The holiday season is among us and this year we’re especially excited to welcome the holiday lights and warmth that comes with it! We all had a great deal of hope riding on 2021 and though it’s certainly not 2020, this last year has brought its own set of difficulties that continue to challenge our eye care industry. Despite the long clinic hours and hurdles we faced these past 11 months - we hung tight and that deserves endless (holiday) cheers!
Because of your loyalty, trust and ongoing support, we have the opportunity to restore sight to so many - that means everything to our team. Thank you for being a part of the Colorado Retina family. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to supporting you and your patients in the upcoming year. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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UPCOMING EVENTS
EDUCATIONAL & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EYE CARE PROVIDERS
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Retina on the Rocks
Thursday, December 9, 2021
6-9 PM MST
@ Ubergrippen Indoor Climbing Crag
It's time to let loose and celebrate the season as we say "sayonara" to 2021. As a thank you to our referring community for your unwavering support, the Colorado Retina physicians are hosting a fun evening of networking and indoor rock climbing!
All levels of climbers are welcome, no experience necessary. Übergrippen gym is a great place for new climbers to try out the sport and learn new skills. There will be complimentary lessons and trained staff on hand to help you get started, as well as an orientation to the Auto-Belay systems and bouldering area, which will open up over 200 routes for you to try!
Admission is complimentary for optometrists and ophthalmologists, and includes rental gear, dinner, and adult beverages after your climb. All you have to do is show up.
Spots are limited, so please make sure you reserve on Eventbrite.
Please note, vaccinations are mandatory to attend. Valid vaccine cards will be checked at the door. Please wear a face covering for the duration of the event.
We look forward to seeing you there... ROCK ON!
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Virtual Visionaries
- COPE Accredited CE Series -
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Colorado Retina's Virtual Visionaries is finished for the 2021 year. Thank you to those of you who tuned it, it was such a pleasure to share knowledge with you.
We will resume our series of virtual CE lectures on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, starting March 16th, 2022.
See you in the new year!
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Missed a Prior CE Event? Previously recorded Virtual Visionaries lectures are available on our website for your viewing.
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November 2021 Virtual Visionaries
Exploring Advances in Myopia Management
Myopia has become a major public health crisis with a rapidly increasing prevalence. Recent projections indicate that over 50% of the world’s population will have myopia by the year 2050. Drs. Murtaza Adam, Salil Shukla, and Rachel Lewis explore the science behind myopia management and best practices for slowing progression and implementing optical treatment.
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GLEAM
Clinical Trial Dinner
- January 13, 2022, 6:30 PM -
@ 240 Union Restaurant Lakewood, CO
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Colorado Retina's Clinical Research Department is currently enrolling a phase 3 study of an investigational drug called KSI-301, being developed by Kodiak Sciences, Inc., for the possible treatment of patients with decreased vision associated with retinal vascular disorders, such as diabetic macular edema (DME).
Over a four-course complimentary dinner, CRA's Dr. Brian Joondeph, PI on the study, will review the retinal anatomic effects, durability profile, and efficacy and safety data surrounding KSI-301 in the treatment of DME compared with the standard of care treatment using the drug aflibercept. Like aflibercept, KSI-301 is designed to decrease fluid leakage and swelling of the retina by blocking VEGF, a protein in the eye called vascular endothelial growth factor. When there is too much VEGF inside the eye because of damage to the retina from diabetes, swelling and bleeding can occur resulting in vision loss.
The purpose of this dinner is to spread awareness for this important potential advancement in the treatment for DME. If approved, KSI-301 will last longer in the eye compared to the standard injection treatment and thus fewer injections of KSI-301 may be needed over time by patients.
Stay tuned for the sign-up link coming soon.
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Virtual Mile High Masters of Retina
- Colorado Retina's 12th Annual Retina Education Conference -
Sunday, February 27, 2022, 8-10:30 AM MST
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Sunday, February 27, 2022 from 8-10:30am MST will be Colorado Retina Associates 12th Annual Mile High Masters of Retina (MHMR). MHMR an accredited retina-based educational meeting geared towards primary eye care providers. This virtual meeting offers complimentary admission and 2.25 hours of CE/CME credit to all licensed optometrists and physicians in attendance.
The program will include a specialty keynote speaker, rapid-fire mini-sessions and excitingly controversial panel discussions presented by the specialists of Colorado Retina. The brief sessions will cover a variety of vision-threatening retina, ocular tumor and uveitis conditions, presenting both common and complex cases. Mile High Masters of Retina provides attendees the opportunity to enhance ones knowledge of modern and innovative diagnostic and treatment approaches in retinal surgery and care as well as clinical research advancements within the field.
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CLINICAL RESEARCH UPDATES
COLORADO RETINA'S FDA-APPROVED, IN-HOUSE CLINICAL RESEARCH DEPARTMENT
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Phase 3 Tarsier Trial Evaluating TRS01 Eye Drops for
Non-Infectious Anterior Uveitis
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Non-infectious uveitis is a type of autoimmune ocular inflammation and is the third leading cause of blindness in the developed world. Inflammatory disorders can occur for a variety of reasons, and unfortunately, glaucoma can afflict up to 30% of these patients. One of the many challenges when treating patient with both uveitis and glaucoma is that local steroid treatment, despite its effectiveness, can cause or exacerbate glaucomatous optic nerve damage.
Colorado Retina is currently enrolling for the Tarsier trial, a randomized, phase III, active-controlled, double-masked study evaluating the efficacy and safety of TRS01. Tarsier's TRS01 is an experimental topical immunomodulator, delivered via eye drops, for the treatment of non-infectious anterior uveitis in patients with uveitic glaucoma. Colorado Retina is proud to consistently provide cutting edge clinical care to patients. With your help in referring potential candidates for this phase III clinical trial, TRS01 has the potential to become the first local steroid-sparing agent for patients with uveitic glaucoma.
For patients with recurrent iritis, regardless of steroid response, please consider a referral for this exciting new trial!
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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PRACTICE UPDATES
WHAT'S NEW AT COLORADO RETINA ASSOCIATES
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Colorado Retina's 2022 Calendar - Sneak Preview |
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- The Colorado Retina imaging teams spends all year collecting striking OCT, fundus and autofluorescence photographic images from unique cases you have referred in.
At the end of the year, we select the most astounding, dramatic images for a variety of retinal conditions and compile them into a printed calendar.
If you referred a patient to Colorado Retina in 2021, you have a printed version coming your way!
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Holiday Fundraiser Supporting Guide Dogs for the Blind |
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Each holiday season the CRA team selects an organization that aligns with our practice mission to support. This year we are raising funds and awareness for Guide Dogs for the Blind, a national non-profit dedicated to providing the sight through Guide Dogs.
GDB prepares highly qualified guide dogs, guide dog readiness skills, and offers youth programs to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired. These canine partners not only improve mobility and confidence, but also further inclusion for those living with this disability.
As the largest guide dog school in North America, more than 16,000 guide dog teams have graduated from GDB from across the US and Canada since their founding in 1942. For those who qualify, guide dogs are free of charge, despite the estimated $40,000 worth of resources that go into transforming a puppy into a guide-ready companion. It takes an army of volunteers to raise, train, feed and care for the dogs to prepare them for their career.
Join our team and give the gift of sight this holiday season!
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"Suddenly I had this sweet partner who was going to keep me safe, and we were going to go where we wanted to go. It shifted my whole perspective and opened the world back up for me."
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CASE OF THE MONTH
REAL CASES OF YOUR REFERRED PATIENTS
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Sclerochoroidal Calcification
Betty Zhang, OD, Optometrist & Physician Liaison at Colorado Retina
Peter Hovland, MD, PhD, Retina & Ocular Oncology Specialist at Colorado Retina
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A Curbside Consult was submitted to Dr. Betty Zhang regarding an asymptomatic 70-year-old Caucasian female with documented growth of unilateral amelanotic lesion from 2014, through 2017, to 2021. OCT shows subretinal elevation with no evidence of subretinal fluid or intraretinal fluid. Possible diagnosis of idiopathic sclerochoroidal calcification was discussed with differential diagnoses of choroidal osteoma, amelanotic nevus, choroidal metastasis, and lymphoma. Evaluation with Dr. Peter Hovland's ocular oncology team was recommended for B-scan to confirm diagnosis within 1-2 months. |
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Figure: Serial fundus photos from 2014, 2017, and 2021 documenting progressive enlargement of yellow-white subretinal placoid lesions.
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The patient presented to Dr. Hovland with VA OD 20/50 pinhole 20/30, OS 20/150 pinhole 20/40. The patient’s systemic history is significant for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypothyroidism, and a history of colon cancer. The intraocular pressure and anterior segment exam were unremarkable OU. Posterior exam of the right eye was within normal limits and posterior exam of the left eye revealed superotemporal discrete yellow subretinal plaques. B-scan of the left eye confirmed a hyperechogenic calcific mass. The patient reported several systemic areas of calcified deposits and was undergoing additional work up for calcium metabolism disorder. The patient was reassured the lesion is benign with no additional retina follow-up necessary. |
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Figure: Enhanced depth imaging (EDI)-OCT image of sclerochoroidal elevation.
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Figure: B-scan ultrasonography shows echodense focal elevation.
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Discussion:
Sclerochoroidal calcification are yellow-white subretinal plaques that present unilaterally or bilaterally and are typically post-equatorial in the superotemporal quadrant. The classic demographic is elderly white individuals who are generally asymptomatic with good visual acuity. Fluorescein angiography and b-scan ultrasonography aid in confirming the diagnosis. B-scan of these patients demonstrate elevated echodense focus of sclerochoroidal calcification with orbital shadowing. Sclerochoroidal calcifications are commonly mistaken for choroidal osteomas, amelanotic nevus or melanoma, lymphoma, or choroidal metastasis. While most cases of sclerochoroidal calcification are idiopathic, systemic work-up is required for possible association with renal tubular hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis syndromes or abnormal calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Systemic screening is crucial as these conditions are highly treatable but can have serious consequences such as cardiovascular instability under anesthesia.
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Dr. Zhang's Curbside Consults
As a reminder, Dr. Betty Zhang is available to all members of our referring community to assist in the review of peculiar retina cases like the above. If you come across a diagnostic or clinical dilemma or have general questions pertaining to vitreoretinal disease don't hesitate to contact Dr. Zhang via TEXT: (785) 312-4682, email: bzhang@retinacolorado.com OR through the Colorado Retina website HERE.
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FEATURED NEWS ARTICLES
PRESS RELEASES & RESOURCES FROM OUR COLORADO RETINA TEAM
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OD and MD Collaboration in Retinal Clinical Trials
How can eye care providers combine forces to enroll patients in clinical trials?
MURTAZA ADAM, MD, AND JACKIE GARLICH, OD, FAAO
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Optometrists are our quarterbacks in the cases that require a retina specialist. Routine cases are easy enough to refer, but patients who present with a pathology for which there are no FDA-approved therapies pose a challenge. Helping enroll those patients in clinical trials could grant them access to therapy that they may not otherwise have been able to receive.
In this article Dr. Adam and Dr. Garlich shares things to keep in mind if you want your retina patients to be connected to the exciting world of clinical trials!
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Seen in: Retina Today. Retinal Disease Awareness Month Edition 2021. All rights reserved.
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Follow us on LinkedIn for more updates, events and news!
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COLORADO RETINA ASSOCIATES, P.C.
MAIN PHONE: (303) 261-1600
FAX: (303) 261-1601
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