INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIZATION COURSE IN REFRACTIVE, CORNEA AND LENS SURGERY
The International University Specialization Course in Refractive, Cornea, and Lens Surgery, aims to provide an integral online education, developed in a framework of a suitable and modern e-learning platform. In our course, we offer a comprehensive program that ranges from the basic sciences of refractive surgery, such as Ocular Anatomy, Physiology, and Optics, to the advanced methods of surgical correction of cataracts, corneal and refractive surgeries, as well as the management of their complications.
The didactic material is created with an evidence-based data methodology, predominantly in the field of refractive, cataract and cornea surgery, and provides the necessary integrated knowledge on the subjects of Refractive, Cornea, and Lens surgery for the clinical performance of a well-prepared and modern refractive surgeon.
Along the Course, you will have access to the theoretical approach of the main areas of study (Refractive, Corneal, and Lens Surgeries, and an Advanced Keratoconus Course). After this, you will have a compulsory final evaluation.
Also, along the Course, among other outstanding features, there are more than one hundred and twenty-five multimedia classes -scientifically evidence-based – with updated peer-reviewed articles, evaluations in each module, and permanently open forums for medical discussions on any topic or question arising from the material of our course. Moreover, there are also activities related to the analysis of the outcomes of refractive surgical procedures.
Apart from the Course and independently from it, you may also apply for the practical part, undertaking 60 hours of on-site observership as first assistant in Refractive, Corneal, and Lens Surgeries. In this part, you will learn not only the details of the office consultation/organization activities but also will observe and assist in the operating room. This activity is on demand and you may apply to it directly once you have registered for the Course through our Academic Secretary office. This observership will be performed in Vissum Miranza Alicante or at any of the other international centers that collaborate with the Course worldwide.
Following the correct completion of the course, you will receive an official University Certificate in Refractive, Cornea, and Lens Surgery, issued and recognized with 20 ECTs credits by the Miguel Hernandez University of Alicante, Spain.
We are convinced that this University Course and its official Certification is an opportunity for the international ophthalmology community, and will cover the gap that today exists in many Ophthalmology teaching programs regarding a comprehensive approach to the knowledge on the subspecialty of Refractive , Cornea and Lens Surgery.
Objectives of the course:
- To offer a comprehensive review of fundamental clinical and scientific evidence-based knowledge related to Refractive Surgery.
- To provide a didactic comprehensive educational program about the fundamentals and advances of modern Refractive Surgery.
- To offer updated information about refractive topics related to lens surgery.
- To offer updated information about those relevant corneal surgery topics related to Refractive Surgery.
- To incorporate evidence-based medical concepts following international guidelines for the clinical practice in Refractive, Cornea, and Lens surgery.
- To offer certified information about the use of Good Clinical Practices standards in the clinical practice and especially in relation to clinical trials in Refractive, Cornea, and Lens surgery.
- To create an interactive network channel between students and a panel of international consultants and professors at a global level.
- To integrate the students that follow the Course in research projects related to topics of the course.
- To enhance the relevance of continued and self-medical e-education.
- To help the students reach a level of knowledge in the theoretical framework necessary to establish a solid future practical fellowship in the topics of the Course.
COURSE CONTENTS
1st LEARNING STAGE: THEORETICAL APPROACH:
1. Introduction to the refractive surgery module
PART A: BASIC REFRACTIVE SURGERY COURSE
- A Short History about Refractive Surgery
- Refractive Anatomy of the Eye
- Eye Accommodation
- Methods of studying the Refraction of the eye: Subjective and Objective Visual Acuity Measurement
- Methods of studying the eye in Refractive Surgery. Introduction to Corneal Topography
- Corneal Topography and Tomography (I): Fundamentals of the Technology and general applications to the study of the cornea
- Corneal Topography and Tomography (II): Analysis based on graphic display
- Epithelial thickness mapping in Refractive and Corneal Surgery
- Refractive Optics Of The Eye: Refractive Errors And Associated Comorbidities
- Methods for the correction of Ametropia: Optical compensation and contact lenses
- The Correction of High Myopia and High Hyperopia Refractive Errors
- Outcomes in Refractive Surgery
- Complications of Refractive Surgery
- Optical Aberrations of the Eye
- Refractive Surgery and Quality of life
PART B: ADVANCED CONCEPTS OF REFRACTIVE COURSE (CORNEAL REFRACTIVE SURGERY)
- Patient Evaluation and Selection for Laser Refractive Surgery (PRK, LASIK, SMILE)
- The Sociology of Refractive Surgery
- Refractive Mentality
- Excimer Laser and Photoablation: Basic concepts
- Surface Excimer Laser Ablation Surgery (PRK)
- Modern Myopic PRK/TRANS-PRK
- Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) (I) Surgical Technique and Microkeratomes
- LASIK: Surgical Technique in the Clinical practice (II)
- The practice of LASIK and PRK: Surgical Videos
- LASIK: Reoperation Enhancements I after Previous Corneal Refractive Surgery
- LASIK Enhancements (II): Which approach to use?
- Myopic and Astigmatic Lasik
- Hyperopic Lasik
- Lasik Complications
- Customized Excimer Laser Surgery
- Femtosecond Laser Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) vs. PRK and LASIK
- Presbyopia Surgery
- Laser Refractive Surgery for Presbyopia: PresbyLASIK
- Monovision: An alternative in the correction of Presbyopia
- Intracorneal Inlays as solution for Presbyopia
- Dry Eye in Refractive Surgery (I): Diagnosis
- Dry Eye in Refractive Surgery (II): Treatment
PART C: ADVANCED REFRACTIVE COURSE (INTRAOCULAR REFRACTIVE SURGERY)
- Phakic intraocular lenses (I): An introduction: How to March Patients with Lenses for A Successful Outcome
- Phakic IOLs (II): Going Into Deeper Knowledge
- Phakic IOLs: (III) Posterior Chamber Phakic Lenses: Use of diagnostic Imaging Techniques
- Phakic IOLs (IV): Artilens And Artiflex (Artisan & Artiflex)
- Posterior Chamber Phakic IOLs (V): The Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL)
- Complications of Phakic IOLs
END OF MODULE EVALUATION
- Case study Evaluation M1
- MCQ Test
- Introduction to the corneal module
- Basics of Corneal Imaging:
PART A: FUNDAMENTALS OF CORNEAL IMAGING AND TREATMENT MODALITIES
- Application of Aberrometry in the Clinical Practice
- Anterior Segment OCT
- Corneal Biomechanics in Refractive Surgery
- Intracorneal Rings and Sergments: Fundamentals and Current Applications
- Corneal Collagen Crosslinking (CLX)
- Corneal Crosslinking in the treatment of Infectious Keratitis
- Keratoconus Management General Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment (I)
- Keratoconus Management General Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment (II)
PART B: MODERN CORNEAL TRANSPLANTATION SURGERY
- Basic Cornea Suturing techniques
- Surgical Instrumentation for Corneal, Conjuctival and Scleral Surgery
- Corneal Transplantation Surgery: Modern trends
- Corneal Lamellar Techniques:
1.DALK – Big Bubble Technique
2.Manual Technique
3.DMEK
4.DSAEK
5.Bowman Layer Transplantation
- Manual Penetrating Keratoplasty
- Post-operative follow up and Complications in Keratoplasty
- Outcomes of modern corneal transplantation surgery
- Femtosecond Laser Corneal Surgery:
1.Introduction to Fs Laser Corneal Surgery
2.Femtosecond Penetrating Keratoplasty, Deep Anterior Lamellar Surgery and Special Cases
3.Superficial Femtosecond Corneal Excision
4.Intracorneal Ring Segments for Keratoconus Surgery: Mechanical vs. Femtosecond-
5.Assisted Procedures
6.Femtosecond Assisted Corneal Surgery
- Glaucoma in Corneal Graft Procedures: Therapeutic approaches
- Corneal regeneration procedures: a change in paradigm in corneal grafting
END OF MODULE EVALUATION
- End of Module Case Study Evaluation M2
- MCQ Test
- Introduction to the Module: Modern treatment alternatives of keratoconus
- Keratoconus Advanced Course: Keratoconus: Introduction To Contemporary Treatment And Future Perspectives
- Pediatric Keratoconus-Diagnosis and Treatment
- Intracorneal Rings and Segments: New and Current Applications
- Cross-Linking In Keratoconus – CXL (I)
- Advanced Concepts in Collagen Cross Linking (CXL) (II)
- Advanced Keratoconus treatment with combined customized PRK and CXL
- Summary: Management of Keratoconus guided by HOA
- Corneal grafting in Keratoconus: Which, When and How? Part (I) y (II)
- Cataract surgery in the Patient with Keratoconus
- Refractive Surgery of Keratoconus
END OF MODULE EVALUATION
- End of Module Case study Evaluation M3
- MCQ Test
- Introduction to the module
A- 1 .Basic Phacoemulsification Course:
- Introduction and Basic Concepts
- Elements of Phacoemulsification
- Starting Up the Surgery
- Viscoelastics in Phacoemulsification
- Phacoemulsification Surgery: Stepwise Approach (PART 1)
- Phacoemulsification Surgery: Stepwise Approach (PART 2)
- Complications in Phacoemulsification
Interim Course Evaluation Quiz (I)
A-2 .Minimal Invasive Lens Surgery Course:
- MILS: Part 1
- MILS: Part 2
Interim Course Evaluation Quiz (II)
Interim Course Evaluation Quiz (III)
- Refractive Lens Exchange: Indications and Outcomes (under construction-in renovation)
- Femtosecond Assisted Cataract Surgery
- Special cases of Lens Surgery for the Refractive Surgery
- Incisional surgery and astigmatic keratotomy: astigmatism correction during lens surgery
- Cataract Surgery following Corneal surgery
- Bilensectomy: Indications, surgical techniques and outcome
- Correcting Refractive Surprises After Lens Surgery
- IOL CALCULATION: Biometry Tricks and Solutions
- IOL CALCULATION SEMINAR:
1.- Introduction to the seminar
2.- Multifocal IOL calculation following LASIK/PRK/SMILE
3.- Artificial intelligence in IOL calculation
4.- The Barret´s Formula approach
5.- Solving refractive astigmatic surprises.
- IOL Calculation following Corneal Refractive Surgery
- Aspheric IOLs
- Toric IOLs
- Modern Multifocal IOLs (I): What do they offer, what can we get
- Modern Multifocal IOLs (II): Complications and their management
- Extended Depth of focus (EDOF) Intraocular lenses
- Accommodative IOLs
End of the Module Evaluation
- End of Module Case study Evaluation
- MCQ Test
Epilogue : The full history of Refractive Surgery and future innovations to come
1st learning stage final evaluation:
a. Clinical Cases
b. Final Project (Optional)
2nd LEARNING STAGE: THEORETICAL APPROACH:
CONTENTS:
- Guidelines and Standard Protocols in Refractive, Cornea and Intraocular Surgery
- Good Clinical Practices complete course with certification issued by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Center for Clinical Trials
- 75 hours of clinical internship
CONTENTS:
- Introduction to the Module Therapeutic Refractive Surgery
- Correction Of High Levels Of Irregular Astigmatism With Excimer Laser
- TransPRK In Corneal Leukoma Surgery
- Therapeutic Corneal Refractive Surgery Of Keratoconus
- Therapeutic intraocular refractive surgery of Keratoconus
- Introduction to the Module
- Guidelines and standards in Refractive Surgery
- Guidelines and standards in Cataract Surgery
- Guidelines and standards in Cornea Surgery
End of the Module Evaluation
- End of Module Case study Evaluation
- MCQ Test
- Introduction to the module
- Excimer Lasers
– Schwind AMARIS
– ZEISS MEL 90
– Bausch & Lomb TENEO 317
– Johnson & Johnson VISX STAR S4R - Femtosecond Lasers
– ZEISS VISUMAX
– Johnson & Johnson AMO INTRALASE IFS
– Schwind ATOS - Phakic Intraocular Lenses
– Staarsurgical ICL
– Biotech
- EPILOGUE – The Amazing History of Refractive Surgery and the new word created by Refractive Surgery in Ophthalmology
- Future Innovations to Come
- Final Evaluation: Modules
- Final Report of the Course
50 to 60 hours of observeship in which you will be able to learn from Dr. Alió’s team of professionals and himself about any topic related to the Refractive, Corneal and Lens Surgeries.
In collaboration with the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS)
2ND LEARNING STAGE FINAL EVALUATION:
- 2nd learning stage: Final Evaluation
- Final Report of the Course
COURSE STAFF
Scientific Board:
Course Director
Prof. Dr. Jorge L. Alió – MD, PhD, FEBOphth, FWCRS
Associate Director Course
Dr. Jorge L. Alió del Barrio MD, PhD, FEBOS-CR, FWCRS
Mohamed El Bahrawy MD, Msc
International Scientific Advisors:
Richard L. Lindstrom, MD
Lucio Buratto, MD
Jod S Mehta, MD, PhD
Dan Zoltan Reinstein, MD, MA (Cantab), FRCSC, DABO, FRCOphth, FEBO, CertLRS
Academic Assistant:
Ms. Ana Royo
International Contributors:
Adel Barbara, MD (Israel)
Arturo Chayet, MD (Mexico)
Daniel B. Goldberg, MD (U.S.A)
Enrique Graue, MD (Mexico)
Francesca Toto , MD (Italy)
Ibrahim Toprak, MD (Turkey)
Jesper Hjortdal, MD (Denmark)
John Kanellopoulos, MD (Greece)
Jose M. Benitez del Castillo (Spain)
Karim Tourkmani, MD (U.K.)
Myoung Joon Kim, MD (Korea)
Roberto Fernández Buenaga, MD (Spain)
Victoria de Rojas, MD (Spain)
Ali Al Noroozi, MD (Spain)
Alireza Eslampoor, MD (India)
Amanda Ortiz, MD (Spain)
Ana Belen Plaza OD PhD (Spain)
Antonio Marinho, MD (Portugal)
Arun Gulani, MD (U.S.A)
Chiara Fariselli, MD (Italy)
Dan Z. Reinstein, MD (UK)
David Hardten, MD (USA)
David O`Brart, MD (U.K.)
Dimitri Azar, MD (USA)
Elena Rubio, MD (Spain)
Farhad Hafezi, MD (Switzerland)
Francesco Carones, MD (Italy)
Francesco D’Oria, MD (Italy)
Francisco Arnalich, MD (Spain)
George Kymionis, MD (Greece)
George O. Waring IV, MD (U.S.A)
Geunyoung Yoon, MD (Korea)
Geunyoung Yoon, MD (Korea)
Graham Barrett, MD (Australia)
Guy Kezirian, MD (U.S.A)
Hungwon Tchah, MD (Korea)
Ioanis Pallikaris, MD (Greece)
Jae-Hyung Kim, MD (Korea)
Jaime Aramberri, MD (Spain)
Jose Salgado Borges, MD (Portugal)
Leila Ghiasian, MD (Iran)
Len Zheleneznyak, MD (USA)
Leonardo Matropasqua, MD (Italy)
Lucio Buratto, MD (Italy)
Mahmoud Ismail, MD (Egypt)
Maite Sainz de la Maza, MD (Spain)
Marco Fantozzi, MD (Italy)
Maria Gessa, MD (Spain)
Miguel Maldonado, MD (Spain)
Mohamed Alaa El Danasoury, MD (Saudi Arabia)
Mohamed Shafik, MD (Egypt)
Mounir Khalifa, MD (Egypt))
Osama Ibrahim, MD (Egypt)
Paolo Vinciguerra, MD (Italy)
Rafael Barraquer, MD (Spain)
Ramkumar Sabesan, MD (USA)
Ramón Gutiérrez, MD (Spain)
Ramon Lorente, MD (Spain)
Renato Ambrosio, MD (Brazil)
Richard Hoffman, MD (USA)
Richard Packard, MD (U.K.)
Roberto Bellucci, MD (Italy)
Saad Al Amri, MD (Saudi Arabia)
Samuel Masket, MD (U.S.A)
Scott MacRae, MD (U.S.A)
Seyed Hashemian, MD (Iran)
Shmuel Levinger, MD (Israel)
Suphi Taneri, MD (Germany)
Thanakrit Sorasit, MD (Thailand)
Timothy J. Archer, MD (UK)
Verónica Vargas , MD (Perú)
Warren Hill, MD (USA)