Preventing Vision-Threatening Complications of Diabetes: Improving Identification and Management (CE Monograph)

Activity Description and Purpose

By the year 2050, it is estimated that the prevalence of vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy in the United States will nearly triple, from 1.2 million (in 2005) to 3.4 million. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working-aged adults. Approximately half of patients with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy or even diabetic macular edema at diagnosis. A rapid evolution in widefield retinal imaging enables earlier detection and more accurate staging of diabetic retinopathy, which in turn facilitates timely referral and treatment as well as provides prognostic information that can be used for effective comanagement and patient education. Recent research also continues to refine the management of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. Diabetic retinopathy can now be treated in the absence of diabetic macular edema. Additionally, some forms of diabetic macular edema might be observed when vision is not affected. The increasingly complex management of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema requires a collaborative approach between optometrists and retina specialists, with communication at the forefront. The desired results of this activity are to enable optometrists to better identify patients with diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema and to improve how care is coordinated so that effective treatment practices can ultimately improve visual outcomes of patients with diabetes.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for optometrists.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be better able to:

  • Appraise the role of peripheral retinal imaging in detection and grading of diabetic retinopathy
  • Differentiate stages of diabetic retinopathy in individual patients according to guidelines and widefield/ultrawidefield images
  • Design monitoring and referral strategies for individual patients according to severity of diabetic retinopathy
  • Describe treatments for diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema to patients with diabetes
  • Discuss treatment strategies for diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema with retina specialists
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 2.00 COPE
Course opens: 
12/01/2019
Course expires: 
11/26/2022

Disclosures

Jeffry Gerson, OD, had a financial agreement or affiliation during the past year with the following commercial interests in the form of Consultant/Advisory Board: Allergan; AstaReal, Inc; Bausch & Lomb Incorporated; Genentech, Inc; Maculogix, Inc; Optos; Optovue, Incorporated; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Vision Service Plan; and ZeaVision LLC; Honoraria from promotional, advertising or non-CME services received directly from commercial interests or their Agents (eg, Speakers Bureaus): Genentech, Inc; Maculogix, Inc; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Vision Service Plan; and ZeaVision LLC.

Diana L. Shechtman, OD, had a financial agreement or affiliation during the past year with the following commercial interests in the form of Consultant/Advisory Board: Allergan; Genentech, Inc; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; and Zeiss; Honoraria from promotional, advertising or non-CME services received directly from commercial interests or their Agents (eg, Speakers Bureaus): AstaReal, Inc; and Optos.

Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, had a financial agreement or affiliation during the past year with the following commercial interests in the form of Consultant/Advisory Board: Adverum; Aerpio Therapeutics; Alimera Sciences; Allegro Ophthalmics, LLC; Allergan; Apellis Pharmaceuticals; Bayer Corporation; Chengdu Kanghong Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd; Clearside Biomedical; D.O.R.C.; EyePoint Pharmaceuticals; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; Genentech, Inc; IVERIC bio; Kodiak Sciences Inc; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; ONL Therapeutics; PolyPhotonix; Recens Medical, Inc; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Regenxbio Inc; Santen Inc; Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co, Ltd; and Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc; Contracted Research: Adverum; Aerpio Therapeutics; Allergan; Apellis Pharmaceuticals; Chengdu Kanghong Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd; Clearside Biomedical, Inc; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd; Genentech, Inc; IVERIC bio; Kodiak Sciences Inc; Neurotech Pharmaceuticals; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Opthea; Outlook Therapeutics, Inc; Recens Medical, Inc; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Regenxbio Inc; Samsung BioLogics; and Santen Inc; Honoraria from promotional, advertising or non-CME services received directly from commercial interests or their Agents (eg, Speakers Bureaus): Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Editorial Support Disclosures

The planners and staff of MedEdicus LLC have no relevant commercial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure Attestation

The contributing physicians listed above have attested to the following:

  1. that the relationships/affiliations noted will not bias or otherwise influence their involvement in this activity;
  2. that practice recommendations given relevant to the companies with whom they have relationships/affiliations will be supported by the best available evidence or, absent evidence, will be consistent with generally accepted medical practice; and
  3. that all reasonable clinical alternatives will be discussed when making practice recommendations.

Accreditation Statement

COPE approved for 2.0 CE credits for optometrists.
COPE Course ID: 65675-PS
COPE Course Category: Treatment & Management of Ocular Disease: Posterior Segment (PS)

Administrator:

Product Usage in Accordance With Labeling

Please refer to the official prescribing information for each drug and/or device discussed in this activity for approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Grantor Statement

This continuing education activity is supported through unrestricted educational grants from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, and Optos.

Sponsored by

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the State University of New York College of Optometry; MedEdicus LLC; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; Optos; or Review of Optometry.

This CE activity is copyrighted to MedEdicus LLC ©2019. All rights reserved. 192

Available Credit

  • 2.00 COPE
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Learning Method and Medium

This educational activity consists of a supplement and twenty (20) study questions. The participant should, in order, read the learning objectives contained at the beginning of this supplement, read the supplement, answer all questions in the post test, and complete the Activity Evaluation/Credit Request form. To receive credit for this activity, please follow the instructions provided on the post test and Activity Evaluation/Credit Request form. This educational activity should take a maximum of 2.0 hours to complete.