Michael Altaweel, MD, professor and co-director of the Fundus Photograph Reading Center (FPRC), Barbara Blodi, MD, professor and medical director of the FPRC, and Justin Gottlieb, MD, professor and retina service chief, attended the 42nd Annual Macula Society Meeting in Bonita Springs, Florida, from February 13-16, 2019.
Dr. Altaweel’s research, Periocular Triamcinolone vs. Intravitreal Triamcinolone vs. Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant for the Treatment of Uveitic Macular Edema: The PeriOcular vs. INTravitreal Corticosteroids for Uveitic Macular Edema (POINT) Trial, was discussed during Session XVI: Uveitis.
Dr. Blodi moderated two sessions, Session II: Oncology 1 and Session III: Imaging. Dr. Blodi’s paper, Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Level Assessment: Comparison of Seven-field Fundus Photographs to Ultrawide-Field Imaging, was discussed as a rapid-fire paper during Session III: Imaging. Papers she co-authored, Patient-Reported Visual Function Outcomes after Anti-VEGF Therapy for Macular Edema due to CRVO or HRVO: Results from the SCORE2 Trial and Re-packaging Bevacizumab in 2-mL Glass Vials for Prolonged Sterility, Stability and Bio-activity, were discussed during Session XV: Retinal Venous Occlusive Disease. Dr. Blodi is a member of the Nominating Committee of the Macula Society.
Dr. Gottlieb’s paper, Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy and Risk of Traction Retinal Detachment in Eyes with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Post Hoc Analysis of Five DRCR.net Randomized Clinical Trials, was discussed as a rapid-fire paper during Session I: Diabetic Retinopathy.
Matthew (Dinny) Davis, MD, first chair of the UW-Madison Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and founder of the Fundus Photograph Reading Center, was posthumously awarded the 2019 Lawrence J. Singerman Medal. The medal is awarded for outstanding contributions to the advancement of science through retinal clinical trials.
The Macula Society was founded in 1977. It provides a platform for emerging research in retinal vascular and macular diseases. The society holds an annual meeting and recognizes excellent achievement through lectures and awards.