Boost your comfort level with ophthalmology during today’s session “Essential Ophthalmologic Procedures and Examinations,” led by Gil Binenbaum, MD, MSCE, attending surgeon in the division of ophthalmology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

The session will cover a wide range of eye problems presenting to the emergency department. Many of these problems are vision threatening and can have significant short- and long-term morbidity. One area of focus during Dr. Binenbaum’s talk will be the slit lamp microscope and how emergency physicians can build their comfort level with this commonly used instrument in ophthalmology. Proper use of the slit lamp helps to diagnose conditions that may otherwise be difficult to identify, ranging from corneal ulcers and foreign bodies, to uveitis, dry eye, and open globe injury. “There are many subtle but important findings that are much easier to see, or in some cases only possible to see, with the magnification and capabilities of the slit lamp,” he said.

Dr. Binenbaum also will talk about how and when to measure intraocular pressure, highlighting congenital glaucoma, hyphema, and retrobulbar hemorrhage. When retrobulbar hemorrhage results in orbital compartment syndrome, the emergency physician may need to act quickly, so the session will include instruction on how to perform a canthotomy and cantholysis. “If they can diagnose the problem, then emergency physicians can do canthotomy and cantholysis. The important thing is to know what the indications are for doing it,” he said. Other procedures, such as corneal foreign body removal and eyelid eversion will also be covered. Some visually-threatening problems require urgent evaluation by an ophthalmologist, and Dr. Binenbaum will highlight important red flags for consulting ophthalmology. For even more ophthalmology, Dr. Binenbaum will be giving a second talk on Sunday called “Visual Diagnosis in Emergency Medicine: Eye Can See the Problem.”

That talk will focus broadly on the red eye and vision loss.

Vanessa Caceres is a freelance medical writer based in Florida.

Dr. Binenbaum

Essential Ophthalmologic Procedures and Examinations
Sunday, Oct. 16
11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Mandalay Bay Ballroom F