AAO Live

10/24:  Touched down in beautiful San Francisco around 12pm.  The sun was bright, and the temperatures in the high 60’s.  Great way to start a busy couple of days.  Hit the show around 2:30pm, shuttle was on time and swift, registration and bag pick up hassle free.  Abbott Medical Optics was the “bag/materials” sponsor this year.  As I approached the exhibit hall, one could see that the attendance was very good.  Many attendees visiting booths, meeting old friends and networking as always.  My goal for day one was to visit booths that are in the business of single use instruments.  It is an early start on probably an important movement in Ophthalmology.  May people are looking at this alternative as a way to supply additional instrument sets, save on repair costs, and help avoid the dreaded TASS cases.  I looked at the comprehensive BD Health line, the limited selection but excellent quality of the Moria line, and also briefly visited the Sterimedix and Stephens Instruments booths.  All companies had different things to offer, it’s just a matter of surgeon preferences and of course price point when dealing in the Outsourcing industry.

10/25:  The day got off to an early start.  Woke up, threw on the running shoes and headed to AT&T Park to participate in the Annual Run for Vision 5K sponsored by Bausch and Lomb.  The event benefits the Eye Bank Association of America, a very worthy group to support.  Over 200 people participated in the event which is excellent since it starts at 6:30am in order to accomadate the rest of the AAO events scheduled for the day.  The course began at the Home of the San Francisco Giants, along the China Basin and McCovey Cove, through the USCF campus and by the shores of the San Francisco Bay.  It was a very well organized event and I would encourage all runners attending the show to make an effort to participate in the future.  On a personal note, I finished 64^th overall with a time of 23:19.  My racing philosophy is a very simple one, if more people finish behind me than in front, I have had a successful run.  No matter what though, anyone who puts out the effort to lace up the sneakers and hit the road running be it for health, competition, or supporting a worthy organization is a positive!

The rest of day has been full of meetings and networking.  In fact, I have had little time to blog or walk the floor looking at all of the exhibits.  I’m sure that I am the norm and not the exception at shows like these.  I will offer a few words of wisdom for those attending any of these Ophthalmic shows.  First, do your homework.  Prior to coming to the event, look through your pre show materials determine what your interests are.  Search out the information on those interests.  If it is symposiums or classes be sure to pre-register and enter the times of those events into your planners.  If you are looking into new equipment, products, or HIT technology research the vendors that deal in those items.  Look up on the floor plan on where the locations of those vendors booths are and plan your day in which you can hit them in the most efficient manner.  It will save time, and it will save some wear and tear on your feet too!  Finally, all though we are all here for business and to broaden our knowledge base, schedule in some “down time” to see all the sights of the host city.  These events are always in cities with a lot of history and a lot of things to do, take advantage, relax and have a little fun.  It will make the show a little more exciting and give your brain and body a little rest which is a good thing.

Tomorrow, is a couple of quick meetings and back to the airport.   Overall the show has been personally successful and from the foot traffic I have seen over the last couple of days and the information I have received from the vendors I spoke with it has been successful for them as well.  For now, best of luck to all the AAO attendees this year, and please visit Cataractoutsourcing.com often for up to date happenings in the industry.

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