Join us for our next EyeNovation webinar, “Ocular Trauma: Lessons Learned”, presented by Dr. Peter Veldman

This webinar will take place on February 17th from 7:00 PM EST to 8:00 PM EST

Drawing on extensive real-world trauma experience and surgical expertise, Dr. Veldman will share practical insights into evaluating, repairing, and managing complex ocular injuries. This session will distill high-yield lessons applicable for comprehensive ophthalmologists, cornea specialists, and trainees alike.

Dr. Peter Veldman, Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Science at the University of Chicago, is an acclaimed corneal specialist focusing on the management of corneal diseases, particularly endothelial dysfunction. He completed his MD at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by an Ophthalmology residency at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Harvard Medical School, where he served as Chief Resident. He gained further specialization during his Cornea fellowship at the Devers Eye Institute under Drs. Mark Terry and Michael Straiko.

Dr. Veldman is a leading authority in Descemet’s Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK), a minimally invasive procedure for treating disorders like Fuchs dystrophy. His significant contributions, including the advent of the S-stamp and the Venn Technique (right-side up graft injection), have refined surgical precision and facilitated the global adoption of DMEK. His research on endothelial keratoplasty, surgical innovation, and his widely utilized educational website, patientready.org, have played a seminal role in advancing the standard of corneal care.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

1. Apply a systematic approach to complex cases
2. Refine suturing techniques to optimize wound integrity and visual outcomes
3. Assess the refractive impact of corneal lacerations and incisions

Join us for our next EyeNovation webinar, “Navigating the Ocean of Presbyopia-Correcting IOLs”, presented by Dr. Francesco Carones, a leading expert in refractive and cataract surgery.

This webinar took place on December 17, 2025 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time. A recording is available for you to view below.

Francesco Carones, MD, is an internationally recognized leader in refractive and cataract surgery. A graduate of the University of Milan, he completed specialized refractive surgery training at Emory University before serving as Assistant Professor and Director of Refractive Surgery at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan.

Now Medical Director and Physician CEO of Advalia Vision, Dr. Carones focuses on lens replacement and refractive procedures. Since 1989, he has been deeply involved in pioneering technologies—excimer lasers, LASEK, mitomycin-C applications, toric and multifocal IOLs, and advanced lenticular extraction platforms. He also developed the first objective software for defocus curve measurement.

Dr. Carones has published more than 160 peer-reviewed works and lectures globally at major scientific meetings. He is Associate Editor of the Journal of Refractive Surgery, serves on multiple editorial boards, and sits on advisory boards for leading ophthalmic companies. He is a Board Member of AECOS and WCRSVS and President-Elect of AECOS Europe. In 2023–2024, he was named to the Ophthalmologist PowerList of the top 100 most influential leaders in the field.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the performances of the different presbyopia-correcting IOLs both as regards their advantages (e.g., defocus curves, spectacle independence provided) and their drawbacks (e.g., night dysphotopsia, light dependence for reading).
2. Present the different technologies to patients effectively to help them understand which options best suit their needs and expectations
3. Manage postoperative outcomes by aligning patient expectations with clinical reality and addressing dissatisfaction.

Date: Thursday, January 8, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Eastern Time

Title: Fellowship, early career, and general life hacks

Speaker: Dr. Joshua Teichman

Zoom Link to Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UEc92Nu8S9u7wqegAB_Bsw#/registration

After this session, participants will be able to:

• Explore conditions not found in textbooks;
• Discuss mindset for unknown cases;
• Discuss productivity and efficiency pearls.

The VPP Grand Rounds Local and Visiting Professor Program is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. You will be able to claim 1 credit for this round.

Date: Friday January 9th, 2026

Time: 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

Title: Hereditary Vitreoretinopathies: From Recognition to Retinal Detachment Prevention

Speaker: Dr. Gareth Mercer

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R9XhApxlROemwiti13uKKw#/

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Differentiate Stickler Syndrome and Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) based on key clinical and imaging features, including associated non-ocular conditions.
• Understand the genetic basis and inheritance patterns of Stickler Syndrome and FEVR, and their implications for familial screening.
• Compare and apply disease-specific approaches to retinal detachment risk assessment and prophylaxis.

The VPP Grand Rounds Local and Visiting Professor Program is a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. You will be able to claim 1 credit for this round.

EyeLearnIVFA is a Canadian collaborative virtual resource for intravenous fluorescein angiography (IVFA). It is designed to provide students, fellows and ophthalmologists an accessible and self-paced medical education resource.

The website reviews fundamental anatomy and concepts related to fluorescein angiography. As well, through a case based approach, EyeLearnIVFA hopes to increase familiarity with interpretation of this imaging modality and emphasize the clinical utility of this image modality in management of retinal vascular disease.  While cases exist on the website already, we hope to build an atlas of class and rare cases to ensure it becomes a well-rounded and robust resource. As such, we invite case contributions from Canadian medical learners, residents, fellows and ophthalmologist colleagues.

Title: COS Ergonomics for the Ophthalmologist Videos
Description: Explore presentations, handouts, and video recordings from the 2017 COS Annual Meeting focused on preventing musculoskeletal injury in ophthalmology. Topics include body mechanics, the prevalence of MSK disorders, and the development of ergonomic education modules. This resource features insights from clinicians and experts including Drs. Brissette, Diaconita, Ratzlaff, and Kherani, and certified athletic therapist George Matos.
Link: https://www.cosprc.ca/ergonomics-for-the-ophthalmologist/

Queen’s University – Musculoskeletal Disorders in Ophthalmologists
Description: A 30-minute online module on musculoskeletal disorders in ophthalmologists, offered by Queen’s University Department of Ophthalmology. Completion is eligible for 0.5 hours of Royal College Section 2: Self-Learning credits. Topics include ergonomic risk factors, injury prevention strategies, and posture optimization for clinical and surgical settings.
Link: https://ophthalmology.queensu.ca/academics/cme/ergonomics

The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Working Group is committed to promoting physical wellness across all stages of ophthalmology practice. Through educational initiatives, resource development, and collaborative research, we aim to make a focus on ergonomics a standard in Canadian ophthalmic care.

Our Mission: To eliminate work-related injuries for Canadian ophthalmologists.

Our Vision: To educate every Canadian ophthalmologist on ergonomics and how best to mitigate risks.

Our Values: Respect, passion, teamwork, creativity, inclusion, and diversity.

Our Current Projects:

• Canadian Handbook for Ergonomics and Injury Prevention for Ophthalmologists
• Ergonomics Toolbox for Residents
• Resident Ergonomics Curriculum Development
• Social Media Educational Initiatives and Challenges
• Sightlines Ergonomics Educational Initiatives
• SAP: Ergonomics: Doesn’t Hurt To Think About It, But It May Hurt Not To! (Royal College MOC Section 3 Accredited)
• Webinar: We’ve Got Your Back! A COS Working Group in Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Webinar (October 2025)
• Ergonomics Podcast (Fall 2025)
• And many more…!

Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Working Group Members

Journal Articles & Editorials:
Explore the growing body of peer-reviewed research on ergonomics in ophthalmology and microsurgery.
LEARN MORE →

Magazine Articles:
Hear directly from ophthalmologists about real-world experiences, preventive tips, and system-wide challenges related to MSK injury.
                LEARN MORE →

Podcasts & Videos:
Prefer to learn on the go? Explore expert-led podcasts and video content on ergonomics in ophthalmology and surgery.
LEARN MORE →

Ophthalmology Educational Series:
Engage with HIGH-YIELD accredited modules and curated training developed by national experts.
LEARN MORE →

Other Ergonomics Resources for Physicians:
Ergonomic challenges affect all healthcare providers. Learn from a broader body of literature in medicine and surgery.
LEARN MORE →

The COS Ergonomics working group is pleased to share an online resource focused on musculoskeletal disorders in ophthalmologists. Developed by Queen’s University in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine, this online module highlights best ergonomic practices and injury prevention.

Why is this important? The physical demands of ophthalmology puts physicians at risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to poor ergonomics.

After this module, participants will:

• Review the importance of ergonomics for ophthalmologists;
• Identify areas in the clinic and operating room that may predispose to musculoskeletal disorders;
• Learn proper ergonomic risk factor modification;
• Recognize signs and symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders, understanding the importance of early intervention.

Completion of this online module has been determined by Queen’s University to be eligible for 0.5 hours of Royal College Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Section 2: Self Learning credits.

Ready to learn more? Click below!

Location: Virtual – access the course HERE

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is a cicatricial autoimmune disease primarily affecting mucous membranes of the conjunctiva, oral cavity, nasopharynx, oesophagus and genitals. Ocular involvement occurs in approximately 80% of cases, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis to prevent irreversible damage and potential blindness.

Authors: Melissa Lu (MD), Fady Sedarous (MD, FRCSC), Mona Harissi-Dagher (MD, FRCSC)

Learning objectives: Upon completion of this module, learners will gain a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical signs, diagnostic and treatment principles of ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (OMMP), enabling them to apply this knowledge in clinical practice.

Target audience: Ophthalmology residents and ophthalmologists.