2025 Annual Clinical Assembly Poster Competition- Ophthalmology Entries

This poster presents a rare case of orbital necrotizing fasciitis in a healthy young male, initially presenting with facial trauma. Despite early intervention with antibiotics and surgical debridement, the patient rapidly deteriorated and succumbed t

Current osteopathic medical student with an interest in ophthalmology and how the earth's natural rhythms affect circadian biology.

Describes how the absence or reduction of Earth’s geomagnetic field (GMF), as experienced during spaceflight, can affect the human visual system, specifically in relation to circadian rhythms, oxidative stress, and magnetoreception.

Shreya Bhatt is a rising fourth-year medical student at Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, currently completing a research year with the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Over the past year, her interest and passion for ophthalmology have flourished, and she looks forward to learning from others in the field while continuing to collaborate with experts to advance innovations and improve patient care, ultimately aiming to preserve and restore vision.

Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience more severe dry eye symptoms and heightened visual photosensitivity compared to healthy controls, suggesting these conditions as common consequences of head trauma.

We investigated the relationship of screen time and access to eye care (Optometry/Ophthalmology visits) in Touro College of Osteopathic (TouroCOM) students before and during graduate education matriculation.

My name is Jeffrey Scott Briggs. I am originally from Van Nuys, California, and I graduated from UC Irvine in 2015 with a degree in Chemistry. My passion for research led me to join PhageTech, where I contributed to developing non-invasive, point-of-care diagnostics to streamline cancer detection. However, witnessing the human side of medicine inspired me to pursue a more direct role in patient care. I became involved with the Tzu Chi Foundation and volunteered at their triannual medical outreaches, serving underserved communities in Santa Ana. These experiences deepened my commitment to healthcare equity and advocacy. Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine’s mission to serve the underserved strongly aligned with my values, making it the ideal place to pursue my medical education. As an aspiring physician, I aim to integrate clinical care with research and advocacy to help address healthcare disparities in underserved populations.

This study aims to evaluate the correlation between stress levels, coping strategies, risk factors, and vision-related symptoms in individuals from the Paso del Norte region.

This case report presents a unique instance of a large choroidal melanoma in a patient with extensive UV radiation. This case underscores the potential link between chronic UV exposure and choroidal melanoma.

Stefano Cena is a first-year osteopathic medical student at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine – Southern Utah, where he serves as President of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter. Born in Italy and fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, he is a first-generation college student with prior experience as a clinical trial monitor for FDA-regulated studies across North America and Europe. He was nominated for Student Doctor of the Year and is deeply committed to global ophthalmology and improving access to anterior segment care in underserved communities around the world, with aspirations to pursue a career in ophthalmology and international eye care delivery.

This IRB-approved pilot introduces CLEIM, a scalable vision screening model using the EyeQue Insight, led by local physicians in rural Dominican Republic.

A 61-year-old Spanish-speaking female patient with rheumatoid arthritis had been taking hydroxychloroquine for over 10 years without prior ophthalmologic follow-up. She presented with difficulty reading and blurred vision. The patient was unaware of the n

Alessandra Derick is a third-year osteopathic medical student at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, enthusiastically pursuing a career in ophthalmology. She completed her undergraduate studies at Miami University and grew up in central Ohio. Alessandra is passionate about improving access to eye care, especially in underserved communities, and is actively involved in research related to aqueous humor dynamics and glaucoma.

Reliable outflow facility measurement depends on calculator selection and tonograph quality. Linear models provide more repeatable and less noise-sensitive values, while high-quality tonographs reduce variability and outliers.

My name is Nicholas Durstock and I graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in chemical engineering in 2023. I am now a second year medical student at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and I am very interested in pursuing a career in ophthalmology after graduation.

This study investigated the effect of obstructive sleep apnea treatment with continuous positive airway pressure on rates of macular edema and other retinal vascular disease outcomes.

Four cases of Microsporidium keratitis presented to a practice in Louisiana within 3 months after Hurricane Francine landed in 2024. All four cases were diagnosed via PCR and then treated with a regimen of moxifloxacin and fluoromethalone.

Siavash Esmaili is a first-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Toronto, where he specialized in sensor development and robotics. His graduate work focused on applying sensor technologies to human movement, and he is now passionate about leveraging AI and sensing innovations to advance ophthalmic imaging, diagnostics, and treatment.

TKIs offer a promising intracellular approach to retinal disease, potentially reducing treatment burden compared to anti-VEGF therapies.

Christine Evans is a second-year medical student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her bachelor’s degree in physiology from Michigan State University. She is a member of the Sigma Sigma Phi Honors Society and serves as President of MSUCOM’s Student Neurology, Ophthalmology, and Psychiatry Society. Christine has published research on head and neck cancer therapy and currently studies medical students’ ability to perform fundoscopic examinations.

This study assesses medical students' competence in ophthalmoscopy, revealing frequent misidentification of retinal images and low confidence, underscoring the need for better training.

Laura Haller, ranked 1st in her class with a 4.0 GPA, is a dedicated and compassionate medical student with a strong commitment to serving others. Before medical school, she worked as the lead ophthalmic technician in ocular oncology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, gaining extensive experience in complex eye disease management. She has served thousands in Harlem, New York through vision screenings and glasses delivery programs and has participated in medical missions to Nicaragua, reinforcing her commitment to global healthcare. She has conducted ophthalmic research with Orbis International, an non-profit organization dedicated to establishing sustainable eye care systems in underserved regions, and contributed to biomedical research at Rockefeller University. In addition to her academic and clinical achievements, Laura competed in the iconic Miss America Pageant as 'Miss Montana' in 2018, where she advocated for healthcare equity and access on both local and national stages. Outside of medicine, she has a background as an international professional dancer and is an accomplished marathon runner. With her untraditional path to the medical field, she brings a diverse skill set and a dedication to patient care shaped by her broad clinical, research, volunteer, and personal experiences.

This study compared self-refraction and traditional refraction methods among Mongolian children and found that self-refraction achieved comparable visual outcomes. The results support self-refraction as a scalable, cost-effective option.

Rochile Khan is currently a 3rd year medical student at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Driven by her passion for improving patients' quality of life through vision care, she aspires to serve both her local and global communities as a future ophthalmologist.

This case presents a patient diagnosed with concomitant Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (CRVO) and Cilioretinal Artery Occlusion (CLRAO) in their right eye. This presentation is rare, representing a unique and noteworthy case.

My name is Naina Kohli and I am a third year medical student at VCOM-Carolinas. I grew up in northern Virginia and attended undergrad at the University of Pittsburgh. I have had a strong love for ophthalmology since I first shadowed an ophthalmologist in my senior year of high school. Fun fact my name means beautiful eyes in Hindi so I have always felt a calling towards this specialty. When I am not studying, I enjoy cooking exotic recipes and going on long walks with my maltipoo.

This is a case report of a young adult with cystinosis that rapidly progressed. Her lack of compliance caused her to stop taking her cysteine drops and this case report highlights the impact that this had on her vision.

I am a third-year medical student at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Louisiana. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences – Clinical Professions from Florida State University. Prior to medical school, I gained extensive experience in clinical research in both neurology and ophthalmology, which cultivated my interest in the field and continues to contribute to my academic and clinical pursuits in the field.

This poster presents a rare case of spontaneous resolution of a complete retinal detachment (RD) in a 38-year-old female after undergoing phacoemulsification.

Retrospective review of pediatric patients who underwent tonsillectomy and the prevalence of actinomyces with the associated clinical outcomes.

This case describes a patient with seropositivity for B. henselae who presented with high intraocular and intracranial pressure, bilateral papillitis, and partial Parinaud oculoglandular syndrome (POGS)

Raechel graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas and is currently pursuing a career in ophthalmology. Before medical school, she gained valuable clinical experience working with both a corneal specialist and a pediatric ophthalmologist. During medical school, she served as president of the Ophthalmology Club and was actively involved in volunteer work, most notably at the Anchor Center for Blind Children. Raechel is passionate about research in ophthalmology and enjoys cooking, playing golf, and live music in her free time.

This study found a trend toward increased myopia in first-year medical students, especially among glasses users, highlighting the potential impact of screen time and the need for awareness of computer vision syndrome.

Explains the investigation of IL-27 as a potential therapeutic for Retinitis Pigmentosa

David Melanson is an OMS-II at RVUCOM-Utah Campus where he is part of the Global Medicine track and serves as treasurer for Sigma Sigma Phi honor society. He has a passion for ophthalmology, photography and outdoors. Recently returning from a medical humanitarian trip in the Dominican Republic has furthered his Interest for Glaucoma and Global Ophthalmology. Corneal Refractive Surgery is also among his interests and prior research experiences.

This community-based screening in rural Dominican Republic used portable tools to assess IOP and blood glucose. Elevated IOP was found in 13.3%, supporting low-resource glaucoma risk screening.

This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of OCP in the absence of other autoimmune diseases and the importance of including OCP in the differential diagnosis of refractory ocular symptoms, even without broader autoimmune features.

Julia Moore, a third-year medical student at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Louisiana, is actively involved in healthcare advocacy through her roles with OPAC, SOMA, and OBI. She has a strong interest in pediatric ophthalmology and proudly serves as an ambassador for the Children's Eye Foundation through AAPOS. Outside of academics, Julia enjoys practicing latte art and learning to navigate manual mode on her camera.

This poster proposes a prospective cohort study that aims to examine myopia progression in U.S. medical students during their first two years of training—a population with high near-work demands that has been largely overlooked in longitudinal research.

Fourth year ophthalmology resident

The Pre-Needle Knot (PNK) technique simplifies suture burial in penetrating keratoplasty by tying the knot near the suture needle, widening the corneal tunnel during insertion. This reduces suture breakage, enhancing surgical efficiency.

Zoltan Namenyi is a current 3rd year medical student at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dublin, Ohio. Zoltan received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Akron in 2020. He is a founder of the Ophthalmology & Otolaryngology Club at his school, which is now an AOCOO-HNS affiliated student organization, and is a member of the AOCOO-HNS student committee.

The current gold standard for measuring aqueous flow is fluorophotometry. This poster compares pneumatonography to fluorophotometry in calculating aqueous flow as well as detecting changes in aqueous flow post-timolol treatment.

We report a case of a 66-year-old gentleman with PMHx of type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension who developed an NAION approximately 6 weeks after being started on a GLP-1RA. Is there truly an association between the two or is it merely coincidence?

This poster details findings from a literature review of ocular AEs of the 13 FDA approved antibody-drug conjugates plus proposed mechanisms of toxicity.

Lawsen Parker DO PGY 1

For select patients with early/mild KCN, PRK after stabilization of the cornea through CXL may be an option for those desiring vision correction. Further research into the safety and efficacy of this sequence should be encouraged and performed.

Hello! My name is Milin Patel, I am 3rd year medical student at PCOM Georgia, currently on a research fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. I am pursuing a career in ophthalmology as way to combine my interests in neuroscience, medicine, and surgery, as well as to provide life-changing care to my patients.

This study longitudinally investigates the association between vascular leakage and visual acuity during early and late-stage DR. We also report novel inflammatory and vascular histopathological changes in late-stage STZ-induced diabetic retinas.

Preclinical osteopathic medical students showed limited knowledge of ophthalmic diseases and related disparities, with overall diagnostic accuracy below 20%, supporting the need for improved ophthalmic education and emphasis in early medical education.

I'm from Jacksonville, FL. I went to the Catholic University of America for my undergraduate degree. I love hiking, writing poetry, and boxing.

Purpose: To compare 7 freely available large language models (LLMs) for ophthalmic diagnostic accuracy. Results: Top LLMs (80-87%, p<0.0001,) outperformed ophthalmologists (60-67%). Conclusions: LLMs demonstrated promise as a supportive diagnostic tools.

My name is Namoos Siddique, and I am currently a second-year medical student at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. I developed a strong interest in ophthalmology while working as a scribe at an eye clinic, where I was captivated by the complexity of eye pathology, the range of treatment options available, and the innovative research shaping the field. This experience motivated me to pursue several research projects within ophthalmology, and I am eager to continue contributing to research as I advance in my medical career. I am particularly passionate about exploring the latest advancements and discovering ways to improve patient care in this dynamic specialty.

Purpose. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among the elderly. Our findings suggest that extracellular vesicles (EVs) participate in the pathogenesis of AMD. EVs released by all cells contain lipids, prot

PGY-4 ophthalmology resident graduating in June 2025. Will begin a refractive cataract & advanced anterior segment fellowship at the Willis-Knighton Eye Institute in in Shreveport, LA in July of 2025.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty was an effective method of reducing intraocular pressure in this rural African population for up to 6 months.

A primer for ophthalmology residents on the indications for IOL exchange, preoperative considerations, and two IOL removal techniques during IOL exchange

PGY-1 Ophthalmology Resident at Corewell Health Taylor, MI

An interesting case study regardin gMycoplasma-Induced Rash and Mucositis (MIRM), where we will describe the ocular findings and how to differentiate from TEN/SJS.

I am currently a second year DO student at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine.

This is a case report of an isolated retinal injury from a Taser probe without globe penetration, resulting in permanent vision loss.