NO walk-ins or registrations after 5/15/24 for Exhibitors
Highlights:
- An excellent lineup of OD speakers
- Exhibit hall with 50+ exhibitors
- Friday Exhibit Hall Opening Reception and Family Fun Night (includes food, drinks, and plenty of activities for the kids including face painting, caricature artists, and balloon twisting stilt walkers!)
- Saturday ice cream break and luncheon in the exhibit hall
- Saturday evening Young OD Event sponsored by VSP
- Partner meal functions
- Located right on the beach!
Please note: The annual NCOS Business Meeting (including the election of Officers and Trustees), NC Board of Optometry election, and Saturday evening reception will take place at Fall Congress as a result of the NCOS Bylaws amendments that were passed in 2023.
Agenda:
Friday, June 7
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast provided by NCOS
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Lumps and Bumps: A Practical Guide to Evaluation and Management, COPE 88679-TD, Nathan Lighthizer, OD (2 hours)
Optometrists have been able to remove benign eyelid lesions in various states for many years now. When cutting into the eyelid to remove a benign lesion, it is imperative that one understands the eyelid anatomy. This interactive lecture will thoroughly cover and review all eyelid lesions, from the very benign to malignant lesions.
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM: Glaucoma Grand Rounds, COPE 89253-GL, Nathan Lighthizer, OD, FAAO (2 hours)
Glaucoma is one of the most common vision threatening disorders that we see in our exam chair on a day in and day out basis. Clinical and scientific evidence supports the use of numerous tests to help in the diagnosis, management, and follow-up of glaucoma. This interactive glaucoma lecture featuring a grand rounds format will review some of the classic tests for glaucoma including IOP measurement, gonioscopy and ONH imaging. It will also introduce and give participants the opportunity to get hands-on with the newer technology including OCT, OCT-A, color vision, virtual reality VF's, and ERG's.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: ERG in Eyecare: From Rare Dystrophies to Common Conditions, COPE 87882-GO, Nathan Lighthizer, OD, FAAO (1 hour)
This course covers advanced retinal testing methods, including ffERG, color vision, and OCT-A, for diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, enhancing diagnosis and management with the latest research on supplementation.
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM: Grand Rounds: A String of Pearls, COPE 87682-TD, Nathan Lighthizer, OD, FAAO (1 hour)
Recognizing and treating ocular disease cases can be one of the most rewarding aspects of our profession. This interactive grand rounds course will feature actual anterior segment encounters seen at the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry. An emphasis will be placed on anterior segment conditions that OD’s manage on a regular basis.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception & Family Fun Night in the Exhibit Hall (open to all attendees along with spouses/significant others and children)
We invite you to join us in the Exhibit Hall for an evening of food, drinks and fun for all ages! Enjoy face painting, caricature artists, a balloon twisting stilt walker and more while enjoying social time with your fellow ODs, families and our fabulous exhibitors. Heavy appetizers and drinks (adult and kid-friendly!) will be provided.
Saturday, June 8
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast provided by NCOS
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Monday Morning Quarterbacks, COPE 88859-TD, Tony Litwak, OD, FAAO (2 hours)
This interactive course will present a variety of anterior and posterior ocular disease cases. History, clinical findings, auxiliary testing, diagnosis and treatment plans will be addressed for each case. Doctors will use interactive polling to participate in diagnosis and treatment options.
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Ice Cream Break in the Exhibit Hall Sponsored by PECAA
10:30 AM - 12:30 PM: It Ain't Rare if It's in Your Chair, COPE 88825-NO, Tony Litwak, OD, FAAO (2 hours)
This interactive course will present a variety of usual cases in neuro-ocular disease. History, clinical findings, auxiliary testing, diagnosis and treatment plans will be addressed for each case. Doctors will use interactive polling to participate in diagnosis and treatment options.
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch provided by NCOS in the Exhibit Hall
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Tales from the Glaucoma Crypt, Cope 88818-GL, Tony Litwak, OD, FAAO (2 hours)
This course will present a variety of challenging glaucoma cases encountered over the last 35 years of clinical practice in the VA Medical Center. History, clinical findings, auxiliary testing, diagnosis and treatment plans will be addressed for each case. Audience participation via interactive polling will be incorporated for differential diagnosis and treatment options.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Young OD Event
Join us on the Currents Lawn (outside of Black Drum Brewing) on Saturday evening for a mixer sponsored by our gold partner, VSP. Young ODs (10 years of practice or less), New Licensees and Students are invited.
Sunday, June 9
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Boomer Boom: Alzheimer's Disease and Age Related Macular Degeneration in Primary Eye Care, COPE 90022-TD, Jennifer Lyerly, OD (2 hours)
With a rapidly aging American population (the number of Americans 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050 – an increase of 47%!), primary care optometrists will increasingly be charged with detecting, managing, and treating age-related ocular disease. New innovations in ocular coherence tomography (OCT) technology will have an expanded role in detecting neurodegenerative changes in the eye – from drusen in age related macular degeneration to amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. In this course we will review the current models and neuropathologic similarities between Alzheimer’s disease and AMD that enable OCT imaging to be a pathway for disease detection today (with AMD) and tomorrow (with Alzheimer’s Disease). We will also discuss new innovations in the treatment of both diseases, with a focus on how doctors should present and discuss the new geographic atrophy treatments in patients with severe non-exudative macular degeneration.
10:15 AM - 12:15 PM: Rapid Points Linking Ocular and Systemic Health -- Keeping Your Patients Healthy, COPE Pending, Charles "Jack" Davis, OD (2 hours)
Course description coming soon!
Speakers:
Charles "Jack" Davis, OD
Salisbury, NC
Dr. Charles (Jack) Davis spent his youth in Western N.C. where he later received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Western Carolina University. He attended the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Optometry and completed his optometric residency at the Tuscaloosa VAMC, while during his residency he completed a M.P.H. degree from UAB School of Public Health. He spent the majority of his professional career providing care to Veterans at the Salisbury Health Care System in Salisbury NC. Along the way he completed a Master degree in Health Administration (MHA) and a PhD in Health Service Research from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has been awarded research grants from the state of Alabama, national organizations, and the Department of Veteran Affairs. His latest research focus investigated systemic comorbidities, ocular comorbidities, and the cost of care provided to Veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Jack enjoys Texas "no-limit" poker and plays in small tournaments at various locations each year.
Nathan Lighthizer, OD, FAAO
Tahlequah, OK
Born and raised in Bismarck, ND, Nate Lighthizer, OD, FAAO, is a graduate of Pacific University College of Optometry. Upon graduation, he completed a residency in Family Practice Optometry with an emphasis in Ocular Disease through Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry. Dr. Lighthizer has since joined the faculty at the Oklahoma College of Optometry and serves as the Chief of Specialty Care Clinics and the Chief of Electrodiagnostics Clinic. In 2014, he founded and now heads the Dry Eye Clinic at the College of Optometry. Also in 2014, he was named the Director of Continuing Education as well as the Assistant Dean for Clinical Care Services at the Oklahoma College of Optometry. He is a founding member, and currently serves as Vice President, of the Intrepid Eye Society which is a group of emerging thought leaders in optometry. He was named a member of PCON 250—a list of the top 250 optometrists in the country who practice progressively, provide innovative patient care, conduct optometric research or excel in academia and share what they have learned with other optometrists to advance the profession. Dr. Lighthizer lectures nationally on numerous topics, most notably advanced ophthalmic procedures, electrodiagnostics, and ocular disease.
Tony Litwak, OD, FAAO
Baltimore, MD
Dr. Tony Litwak is the Program Director for Ocular Therapeutics Continuing Education (OTCE). He is the Past Residency and Student Program Director at the Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center. Dr. Litwak is an adjunct Clinical Professor at Pennsylvania College of Optometry, State University of New York, New England College of Optometry, University of Alabama College of Optometry and Southern College of Optometry. He is a founding member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society and National Glaucoma Society and on the Editorial Board of the Optometric Glaucoma Society E-Journal. Dr. Litwak is past Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Eye and Vision Care and is course director for “Ocular Therapeutics in Cancun” and “Glaucoma in the Gorge.” He is a national and international lecturer on ocular disease and author of the glaucoma textbook, “The Glaucoma Handbook.”
Jennifer Lyerly, OD
Raleigh, NC
Dr. Jennifer Lyerly is an optometrist practicing comprehensive ocular healthcare with a focus on custom and specialty contact lenses. She is a recognized leader in eyecare with a passion for building relationships with her patients and the wider Triangle community. A native of Clemmons, North Carolina, she graduated as valedictorian at North Carolina State University before earning her optometric doctorate. In 2017 she was recognized as the Southern College of Optometry’s Young Alumni of the Year for her outreach in the profession, and she currently serves as a Board of Trustees member at the Southern College of Optometry. She lives in Cary with her husband and young daughter. Dr. Lyerly specializes in scleral contact lenses and myopia control.
Room Block:
A room block is available at the Embassy Suites hotel and at the Kingston Plantation Condos & Villas. The reservation link will be provided in your registration confirmation email after you complete your event registration. Oceanview rooms at the Embassy Suites start at $279/night plus taxes and fees. Kingston Plantation villas start at $207/night plus taxes and fees (one, two, and three bedroom villas available). Kingston Plantation oceanview condos (two and three bedroom condos available) start at $340/night plus taxes and fees. The daily resort fee is $23 (includes self-parking). Room reservations are available until the room block closes on May 5, 2024 or when the room block sells out, whichever occurs first.
Cancellation Policy:
Cancelations received before April 30, 2024 will be entitled to a full refund. Cancellations received between May 1 and May 31, 2024 will be entitled to a 50% refund. Cancellations received after May 31, 2024 will not be entitled to a refund.
Meeting and Event Policies: click here
For questions, contact Christy Santacana, Meetings Coordinator, at (919) 977-6964 or [email protected].
