Individualizing Treatment of Neovascular AMD in the Digital Age: Focus on Retinal Fluid Prognosticators (CME Monograph)

Activity Description and Purpose

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in Canada, preferentially affecting White patients aged ≥ 75 years. The prevalence of vision-threatening advanced AMD is also steadily increasing as the population ages. The standard of care for neovascular AMD (nAMD) is anti–vascular endothelial growth factor injections, but a growing body of real-world studies indicates that patients do not achieve comparable visual acuity outcomes to those in landmark clinical trials. In particular, patients in Canada are older and have poorer visual acuity at diagnosis, leading to poor long-term visual outcomes, compared with those in other developed countries. To address these unmet needs, accumulating evidence supports regular disease screening and monitoring using optical coherence tomography and individualized dosing. In rural areas, and considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, frequent monitoring and image interpretation present challenges that may be overcome using artificial intelligence and newer technologies. In this educational activity, derived from a roundtable discussion, experts interpret the latest data and provide actionable insights to meet the needs of Canadians with nAMD or those at risk of development of nAMD in a previously unaffected eye. The desired outcomes of this activity are for retina specialists and other ophthalmologists to better evaluate recent research on the clinical relevance of fluid on optical coherence tomography and apply the evidence to assess current and emerging treatment strategies and therapies.

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for retina specialists and other ophthalmologists caring for patients with nAMD.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, participants will be better able to:

    • Develop strategies for earlier diagnosis of conversion from dry to wet AMD
    • Discuss the clinical relevance of retinal fluid subtypes as they pertain to visual acuity outcomes
    • Compare strategies for monitoring and measuring retinal fluid in-office and remotely using artificial intelligence
    • Adapt long-term treatment plans for patients with nAMD according to optical coherence tomography findings
    Course summary
    Available credit: 
    • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    • 1.00 Participation
    Course opens: 
    05/31/2021
    Course expires: 
    05/31/2022

    Faculty

    imageMichael Singer, MD (Chair)
    Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology
    University of Texas Health Science Center
    Director of Clinical Research
    Medical Center Ophthalmology Associates
    San Antonio, Texas
    imageUsha Chakravarthy, MD, PhD
    Professor, Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences
    Royal Victoria Hospital (The Belfast Trust) and Queens University of Belfast
    Belfast, United Kingdom
    imagePeter Kertes, MD, CM, FRCSC
    Professor of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences
    University of Toronto
    Retina Specialist
    Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
    Toronto, Canada
    imageDavid T. Wong, MD, FRCSC
    Associate Professor
    Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences
    University of Toronto
    Ophthalmologist-in-Chief
    Unity Health – St Michael’s Hospital
    Toronto, Canada

    Disclosure Policy

    MedEdicus requires that anyone who is in a position to control the content of this educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. Financial relationship information is collected and resolved prior to the educational activity.

    Faculty

    Usha Chakravarthy, MD, PhD, is on the speakers bureau for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

    Peter Kertes, MD, CM, is a consultant for Bayer Inc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novelty Nobility Inc, and Zeiss; is on the speakers bureau for Bayer Inc; is a contracted researcher for Bayer Inc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; and has ownership interest (stocks) in ArcticDX Inc.

    Michael Singer, MD, is a consultant for Allergan, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; is on the speakers bureau for Allergan, EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc; is a contracted researcher for Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Allegro Ophthalmics, LLC, Allergan, Genentech, Inc, ICON plc, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, KalVista Pharmaceuticals, Kodiak Sciences Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Opthea, Optos, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Ribomic, Santen Inc, Senju Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd, and Sydnexis Inc; and has ownership interest (stocks) in Aviceda Therapeutics and Nanoscope Technologies LLC.

    David T. Wong, MD, is a consultant for Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Bayer Inc, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; is a contracted researcher for F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; and has ownership interest (stocks) in ArcticDX Inc.

    Peer Reviewer

    This activity was peer reviewed. The peer reviewer has no relevant commercial relationships to disclose.

    Planners and Managers

    MedEdicus planners and managers have no relevant commercial relationships to disclose.

     

     

    Accreditation Statement

    imageMedEdicus LLC is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

    Credit Designation Statement

    MedEdicus LLC designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    Disclosure of Commercial Support

    This continuing medical education activity is supported through an educational grant from Bayer Inc.

    Off-Label Discussion

    This educational activity may include discussion of unlabeled and/or investigational uses of drugs and devices. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each drug or device discussed in this activity for approved dosing, indications, and warnings.

    Provider Contact Information

    For questions about this educational activity, please contact MedEdicus LLC at info@mededicus.com.

    Disclaimer

    The views and opinions expressed in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of MedEdicus LLC or Allergan.

    This continuing medical education activity is provided by MedEdicus LLC.
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    This continuing medical education activity is supported through an educational grant from Bayer Inc.

    This CME activity is copyrighted to MedEdicus LLC ©2021. All rights reserved. 241

    Available Credit

    • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    • 1.00 Participation
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