SAN DIEGO--Optometrists from around the country gathered here last month for the annual American Academy of Optometry meeting. The event drew an estimated attendance of about 4,300.

The Academy’s education during the meeting was focused on the theme, “Today’s Research, Tomorrow’s Practice: Rx for the Future.” More than 300 hours of continuing education classes were available during the four-day event. New at the 2005 meeting was the slogan “All CE, All the Time,” referring to the fact that the entire meeting was approved for CE credit.

As in the past, attendees had swipe cards to record their credits as they moved from lecture to lecture; for the first time at this AAO meeting, attendees could use their cards to check their credits the next day to make sure everything was recorded properly.

In addition to the educational aspects of the meeting, 156 companies showcased their latest products and programs in 269 booths in the AAO exhibit area. In addition, local artisans from the Spanish Village Arts Center in San Diego’s Balboa Park showed off their wares for AAO attendees.

Kicking off the meeting, keynote speakers at the Plenary Session, sponsored by Vision Service Plan, discussed how optometry will be practiced in the future, including the effect of evidence-based medicine on optometry, the effects of recent amblyopia-treatment study results on clinical practice, and medication therapy based on a contemporary understanding of disease biology.

The 2006 Academy annual meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7 to 10 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

John Flanagan, OD, welcomes members to the annual Optometric Glaucoma Society meeting during the AAO event. The AAO board of directors (clockwise from top l): Rick Weisbarth, OD, president-elect; Thomas Lewis, OD, immediate past president; Bernard Dolan, OD; Thomas Fuddo, OD; Brett Bence, OD; Karla Zadnik, OD; Joe Yager, OD, president; Mark Eger, OD, secretary/treasurer.

Christina Schnider, OD, discusses silicone hydrogel contact lenses at a Vistakon-sponsored corporate breakfast.

 AAO president Joe Yager, OD (l), and Bruce Mebine, OD (r), board chair of event sponsor Vision Service Plan, welcome the three Plenary Session speakers (l to r): Sanjay Sharma, MD; Mitchell Scheiman, OD, and James Rosenbaum, MD.