Satellite Symposia

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Please note the Satellite Symposia are unaccredited.

Astellas

Saturday April 18 — 10:15-11:00 AM — Coronation Park

Title: Advancing Biomarkers in GA

Objectives:

Understand the role of latest imaging biomarkers in GA
Integrate biomarkers to clinical-decision making
Access real-world applications and limitations of current biomarkers

Faculty:

Varun Chaudhary, MD, FRCSC (Chair)
TBD
TBD
Wai-Ching Lam, MD, FRCSC

Overview:

The Advancing Biomarkers in Geographic Atrophy (GA) symposium brings together leading clinicians and imaging experts to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of GA. This focused 45-minute session examines how structural and functional biomarkers are reshaping early detection, disease monitoring, and therapeutic decision-making for patients with GA. Participants will gain insights into imaging modalities; learn how biomarkers correlate with real-world functional outcomes; and understand emerging evidence around complement pathway activity and treatment response indicators. Through expert presentations and interactive discussion, the symposium aims to equip clinicians with practical, clinically actionable strategies to integrate biomarker-driven approaches into everyday GA care, enhancing prediction and patient experience.

Roche

Saturday April 18 — 1:35-2:15 PM — Coronation Park

Title: RETIFY: 2026 Playlist

Objectives:

Review the APVRS consensus guidelines of PCV with a focus on disease entity, diagnosis, and treatment
Highlight the impact of continuous drug delivery on treatment experience and identify the ideal candidates for these platforms
To evaluate novel artificial intelligence technologies and their application to ophthalmology

Faculty:

Keyvan Koushan, MD, FRCSC (Moderator)
Adrian Koh Hock Chuan, MD, MBBS
John Kitchens, MD, FASRS
Marko Popovic, MD, FRCSC

Bayer

Saturday April 18 — 3:50-4:35 PM — Coronation Park

Title: Confidence Through Experience: Clinical Pearls to Inform Real-World Treatment Decisions

Objectives:

Translate key clinical trial and RWE data into practical strategies to reduce treatment burden in retinal disease
Define evidence-based approaches for initiating and switching patients, including interval selection and extension in routine practice
Apply case-based clinical pearls to manage challenging real-world scenarios in the Canadian treatment landscape

Faculty:

Varun Chaudhary, MD, FRCSC
John Kitchens, MD, FRCSC
Pradeepa Yoganathan, MD, MSc, FRCSC, DABO, FASRS
Michael Kapusta, MD, FRCSC

Overview:

In this session, attendees will gain practical insight into management of retinal diseases based on latest real-world evidence with anti-VEGF therapies. Patient case studies from across Canada and the US will be presented to explore the clinical pearls with the audience.

Bayer Symposium

Title: Advances in Retinal Disease Management

Date and time: Saturday, May 4 at 9:45‒10:30 AM

Keynote Speaker:

Ehsan Rahimy, MD
Director of Vitreoretinal Disease & Surgery, Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology, Stanford University

Moderator:

John Galic, MD, FRCSC
Ophthalmologist, Specialist of Vitreoretinal Disease and Surgery
Centre universitaire de santé McGill et IR-CUSM l McGill University Health Centre and RI-MUHC

Panelists:

Varun Chaudhary, MD, FRCSC
Professor of Surgery, McMaster University
Hamilton Regional Eye Institute, St. Joseph’s Healthcare

Geoff Williams, MD, FRCSC
Associate Professor, University of Calgary
Medical Director of Southern Alberta Eye Clinic, Surgical

Overview:

The symposium will consist of a keynote presentation by Dr. Rahimy followed by a panel discussion with the Canadian faculty. For the keynote presentation Dr. Rahimy will review the current state of AMD and DME disease management highlighting the evolution of Anti-VEGF intravitreal treatments, challenges, and unmet needs faced by physicians and patients. Dr. Rahimy will then review some of the most recent data for aflibercept 8mg. The second part of the symposium will feature a panel discussion focusing on real-world patient cases from the US.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the rationale of a higher molar dose of anti-VEGFs therapies newly approved in Canada
Review aflibercept 8mg 96-week clinical trial outcomes in nAMD & DME treatment
Discuss real-world case presentation

Apellis Symposium

Title: Eyes on GA: Expert Insights on a New Era of Management

Date and time: Saturday, May 4 at 1:30‒2:15 PM

Overview:

Geographic atrophy remains a significant unmet medical need in Canada. This symposium aims to advance geographic atrophy knowledge and awareness in the Canadian retina community and explore emerging therapies in the treatment landscape.

Objectives

Geographic Atrophy (GA): Educate on the role of multimodal imaging to diagnose GA and identify risk markers for progression.
Efficacy and safety of complement inhibition in GA: Share recent analyses from complement inhibitors studies, including 3-year treatment data.
Structural and functional analyses of interest in GA: Discuss the relationship between anatomical and functional outcomes.
Real-world experience with complement inhibitors

Faculty

Moderator: Deepa Yoganathan, MD
Speakers: Phil Ferrone, MD; Bernard Hurley, MD

Roche Symposium

Title: Optimizing nAMD and DME Management: Leveraging Fluid Dynamics for Functional Improvement

Date and time: Saturday, May 4 at 3:35‒4:20 PM

Learning Objectives:

Differentiate various classes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs and other therapeutic options for nAMD, considering their respective impact on both anatomical and functional outcomes.
Assess new evidence about treatments for DME that maximize vision gains and minimize macular leakage.

Faculty

Chair: Varun Chaudhary, MD
Arshad Khanani, MD
Stela Vujosevic, MD, PhD, FARVO, FEBO