LAS VEGAS--The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology’s (JCAHPO) 34th annual continuing education conference--held here in November in conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology--set a 13-year attendance record.

JCAHPO executive director Lynn Anderson said 3,421 ophthalmic medical professionals attended the conference, an increase of more than 25 percent over 2005, and the largest registration since 1993.

During the meeting, new interactive software designed to train employees in contact-lens practices was introduced. Jointly developed by JCAHPO and the Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists (CLAO), the JCAHPO/CLAO Contact Lens Learning Systems uses computer simulations and video to teach medical assistants the skills and knowledge needed for effective CL patient care.