NORWALK, Conn.—Show organizers The Vision Council and RX Global have unveiled the eyecare education program for the upcoming Vision Expo West conference and trade show, according to an announcement. The accredited education program will give attendees the opportunity to gain new insights and knowledge on a diverse assortment of topics, ranging from disease management and practice growth to lens innovations, the latest eyewear trends and more, show organizers said. Kicking off on Wednesday, September 18, the day before the exhibit hall opens at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, Vision Expo’s VisionEd will feature the return of OptiCon @ Vision Expo.

The four-day conference and trade show is expected to welcome thousands of eyecare professionals, ophthalmic experts and industry innovators. This year’s program promises to deliver an unparalleled blend of robust top-notch presentations from the industry’s most respected experts designed to inspire, educate and elevate, show organizers said.
 
Vision Expo West will offer the industry’s leading continuing education and accreditation programs, led by experts in 150+ hours of continuing education. In addition to the robust education, attendees can explore and forge business opportunities in the expansive exhibit hall featuring more than 350 brands, designers and manufacturers from around the globe showcasing groundbreaking innovations in frame design, lens advancements, diagnostic instruments and practice management solutions.
 
“We are thrilled to offer such a high-caliber educational program at Vision Expo West,” said Fran Pennella, vice president of Vision Expo at RX. “The quality of our educational sessions reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing the knowledge base of vision care professionals. We believe that these sessions will provide significant value and inspire attendees to excel in their practice."
 
Mitch Barkley, vice president of trade shows at The Vision Council, said, “Our courses have been carefully developed by an advisory board of thought leaders in the industry and are designed to address the critical areas of vision care. We have made concerted efforts to bring in top speakers who are at the forefront of their fields to ensure that our program remains relevant and provides ample opportunities for accreditation and professional growth.”
 
OptiCon @ Vision Expo West 2024 will introduce new courses to opticians and other allied health professionals covering trends and developments in the profession, with 100+ hours of content available over four days, allowing attendees to customize their learning experience from five tracks: clinical concepts, spectacle lens, contact lens, allied health and business.
 
“We are honored to host a spectacular lineup of distinguished speakers who will share their expertise and experiences, inspiring us to think creatively and critically about the challenges and opportunities facing opticianry today as well as in the future,” said OptiCon advisory board co-chairs, Lanard Atkins and Phernell Walker. “Attendees will have ample opportunities for networking and collaboration to connect with old friends and forge new relationships; it is through these connections that we can collectively drive progress and create a lasting impact in our industry.”

Attendees can click here to view education packages at Vision Expo West. Accredited course highlights include the following:
 
Ask the Experts—A three-part course series eligible for a total of six accredited hours focusing on trending topics including: When Your Patient Has OSD, When You're Treating Your Glaucoma Patients and When You Are Managing The Retina.
 
Top 15 Diagnoses You Should Never Miss—These are the top 15 diagnoses that eyecare professionals do not want to miss.
 
Unveiling Uveitis—This course describes a modern approach to uveitis management and will provide a thorough review of common etiology, risk factors, systemic and ocular manifestations, and management and treatment strategies. Case examples will emphasize relevance.
 
Case Files: The Glaucoma Chronicles—This course will discuss a broad range of glaucoma cases from three unique settings. Tools for diagnosis, risk assessment, and management of disease will be highlighted across the spectrum of glaucoma severity with multiple perspectives provided.
 
Telehealth Is Here to Stay. Really!—Telemedicine has quickly become the most practical way for health care providers to stay connected with patients, provide needed care and still receive reimbursement. Once past the technical, system and billing issues, most patients and providers found the interactions productive and even preferable for many types of visits. Now we are asking, is this a stop-gap solution? Will this become more mainstream long-term? Will patients respond positively to a virtual visit? Can office and staff make this a productive, efficient component of the workflow and care delivery systems? The answers to these questions are yes, yes and yes.
 
Selling Efficiently and Effectively in a Busy Practice—This course helps opticians in a very busy practice combine exemplary customer service while maximizing the limited time that may be available to work with a patient in a very busy dispensary.

Click here for the full list of courses.
  
“With hands-on workshops and interactive case discussions, you become part of the meeting rather than just merely attending,” said Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, education planning committee chairman. “With over 100 courses filling over 150 hours of education, Expo positively has something for all in attendance.”
 
Professionals interested in attending the Vision Expo West education program are encouraged to register early to secure their spot. For more information and to register, click here.
 
The hotel block is open, with a limited number of reduced-rate hotel rooms available. The reservation deadline is August 15. Click here to learn more about travel bookings.
 
To reserve exhibit booth space or learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Kristin Cammarata, sales director, at kristin.cammarata@rxglobal.com. To make the most of planning for Vision Expo West, attendees can explore exhibitors, events, course lists and more by visiting west.visionexpo.com.