AAO Annual Meeting advance registration and housing now open for Academy and AAOE members

The meeting offers more than 500 courses, sessions, labs and Breakfasts with the Experts on the latest advances in all areas of ophthalmology, including refractive and cataract surgery, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology and pediatric ophthalmology. Also being highlighted this year are the following events:

• World-renowned health care economist Uwe E. Reinhardt, PhD., will deliver this year's keynote address at the Opening Session on Sunday, November 16. Dr. Reinhardt, the James Madison Professor of Political Economy at Princeton, is considered to be a leading authority on the nation's health care system. He has been a consultant to the U.S. Congress, and has served on the editorial boards of the "Journal of Health Economics," "The New England Journal of Medicine" and others. For more information on Dr. Reinhardt, visit http://www.aao.org/aao/annual_meeting/information/highlights.cfm.

• Gary N. Holland, MD, Professor of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California at Los Angeles, will deliver the Jackson Memorial Lecture on "Ocular Toxoplasmosis: A Global Reassessment," at the Opening Session on Sunday, November 16. Ocular toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection, transmitted primarily by cats and the consumption of raw meat. It can result in lesions and dense scar tissue on the retina, as well as damage to the lungs, liver and brain. The CDC estimates that more than 60 million people in the United States carry the parasite, but few have symptoms because the immune system prevents the parasite from causing illness. Pregnant women and those with weak immune systems should make every effort to avoid infection.

• Charles D. Kelman, MD, the "Father of Phaco," and other pioneers and visionaries who developed and perfected the technique of phacoemulsification, the most widely used technique of cataract surgery, will present a retrospective on the history of the technique in a new evening session on Monday, November 17. A reception will follow this highlighted session.

• The Spotlight Session on Cataract, entitled "Spotlight on Pseudophakic IOLs 2003: Where Are We Now? Where Are We Going?," will be held the morning of Monday, November 17. This program will focus on evidence-based studies on IOL materials and designs, challenging cases, complications, refractive applications, historical perspectives and new innovations for the future.

For the most up-to-date information about the Annual Meeting, or to register or book housing for the Annual Meeting or Subspecialty Day Programs, visit the Academy's Web site at http://www.aao.org/annual_meeting.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons--Eye M.D.s--with more than 27,000 members worldwide. For more information about eye health care, visit the Academy's partner Web site, the Medem Network, at http://www.medem.com/eyemd. To find an Eye M.D. in your area, visit the Academy's Web site at http://www.aao.org.

Media Advisory: Advance registration for members of the media will begin on July 9 at http://www.aao.org/newsroom. Advance media registration forms can also be obtained by dialing the Academy's fax-on-demand line at 732-935-2761 and requesting documents #1029 for the advance media registration form and #1012 for housing information. For questions, contact the Academy's media information staff at 415-561-8534.