The 42nd Annual Meeting of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society

Neuro-Ophthalmology News Section Editor: Kathleen B. Digre, MD The 42nd Annual Meeting of the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society FIG. 1. The 2016 Frank Walsh Symposium was hosted by the University of Michigan team including Jonathan Trobe, Sandra Camelo-Paragua, Wayne Cornblath, Ashok Srinivasan and Peter Quiros (UCLA), chair of the Walsh Committee. T he North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society held its 42nd annual meeting at the Marriott Star Pass Resort in Tucson, AZ, February 27-March 3, 2016. The weather was sunny and warm. The Frank Walsh Society meeting was excellent and was cohosted by Wayne Cornblath and Jonathan Trobe along with special invited experts Ashok Srinivasan (neuroradiology) and Sandra Camelo-Paragua (neuropathology), all from the University of Michigan (Fig. 1). The best Walsh paper was presented by Ivana Vodopivec and colleagues (Boston) entitled "It is, is it not?" This case highlighted retinal vasculitis associated with a cerebral leukodystrophy and the TREX 1 gene. The educational symposia began the following day and were exceptional. "Journal Club" topics included cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, brain tumors in children, Susac Syndrome, and intracranial aneurysms. The "hot topics" featured optical coherence tomography, genetic manipulation for inherited neurodegenerative disease, steroid-dependent optic neuropathies, and an update on neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. A special symposium on neuroimaging featured Christine Glastonbury from the University of California, San Francisco, and Ashok Srinivasan from the University of Michigan. The Jacobson Lecture was delivered by Neil Miller on optic nerve gliomas (Fig. 2). We also were treated to wonderful lectures on ocular motility disorders. The final symposium was on visual aspects of sports-related e8 FIG. 2. Neil Miller gave the Jacobson Lecture and he was introduced by Patty Johnston McNussen. Digre: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2016; 36: e8-e9 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. Neuro-Ophthalmology News FIG. 3. "Three great amigos of neuro-ophthalmology:" Robert Daroff, Simmons Lessell, and Norman Schatz. concussion. Brian Hainline, MD from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, our special guest, stressed the importance or neuro-ophthalmologists being involved in the dialogue of head trauma especially in athletic events. Optional symposia also were very popular. They consisted of botulinum injection training, basics in optical coherence tomography, teaching neuro-ophthalmology in developing countries, a forum for new and future neuroophthalmologists, basic statistics and 3D anatomy of the orbit and skull base. The annual movie "Three Amigos" highlighted camaraderie which is a hallmark of our neuroophthalmic community. We also had "Three Great Amigos" in attendance at the meeting (Fig. 3). There were 237 posters divided into 2 poster sessions: Clinical Highlights in Neuro-ophthalmology on Sunday afternoon and Scientific Advancement in Neuroophthalmology on Tuesday evening. This year's awardees were the following: James A. Sharpe Award for a Fellow: Michael D. Richards, MD, from the University of Toronto: "Abnormal Integration of Audiovisual Spatial Information in Amblyopia." Best Abstract by a Resident: Kimberly K. Gokoffski, MD, from University of California, Davis: "Electrical Fields Direct Retinal Ganglion Cell Axon Growth." Best Abstract by a Student: Amulya Gampa, from University of Illinois: "Change in Peripapillary Bruch's Membrane Shape Can Be Detected 1 Hour After Lowering of Intracranial Pressure by Lumbar Puncture." Digre: J Neuro-Ophthalmol 2016; 36: e8-e9 2016 Pilot Grant Award: Marc H. Levin, MD, PhD, from University of California, San Francisco: "Aquaporin4-Specific T Cells in Rat CNS Autoimmunity." Hoyt Lecture Award: Anthony Arnold, MD, University of California, Los Angeles: "Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: The Evolving Profile, 1966-2015." Best Original Contribution published in the Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology 2015. Jamie Mitchell, Christiano OIiveria, Apostolos Tsiouris, Marc Dinkin, Weil Cornell Medical College, New York: "Corresponding ganglion cell atrophy in patients with postgeniculate homonymous visual field loss." We had 576 attendees at this year's meeting representing 29 countries. The annual banquet was held at Old Tucson-a movie set for several famous western movies. We were treated to a gun showdown, stunts and tricks from flying cowboys, and great barbecue. Janel Fick, Amanda Dennis, and Toma Ossian hosted another very wellorganized meeting. The 43rd meeting will be held in Washington DC during cherry blossom season April 1 through April 6, 2017. See you all there! Kathleen B. Digre, MD Departments of Ophthalmology and Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah e9 Copyright © North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.