Volume 19, Number 1

March 2010

• George L. Spaeth, MD FARVO, earns the 2010 ARVO Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology
• E. B. Spaeth Oration
• CHAT SUPPORT GROUP
• Meet the Glaucoma Service Technicians
• “Go Green” and Fundraising Campaign
• Interview With Dave Lo-Drexel Medical Student
• Interview with our Webmaster Vivian Werner
• Refractive Concerns Chat Highlights November 9, 2009

George L. Spaeth, MD FARVO, earns the 2010 ARVO Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology

We are thrilled to announce that George L. Spaeth, MD FARVO, is being presented with the 2010 ARVO Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology. His selection is a tribute to his "outstanding contributions to visual science and ophthalmology.” He is being presented this distinguished honor for his lasting contributions to the gonioscopic evaluation of glaucoma and the advancement of its treatment, and to the education of two generations of ophthalmic physicians.

The Weisenfeld Award is presented in recognition of distinguished scholarly contributions to the clinical practice of ophthalmology. ARVO (Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) established the Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology in 1986, to recognize individuals for scholarly contributions to clinical ophthalmology.

The award and lecture are scheduled for Monday, May 3 at approximately 6:30 p.m. during the 2010 ARVO Annual Meeting held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the Great Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center located at 1950 Eisenhower Blvd. Dr. Julia Haller, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief of the Wills Eye Institute/Jefferson Medical College, will be introducing Dr. Spaeth. A reception in honor of Dr. Spaeth will follow from 7:30- 8:30 PM.

Dr. Spaeth's lecture will also be published in ARVO's scientific journal, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, later in the year.

E. B. Spaeth Oration

By: Rita M. Stern

The E. B. Spaeth Foundation Dinner was held on February 1st, 2010 at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. Since 1978, the Edmund B. Spaeth Clinical Research Foundation has been hosting the E. B. Spaeth Foundation Dinner. The foundation has fostered events designed to broaden and deepen ophthalmologists’ understanding of the art and science of medical practice.

The intent of the Trustees of the Foundation is to present new concepts, and to celebrate the essential role in medicine and in society of great teaching and great teachers. The guest speaker was Robert N.Weinreb, MD, Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and the Director of the Hamilton Glaucoma Center at the University of California, San Diego. Known for its unique cross-disciplinary investigative programs, the Hamilton Glaucoma Center is home for a world-renowned team of 60 scientists and staff. His topic was “Next Steps for Glaucoma.” This year there were over 150 attendees surpassing last year’s attendance. Attendees included doctors, residents, medical students and fellows from Wills Eye, Temple, Jefferson, Scheie Eye Institute, Drexel, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Additionally, there were employees from Merck, Pfizer, and Wills Eye and Board Members from the Glaucoma Service Foundation as well as ophthalmologists throughout the entire Delaware Valley. Alcon Laboratories, Inc. was the sponsor for this wonderful and informative evening.

The foundation has fostered events designed to broaden and deepen ophthalmologists’ understanding of the art and science of medical practice.

Pictured from left to right are Drs. Fudemberg, Katz, Pro, Moster, Myers,Weinreb, Spaeth, Wilson

CHAT SUPPORT GROUP

1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 8:30 – 9:30 pm
Hosted by a Wills Glaucoma Specialist

Mondays, 8:00-9:30 pm

Saturday, 10:00 am

Patients and family members only

Current and archived chat highlights are available for review on our website www.willsglaucoma.org If you do not have access to a computer, call the Foundation to have a printed copy mailed to you.

Meet the Glaucoma Service Technicians

The Glaucoma Service Technicians are a dedicated group of women. The technicians have worked with the Wills’ Glaucoma Service ranging from three months to twenty-plus years. The group is comprised of the following individuals: Roe Verlengia, Effie Birbilis, Susan Hatty, Rebecca Davis, Christy Shoop, Addrienne Knight, Beth Ann DiVirgilio, and Heather Southwick. The technicians are the initial point of contact for a Wills Glaucoma patient. They also play a critical role in assisting the Glaucoma Service doctors. Their many responsibilities include screenings, visual field testing, eye pressure, HRT (picture of optic nerve), pachymetry (cornea thickness testing). Additionally, they also take phone calls from patients regarding follow-up procedures.

Many of the technicians are certified but most of the job involves hands-on training. When I asked the technicians their favorite aspect of their job, the response was overwhelmingly the “patient interaction.” I am also impressed by how cohesively they work together and immediately put patients at ease from the moment they walk into the door.

Pictured from left to right are Roe Verlengia, Rebecca Davis, Sue Hatty, Christy Shoop, Addrienne Knight, Heather Southwick, Effie Birbilis

“Go Green” and Fundraising Campaign

In an effort to defray printing and postage costs and help in saving trees, the Glaucoma Foundation to Prevent Blindness is initiating a “Go Green” campaign. We currently send out approximately 23,000 Searchlight quarterly newsletters every year. If you are enjoying reading the Searchlight online, and don’t want us to mail you a copy, please let us know.

E-mail:
Rita Stern (rstern@willseye.org) or
Robert Kump (rkump@willseye.org)

Via Phone:
Please call Rob Kump at 215 928-3190.
We will need your name and address.

Website:
www.willsglaucoma.org

It is the aspiration of the Foundation to continue to supply this valuable quarterly publication in an effort to supply the readers with important and ground-breaking information about glaucoma, to keep you up to date on what YOUR doctors are doing and to share with you some of the wonderful experiences of the Glaucoma Service, including the introduction of the many Research and Clinical Fellows from all over the world.

Thank you to the many of you who have contributed to the Searchlight in the past. Unfortunately, the current economic climate has threatened the future publication of the Searchlight and has made a big impact on small non-profits like the Glaucoma Service Foundation. Even small donation will help to continue this beneficial and informative publication.

We hope to continue to bring important information to you and your families through the publication of Searchlight. Thank you in advance for your very important
donation!

The GSF Team

Interview With Dave Lo-Drexel Medical Student

By: Robert Kump

On October 19, 2009, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dave Lo, a medical student currently conducting research with the physicians of the Wills Eye Glaucoma Service.

Robert Kump- How did you hear about opportunities to work with the glaucoma specialists here at Wills Eye Institute?

David Lo- Another student had the chance to work here a year ago and recommended it to me.

Robert Kump- Where do you attend medical school?

David Lo- Drexel University College of Medicine.

Robert Kump- Please share with me the research project you are currently working on.

David Lo- I’m working with Dr. Spaeth right now on a project called SPARCS (Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity). It’s a project to test Contrast Sensitivity on a computer.

The standard contrast sensitivity test uses the Pelli-Robson chart and can only test central vision and requires a certain office setup to produce accurate results. SPARCS is designed to examine contrast sensitivity in both central and peripheral vision, which is particularly important for glaucoma patients. In addition, we hope that having an online exam will make contrast sensitivity a more widely used tool in ophthalmology.

Robert Kump- What staff/physician do you spend most of your time working with?

David Lo- It depends on the project. Lately I have been working closely with Dr. Spaeth on the SPARCS project; previously, I had been working with Dr. Parul Ichhpujani (a Research Fellow). The Research Center Staff has also been helpful. They teach us how to use, conduct and analyze the different tests, and we help them input data on current studies.

Robert Kump- What are your long term goals in medicine?

David Lo- I would like to go into a field which offers long term patient care. I am very interested in ophthalmology.

Robert Kump- What interested you most in glaucoma research?

David Lo- I shadowed a general ophthalmologist during college and thought it was fascinating. Most of the cases dealt with eye check-ups, eye irritants, and so on. Although interesting, I feel like I would prefer to specialize in a field that continues to have long-term patient care but has a little more variety than general ophthalmology. Glaucoma perfectly fits into my goals.

Robert Kump- What has been the most rewarding experience of your time here?

David Lo- I think the most memorable moment was during a time when we were testing a new visual field test, the Heidelberg Edge Perimeter (HEP). A patient came in who was nervous about the test. She had done the old tests before, the Humphrey and the old Octopus test, and disliked them. Before she went in I had the chance to spend some time with her and calm her down. She was then able to complete both the HVF as well as the new HEP, which I administered myself.

Robert Kump- How much longer will you be here?

David Lo- Not too much longer. I would like to continue coming to Dr. Spaeth’s Monday morning lectures and his ethics lecture series. I will stay in touch with Dr. Spaeth regarding the H.E.P. project, and the SPARCS project.

Robert Kump- Is there anything else you’d like to say about your time here?

David Lo- It’s been an incredible experience. All of the doctors in the Spaeth/Katz/Myers/Fudemberg practice and from Ophthalmic Partners (Moster/Pro/Schmidt) have been extremely kind and helpful.

They have demonstrated many techniques and taught me a lot. I have really appreciated the opportunity. Robert Kump- Thanks Dave for taking the time to sit down and talk with me. I’m sure our readers will enjoy hearing about your work.

Interview with our Webmaster Vivian Werner

By: Rita Stern

Rita: Where are you from?

Viv: I am originally from the Pocono’s. I now reside in Bucks County, PA

Rita: Do you suffer from Glaucoma? If so, what type? How many years since your diagnosis? When did you become a Wills Eye Glaucoma Service patient?

Viv: I was first diagnosed with narrow angles almost 19 years ago. Very early on, I went to Wills for a second opinion and met Dr. Rick Wilson. Since that time, he has taken care of me during very trying times. Several years later, I was diagnosed with malignant glaucoma, now referred to as aqueous misdirection syndrome. I had some very scary times over the years that included trips to Wills Emergency Room to meet Dr.Wilson, many lasers, trabeculectomies, vitrectomies, lensectomies and lens implants in both eyes. Today, I am considered a glaucoma suspect. Fortunately, I do not have any visible optic nerve head damage. I am drop-free and currently have 20/20 vision with glasses.

Rita: Did that prompt your desire to work with our website?

Viv: Dr.Wilson called me and asked if I would be interested in helping with the Wills Eye Glaucoma website. He had gotten my name from my local eye doctor who knew of my strong interest in the web. Of course, I was willing to help as he had helped me. I thought it would be a great opportunity to help him, as well as help others like myself.

Rita: How long have you been our webmaster?

Viv: I have been the webmaster since the Glaucoma Service Foundation to Prevent Blindness websites inception which was 1998.

Rita: What is your favorite part of your willsglaucoma.org job?

Viv: Knowing that the website helps so many from all over the world.

Rita: You have quite a “fan” base in the online glaucoma community your personal e-mails to each and every inquiry is so thoughtful and amazing-what keeps you ever ready to offer your always informative and caring advice?

Viv: I remember feeling scared and so very alone when first diagnosed and take that into consideration with folks emailing the website or visiting the chat room for the first time. I think it makes a difference to know there are others out there and that you are not alone.

Rita: What can be done to improve an already popular website to meet the needs of a growing and an increasingly global following?

Viv: We are in the progress of translating Chat Highlights into Spanish and Portuguese with the help of Wills Glaucoma Service former residents.We need to keep encouraging current staff, former residents, former fellows and patients who speak foreign languages to become involved by enlisting to host support chats for speakers of their language. We also need to keep carrying on our informative doctor chats, as they are the backbone of the site.

Rita: Our team determined that willsglaucoma.org visitors in 2009 increased approximately 39% over 2008; knowing that, where do you do you see the site going in the next five years?

Viv: Reinstating onlinedonations would help make it easier for visitors seeking to help the Foundation with funding. I see continued chats with glaucoma specialists including pediatric glaucoma and perhaps continuing from time to time to host chats with cornea and retina specialists as related to glaucoma. Another avenue would be to have an online video vault for patient education. Some videos that would benefit glaucoma patients around the world would be how to instill eye drops the correct way with punctual occlusion. We could also have a whole series on testing involved with glaucoma from visual field testing to that funky lens they put on your eye to see the angle. The video vault could also include lasers and even surgeries. If you are not in the know about these things, they can all be scary. The possibilities are endless.

Refractive Concerns Chat Highlights November 9, 2009

Click here to read highlights.