As I drove through the night to Orange County from Los Angeles after a day filled with sutured lenses, corneal transplants, and MSICS with Dr. Nicole Fram, I was excited to brush up on my MIGS game at the Glaukos iEducation course with my other fellowship mentor, Dr. Sahar Bedrood. I had heard about this course during residency but never attended this or any other industry-sponsored resident/fellow courses. I wasn’t sure what to expect; at a minimum, it seemed like a good excuse to explore another part of southern California. However, it turned out to be much more valuable than a weekend getaway. Below are the key takeaways from my experience and why I’d recommend residents and fellows to consider attending.

DIDACTICS

The morning started with breakfast at the Glaukos Headquarters followed by a welcome address and brief history of the company delivered by Glaukos Chairman and CEO, Tom Burns. Hearing about his journey that led him to Glaukos and the company’s mission made the experience personable and set the stage for the subsequent lectures.

It can be difficult to sit through 3+ hours of lectures, however, this course included esteemed faculty members like Sahar Bedrood, MD, Morgan Micheletti, MD, Manjool Shah, MD, and Arkadiy Yadgarov, MD, who shared their wisdom and knowledge in an engaging manner. The talks were well organized and progressed from the evolution of glaucoma treatment to the concept of interventional glaucoma and current MIGS approaches, ending with surgical cases and video reviews.

Importantly, the faculty delivered a comprehensive overview of different glaucoma procedures that are available today and presented the current safety and efficacy outcome data of these approaches, which were not limited to Glaukos devices..

We are training at a time when a growing number of MIGS devices are available to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. This course empowers trainees to broaden their skills and mindset to determine the best option for their patient’s glaucoma care.

HANDS-ON TRAINING

Following a lunch break, the residents and fellows were divided into two groups: one group went to the dry lab while the other group returned to the auditorium for an interactive mentorship session with two of the faculty members. In the dry lab, each resident/fellow had a station that was equipped with model eyes by SimulEYE to practice using the new iStent infinite (Glaukos) and the iAccess (Glaukos). This opportunity allowed attendees to familiarize themselves with the devices in a safe and risk-free environment with guidance and feedback from leading glaucoma experts.

I enjoyed handling the iStent infinite and experiencing what it feels and looks like when the stent deploys into the eye. The practice of injecting multiple stents began to create the needed muscle memory to perform a safe and effective procedure. It was exciting to meet one of the engineers who developed the iStent infinite, who shared the inner workings of the device and how the singulator worked.

MENTORSHIP

One of the unexpected highlights of the course was the opportunity to get career advice from the faculty mentors. Part of the afternoon was dedicated to a small group discussion with two faculty members called “Your First Year in Practice: How to Survive and Thrive” and a larger group gathering with all four of the faculty members called “Ask Me Anything!” The faculty members shared their unique journeys, offering advice on navigating job searches and running an efficient practice, amongst others. Having the opportunity to learn from leaders outside of one’s residency and fellowship programs allows trainees to broaden their perspectives and connections. Just as there is no perfect intraocular lens that fits all, there is no one perfect job that fits all residents or fellows. It’s all about finding the best solution for you based on your needs and your goals.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the Glaukos iEducation course is a great opportunity to get a comprehensive overview of glaucoma management, hands-on experience with MIGS devices, and a real opportunity to network with faculty members and colleagues who can serve as great resources for fellowship and/or job opportunities. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend this course and would highly recommend future trainees to consider making this a part of their training experience.