LAS VEGAS--When attendees arrive here for next month’s International Vision Expo West, Continuing Education will be at the top of many to-do lists, especially for the three Os, as they kick off their Expo experience. A vast array of courses featuring new programs, sessions, workshops and interactive panels will combine to make this year’s Continuing Education Program a key component of the conference experience for many of today’s ophthalmic professionals.

This year’s exclusive Continuing Education program will offer more than 360 hours of continuing education from Oct. 2 to 6 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center here.

Courses and programming for International Vision Expo West are selected with the assistance of the Conference Advisory Board, comprised of leading ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians to provide input for all industry professionals. With the aim of providing a broad selection for optometrists, ophthalmic professionals including opticians, para-optometric professionals and staff, as well as ophthalmologists, the Conference Advisory Board develops programming to include a mix of well-reviewed speakers, topics, cutting-edge information and current topics of interest.

“’Uniquely Defined’ is the title for this year’s event, describing the unparalleled positioning, coverage and exposure that International Vision Expo West provides the entire ophthalmic industry,” according to Kirk Smick, OD and chair of the Conference Advisory Board. “The education program is the centerpiece of the event for the entire industry, one that offers breadth, as well as depth.”

Some 15 new courses will be offered this October for ophthalmic professionals including topics such as following dry macular degeneration for earlier referrals, increasing contrast sensitivity with neuro-training and lens materials and designs. In addition, International Vision Expo West is offering, for the first time, a two-year Glaucoma Certificate Program.

Some topics and opportunities can only be found only at International Vision Expo West. This year, there are 12 exclusive courses including “Women Ask for Directions,” “Magnify Your Future 2008” and “Contact Lens Boot Camp.” Eight hours of free continuing education are also being offered on Monday, Oct. 6.

Conference Advisory Board members have also designated “Hot Picks”--cutting-edge topics and information for that address current industry issues such as the pharmaceutical therapies, increasing eyewear sales and ocular emergencies and triage.

The courses have been submitted to ABO, NCLE, JCAHPO, COPE, AOA Paraoptometric Section, the New York State Board for Ophthalmic Dispensing and all state boards of opticianry for consideration of continuing education credit approval. The conference program is endorsed by the Arizona Optometric Association and the National Academy of Opticianry.

Continuing education sponsors include: Alcon, Allergan, AMO, Bausch & Lomb, Carl Zeiss Meditec, CIBA Vision, Cynacon OCuSoft, Essilor, Essilor Laboratories of America, Eyecare Business, Heidelberg Engineering, Inspire, MaximEyes, MSS, NeuroVision, Ophthonix, Optos, Odyssey, Signet Armorlite, Sonogage, TLC Laser Eye Centers, The Vision Council Eyewear & Accessories Division, The Vision Council Lens Division, The Vision Council Lens Processing & Technology Division, The Vision Council Low Vision Division, The Vision Council Vision Protection Committee, Topcon, Vistakon and Younger Optics.