UPCOMING EVENTS
EDUCATIONAL & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EYE CARE PROVIDERS
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VIRTUAL VISIONARIES
- COPE Accredited CE Series -
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Colorado Retina's Virtual Visionaries takes place via Zoom on the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7PM MST. This educational lecture series covers a mix of retina and uveitis topics and complex cases, and features guest sub-specialty experts to highlight a variety of other vision threatening diseases and disorders including: diabetes, cataracts, glaucoma, tumors, nerve-related vision problems, pediatric eye issues, and more. |
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ANNUAL COA GOLF TOURNAMENT
One Spot Left on TEAM CRA for an Optometrist!
MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2021 - 7:00 AM Shotgun
Colorado National Golf Club, Erie, CO
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Colorado Retina's Drs. Murtaza "Moo" Adam and newcomer, Miriah Teeter have challenged each other to a foursome face-off at COA's Annual Golf Tournament and we have ONE FREE SPOT LEFT on the team for a local Optometrist.
You don't have to be a scratch golfer to join our teams comprised of "the most OK'est golfers". Our only requirements are you come prepared to swing a club and let loose for a day out of the office!
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MISSED A PRIOR CE EVENT? Previously Recorded Past CE Activities are Available on our Website for your Viewing.
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JULY 2021 VIRTUAL VISIONARIES
The Evolution of Retinal Surgery
Take a trip down memory land to explore the evolutionary stages of retinal surgery. The history of retinal surgery is compiled of stories of interrelated developments of a vast array of techniques and evolution of technique-driven technology. Retina specialists Kenneth Hovland, MD and Brian Joondeph, MD dig into a variety of ever-evolving retinal surgical repair topics including: retinal detachment repair, AMD treatment, sub macular surgery, macular hole repair, and ERM; exploring means of improved visualization during surgery, digital 3D technology, advances in the surgical setting, anesthesia, and pre and postoperative care of patients that have resulted in better surgical control for the surgeon and rapid visual rehabilitation for the patient.
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CLINICAL RESEARCH UPDATES
COLORADO RETINA'S FDA-APPROVED, IN-HOUSE CLINICAL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
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FABRICIMAB: FDA Accepts Application for Genentech’s Faricimab for the Treatment of Wet AMD and DME
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Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Wet Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading causes of blindness in US adults, are associated with undertreatment in real-world settings, leading to less than optimal visual outcomes. Genentech's most recent intravitreal therapy, faricimab, is currently being considered for approval by the FDA to help reduce treatment burden and simultaneously improve visual outcomes.
Across four Phase III studies in DME and wet AMD, approximately half of patients receiving faricimab could extend treatment time to every four months – the first time this level of durability has been achieved in Phase III wet AMD and DME studies.
If approved, faricimab would be the first and only medicine designed to target two distinct biologic pathways (VEGF and Ang-Tie) that cause retinal vascular instability and vision loss.
CRA continues to be a part of this essential research to advance treatment for blinding diseases. We value being part of the cutting edge and offering patients access to these novel and exciting therapies. Click below to learn more about our actively enrolling clinical trials. To refer a patient, submit your referral as you normally would (Online, fax or email) and note *referral to research*. The patient must first be a patient of Colorado Retina and be pre-screened by a CRA physician in order to enroll in a clinical research study.
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X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa (XLRP): CLINICAL TRIAL COMING SOON!
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XLRP is an inherited condition that causes progressive vision loss in mostly in boys and young men. Characteristics of the disease include night blindness in early childhood and progressive constriction of the visual field. In general, people with XLRP experience a gradual decline in vision, typically leading to legal blindness in their 30s. Colorado Retina is currently negotiating for an FDA-regulated clinical trial studying gene therapy for males with XLRP. This study, sponsored by the biotech company AGTC, is presently undergoing phase 1/2 trials. Colorado Retina would continue this trial into phase 2/3. Stay tuned for more information! |
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PRACTICE UPDATES
WHAT'S NEW AT COLORADO RETINA ASSOCIATES
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Foundation Fighting Blindness 16th Annual Colorado VisionWalk.
Colorado Retina Associates is proud to be a champion supporter of the Colorado VisionWalk since its inception in 2006. Since that date, VisionWalk has raised over $58 million to fund sight-saving research. As promising treatments move into critical human studies, the need for research funding is greater than ever.
Over 10 million Americans are affected by blinding retinal diseases including macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome. Colorado Retina in partnership with the Foundation Fighting Blindness is working to find treatments and cures for these devastating diseases. By funding leading edge research in areas such as genetics, gene therapy, transplantation, artificial retinal implants and pharmaceutical and nutritional therapies, The Foundation is making a difference today to make the world a brighter place for those suffering with blinding retinal diseases.
Register below to join our CRA team and take the important steps toward a cure by participating and fundraising for the 5K VisionWalk. We hope to see you there!
EVENT DETAILS:
Date: Saturday, October 9, 2021
Location: City Park Bandshell & Pavilion, Denver, CO
Schedule:
9am Registration
10am Stage Presentation
10:15am Walk Begins
10:15am-12pm Dr. Hovlands band, the Vinyls is playing!
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CASE OF THE MONTH
REAL CASES OF YOUR REFERRED PATIENTS
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SUSPECT SYPHILITIC CHORIORETINITIS
ASHLEIGH LEVISON, M.D., Uveitis & Retina Specialist at Colorado Retina
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The patient is a 35-year-old male with no significant past medical history who presented with a two month history of progressive symptomatic vision loss and floaters. At presentation vision was 20/20 in the right and 20/30 in the left and IOP was normal. Anterior chamber exam revealed trace cell in both eyes. Anterior vitreous had 1+ cell OU. Posterior exam revealed optic nerve head edema in both eyes as well as macular pigmentary changes. OCT showed focal thickening of the RPE with loss of the overlying photoreceptor inner segment-outer segment junction as well as optic nerve head edema. Examination was highly suspicious for syphilitic chorioretinitis. Laboratory work up revealed a positive syphilis IgG antibody screen. He denied knowledge of history of chancre or rash. The patient was referred to ID for a two week treatment course with IV Penicillin. |
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FEATURED NEWS ARTICLES
PRESS RELEASES & RESOURCES FROM OUR COLORADO RETINA TEAM
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NEXT TIME WILL BE EASIER - TRANSITIONING INTO A PHYSICIAN-EXTENDER.
How to Empower Technicians to Council Patients on Diagnosis and Treatment.
Zachary Stieneker,
Primary Scribe at Colorado Retina
In a busy clinical practice, doctors all have the same need: to have more hours in the work day or the ability to clone themselves to be in multiple places at once. It is a constant hurdle to juggle the daily clinic schedule of emergency add-on patients, consultations, patient counseling, new patient workups, lasers, injections, and finding time to finish charting. At Colorado Retina, vitreoretinal specialist, Dr. Murtaza Adam empowers his team of technicians and scribes to assist him in delivering high-quality and efficient health care, allowing the support staff members to act as "physician-extenders". Dr. Adam provides his team with the tools and education via consistent shadowing to harness their full potential and utilize their skill set of combined emotional and pathologic intelligence to be able to effectively council patients on their diagnosis and treatment plan. Facilitating this type of team trust and independence keeps the doc on pace and reinforces the staff members knowledge base, ultimately contributing to a well-rounded, increasingly efficient patient experience.
In this article, Dr. Adam's primary scribe, Zach, describes his first experience acting as a physician-extender, showing there may not be as much of a need for human cloning as we thought.
Seen in: Retinal Physician, July/August 2021 edition.
All rights reserved.
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COLORADO RETINA ASSOCIATES, P.C.
MAIN PHONE: (303) 261-1600
FAX: (303) 261-1601
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