Eye to AAOS A PUBLICATION OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC SOCIETY Volume 4, Issue 1: Eye to AAOS
Spring 2012
President’s Message: Dr. Kristal Kawamoto Greetings members! I’d like to be the first to welcome you to another year with AAOS. I have had the pleasure of serving on this great board for the past 5 years, and am now extremely honored to be serving you as your 2012 President. We kicked off the year with our annual Installation Banquet at the Japanese American National Museum. This year marks a special milestone, the 40th anniversary of our society. Several charter members and their families joined us that evening, as we honored each with a special plaque. It was an extremely humbling and honoring experience to be in the same room as these “giants” of our profession. Many of them were monumental doctors
not only for this society, but for optometry as a whole. A vision of past– president Dr. Donald Matsumoto came to reality that night as well, as the first “Legends” awards were presented by Dr. Matsumoto himself. These awards will continue to be a tradition of AAOS, to honor and recognize those who have left a mark in our society and profession. After listening to and meeting our legends and charter members, I am reminded of what a great society AAOS is, and what great morals and intentions it was founded upon. I am making it a personal goal to continue the integrity of AAOS, to continue to give back to our members and our profession, and to the world
around us through our charitable donations. Of course, none of this would be possible without the support from our wonderful sponsors! Our free CE’s, huge raffle prizes, Angel’s games, etc. is all a result from our generous sponsors who believe in our society. Please be sure to visit and thank them at our future events. As always, feel free to contact myself or any board members if you have any questions or suggestions on how we can make this society even better. I look forward to seeing and working with you all! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to represent you as your president! Cheers to a wonderful 2012 year! -Kristal Kawamoto
DON’T FORGET! SPRING CE MARCH 11, 2012 8AM TO 2PM SHERATON CERRITOS HOTEL SEE YOU THERE!
Inside this issue: SAVE THE DATE: BASEBALL GAME
3
DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA BY DR. LIAO OF RETINAVITREOUS ASSOCIATES
4
MEMBER UPDATES
5
INSTALLATION BANQUET
6-7
AAOS MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
9
SPONSORS
2, 8
Volume 4, Issue 1: Eye to AAOS
AAOS PLATINUM SPONSORS
Page 2
Volume 4, Issue 1: Eye to AAOS
SAVE THE DATE
Page 3
Page 4
Diabetic Macular Edema David S. Liao, MD, PHD Diabetic macular edema is a leading cause of vision loss among working aged adults. With the incidence of diabetes on the rise in the United States and around the world, we will likely be seeing many more cases in the near future. Understanding advances in diagnosis and therapy will be the key to saving vision in this fast growing segment of patients. Pathophysiology The hallmark of diabetic retinopathy is retinal microvascular damage due to hyperglycemia. Damage to retinal blood vessels leads to retinal hemorrhages, microaneurysms, and capillary closure. As the bloodretinal barrier is weakened, lipid and serous fluid can collect in the macula, contributing to macular edema and vision loss. Capillary closure also contributes to retinal hypoxia and production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which can further weaken the blood-retinal barrier. Diagnosis For many years, the diagnosis of diabetic macular edema has been primarily through ophthalmoscopy. Clinically significant macular edema is defined by three criteria: 1. Retinal thickening within 500 mm of the fovea 2. Hard exudates within 500 mm of the fovea associated with retinal thickening and 3. Retinal thickening greater than 1 disc diameter in area within 1 disc diameter of the fovea. The presence of any three of these findings is associated with an increased risk for vision loss and is an indication for treatment. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is also useful for detecting retinal thickening. While normal values differ by machine model, central subfield thicknesses exceeding 250 mm in time-domain (Stratus OCT, for example) and exceeding 300 mm in spectral-domain (Cirrus OCT, for example) are abnormal. Structural abnormalities on OCT such as cysts or subretinal fluid also indicate pathology. Treatment Many treatment modalities for diabetic macular edema are now available including laser photocoagulation, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (antiVEGF) drugs, and corticosteroids. Laser has long been a mainstay of treatment. Photocoagulation, applied directly to microaneurysms or in a grid pattern to areas of retinal thickening has been shown to decrease the risk of long term vision loss by 50%. Disadvantages of laser include side ef-
fects such as spreading macular scars and choroidal neovascularization. Newer laser technologies such as micropulse diode laser produce less intense laser burns and may provide the same therapeutic results with fewer complications. Anti-VEGF drugs such as bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept are proving to be invaluable resources in the treatment of diabetic macular edema. When compared with laser, intravitreal injections of bevacizumab provide patients with greater short term improvements in visual acuity and reductions in macular thickening. Results of a clinical trial using ranibizumab show that treatment with drug alone improves vision and that drug combined with laser achieves even greater reductions in retinal thickness. Aflibercept is another drug also currently in clinical trials and may also prove to be effective in treating diabetic macular edema. While anti-VEGF drugs can often provide faster and more profound improvements in vision, they may sometimes require monthly intravitreal injections. While the risks of intravitreal injections are exceedingly low, complications such as endophthalmitis can be serious. Corticosteroids have also been shown to be effective in reducing diabetic macular edema. Intravitreal injections of triamcinolone reduce retinal thickness and improve acuity, although clinical trials show that the effect may not be long lasting. Intravitreal steroid implants have been developed and provide a more durable effect in patients with refractory macular edema; however, FDA approval is still pending. All steroids carry a risk of intraocular pressure elevation and cataract formation. The growing number of diagnostic and therapeutic options is making treatment of diabetic macular edema more effective than ever before. Together with ongoing clinical research, these treatment modalities allow us to offer faster and long lasting visual benefits to our patients.
Retina Vitreous Associates Office Locations in Pasadena, Torrance, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, North Hollywood and Santa Clarita Centralized Appointment Phone Number: 213-483-8810
Volume 4, Issue 1: Eye to AAOS
Page 5
Updates from the AAOS Board Members Treasurer: Dr. Brenda Lien I'm excited to be taking on the position as your treasurer this year. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve. My main goal is to manage our ever-growing funds as efficiently and responsibly as the immediate-past treasurer, Dr. Shawn Yamamoto, has done. Our
financial strength relies upon the continued support of our generous sponsors and loyal members-- including you! Our current account balance is $39,568.67. Available scholarship funds are as
follows: SCCO Fund Berkeley Fund Research Fund AAOS Foundation RTK Foundation Total
$2,879 $3,307 $3,153 $1,375 $1,225 $11,939
Educational Chair: Dr. John Lee Greetings everyone! I am happy to be back again this year to be your education chair. As we look forward to this year’s continuing education programs, we are planning
some returning favorites and some new faces. We hope to provide a myriad of topics that interest you. There will be a total of 12 hours of CE this year presented in March,
May, and September. I look forward to seeing all of you at our events. Remember that we keep our programs free because of great turnouts at the CE. See you soon.
Publications: Dr. Christie Chan Hi everyone! I am new to the AAOS board this year. I have been a proud member of this wonderful and growing organization for eight years. I am looking forward to working with and getting to know
fellow board members, and meeting AAOS members at the various events. My main responsibility will be publications. If there are any questions or comments about the newsletters, feel free to email me at
cchan2020@yahoo.com. If any members have news that they would like to share through the AAOS newsletter, I would love to hear from you!
Member News Congratulations to board members, Dr. Jason Lam, for being named one of California Optometric Association’s Young OD of the Year, and Dr. Jeff Nishi for
receiving the COA Project Keep House of Delegates meeting in Leadership Scholarship which in- Sacramento. troduces new practitioners to the association governance process. They were honored at the recent
Guess where these Board Members were born! Los Angeles, CA Garden Grove, CA San Francisco, CA Santa Monica, CA Rockville Centre, NY San Jose, CA Cao Lanh, Vietnam
A. B. C. D. E. F. G.
Stacy Gin Mark Sawamura John Lee Greg Kame Connie Liu Kenny Fukuda Christie Chan
H. Aaron Sako I. Brenda Lien J. Kristal Kawamoto
Answers: 1. A, B. D, E, 2. F, 3. C, 4. H, 5. G, 6. J, 7. I
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Page 6
2012 AAOS Installation Banquet
AAOS Charter Members Charter Members Honored at the 2012 Installation Banquet: Ken Imoto Kazie Kame Ryan Koyama Sanford Koyama
Ben Marumoto Dennis Noda Sam Otsuji Tak Shimazaki
This year the AAOS recognized Dr. Stan Yamane as a Legend (middle), and Legend awards were accepted for Dr. Rodger Kame, Dr. Takao Shishino, and Dr. Dan Yoshi
Ken Shiomi Paul Sumida David Wakabayahi Stanley Yamane
Mas Yasuda
2012 AAOS Board Members: (Top Row, l. to r.) M. Sawamura, A. Sako, G. Kame, K. Fukuda, J. Nishi, D. Tang, S. Bae, J. Lam (Bottom Row l. to r.) C. Liu, K. Kawamoto, J. Tong, S. Gin, SCCO Student Liaison Maggie Jan ,(not pictured:B. Lien, C. Chan, J. Lee)
Page 7 Over 100 AAOS members and their guests gathered at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles to honor fellow optometrists and dine on delicious cuisine by Chef Akira Hirose from Maison Akira Restaurant of Pasadena. Members had a great time exploring the museum, catching up with friends and enjoying entertainment and games by Barryn Vaughn. A raffle of gift cards, Disneyland tickets, a Kindle Touch, a Kindle Fire, and an iPad 2 were given away during the evening to lucky guests.
AAOS PLATINUM SPONSORS
2012 Membership Application Form (January 1, 2012—December 31, 2012)
Last Name:
___________ First Name:__________________ Middle Initial:___ _ Spouse’s Name (if applicable): _____________
Email Address*:
*your free Eye to AAOS e-newsletter will be sent to this address
No thanks! I prefer to receive my newsletter in the mail
Optometry School Attended/Year of Graduation: ____________ Referred By:
____________
Primary Address and Phone Number: Please circle one OFFICE / HOME
Number & Street Name
City
State
Zip Code
( ) Phone #
If you would like to make a contribution along with your annual dues please mark the appropriate line(s) below: _____ X
AAOS Foundation (New!)
$_________
SCCO Scholarship Fund
$
Annual Membership (see membership scale below)
$
Make checks payable to: Asian American Optometric Society Please Mail To:
Brenda Lien, O.D. Annual Membership Fee Scale 217 S. Marengo Ave. If you graduated in: Unit 305 Pasadena, CA 91101-5511 2011 (1st year) Membership is FREE nd 2010 (2 year) Only $25 2009 and before
$85
NEW! use PAYPAL for quick & secure online payment Visit our website at www.aaosociety.org
*AAOS Application Included Inside* “The purpose of the Asian American Optometric
A PUBLICATION OF THE ASIAN AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC SOCIETY
Society is to promote and maintain a social,
Asian American Optometric Society
cultural, scientific, and educational interchange of
308 East Broadway Glendale, CA 91205
information and experiences between the members”
To learn more about AAOS events please visit us at our website:
www.aaosociety.org HELP US TO GO GREEN!!! Please notify me at cchan2020@yahoo.com to receive your full-color newsletters by email
2012 Asian American Optometric Society Board PRESIDENT: Kristal Kawamoto, O.D. 818.642.3803 k_kawamoto15@yahoo.com
MEMBERSHIP: Kenny Fukuda, O.D. 714.403.1395 kfukudaod@gmail.com
PRESIDENT ELECT: Shawn Yamamoto, O.D. 714.752.6518 yamay33@gmail.com
EDUC. & RESEARCH John Lee, O.D., FAAO 714.992.7837 jlee@scco.edu
IMMED. PAST PRESIDENT: Stacy Gin, OD, FAAO 714.308.5036 stacygin@gmail.com
ADMINISTRATIVE ASST. Connie Liu, O.D. 626.622.6331 cliu.2006@yahoo.com
SOCIAL CHAIR: Jeff Nishi, OD 310.617.4177 jeffreynishi.od@gmail.com
PUBLICATIONS Greg Kame, O.D., FAAO Christie Chan, O.D., FAAO 213.628.7419 714.992.4737 drkame@aol.com cchan2020@yahoo.com
TREASURER: Brenda Lien, O.D. 626.318.9119 blienod@gmail.com
WESTERN UNIVERSITY LIASON: Ray Maeda, O.D., FAAO 909.706.3851 rmaeda@western.edu WEBMASTER: Jason Lam, O.D. 818.709.2290 jlamod@gmail.com TRUSTEES: Steve Bae, O.D. 323.938.5558 stevebaeod@sbcglobal.net
TRUSTEES (continued): Cindy Siu, O.D., FAAO 949.640.2023 drcsiu@yahoo.com Long Tran, O.D., FAAO 949.929.8129 drlongtran@gmail.com Judy Tong, O.D., FAAO 714.343.9044 jtong@scco.edu Mark Sawamura, O.D., FAAO 714.449.7407 msawamura@scco.edu Aaron Sako, O.D. 949.586.8200 aaronsako@yahoo.com