiologic laboratory more effectively.

• Name two factors that distinguish possible treatment options for adenovirus conjunctivitis.