Michiana Eye Center is proud to host, "Earn a Degree in O.S.D." Join us on March 7th, 2026 on the campus of the University of Notre Dame at the Morris Inn Smith Ballroom to learn the latest advancements in ocular surface disease diagnosis and treatment.
The Morris Inn at Notre Dame
1399 N Notre Dame Ave, South Bend, IN 46617
Self Park at the bookstore
In our practice, roughly 12% of our patients are diagnosed with ocular surface disease, but many more experience dry eye symptoms that go un-diagnosed. Could your patients be missing out on treatment options to address their O.S.D. symptoms?
Earn 6 COPE CE credits while attending presentations by leaders in the field of ocular surface disease treatment:
Paul Karpecki, OD, FAAO is a nationally recognized leader in optometry with over three decades of expertise in cornea, external disease, and particularly ocular surface disease and dry eye management. As Director of Cornea and External Disease at the Kentucky Eye Institute in Lexington, KY, he leads one of the nation's most prominent programs in advanced dry eye care and research. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Karpecki has delivered over 1,000 lectures across four continents, authored more than 1,000 publications, and serves as Chief Clinical Editor for Review of Optometry, the profession's most widely read journal. His influential contributions include serving on the National Eye Institute’s Dry Eye Committee, the Delphi International Society at Wilmer-Johns Hopkins (among the top 25 global dry eye experts), and key subcommittees for the Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) DEWS II and DEWS III initiatives.
Austin Lifferth, OD, FAAO, Dipl. AAO (Glaucoma) is a highly respected consultative optometrist with over 20 years of experience specializing in glaucoma management and ocular surface disease, including dry eye diagnosis and treatment. A graduate of the Indiana University School of Optometry (2003), he completed a post-graduate residency in ocular disease at the Huntington, West Virginia Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He currently practices at the Center for Sight in Carmel, Indiana, where he serves as a key member of the dry eye team and focuses on advanced glaucoma care in an ophthalmology co-management setting. Dr. Lifferth is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry, a Diplomate in the Glaucoma Section, and a member of the Optometric Glaucoma Society. He is the author of the monthly Glaucoma Column in Optometric Management (since 2019), was appointed Clinical Editor of the journal in 2023, and is a frequent lecturer and presenter at national meetings, including innovative approaches like the "NERVE" acronym for optic nerve evaluation in glaucoma. 
March 7th, 2026
07:30am -- 08:00am Registration
08:00am -- 09:00am Begin with the Lid in Mind: Demodex Blepharitis and MGD with Dr. Paul Karpecki
09:00am -- 10:00am Ocular Surface Disease Survival Guide for Everyday Practice with Dr. Paul Karpecki
10:00am -- 10:15am Break and Visit Exhibitor Booths
10:15am -- 12:00pm OSD: Putting it All together with Dr. Paul Karpecki
12:00pm -- 12:45pm Lunch and Visit Exhibitor Booths
12:45pm -- 1:45pm Glaucoma & Ocular Surface Disease - "Frenemies for Life" with Dr. Austin Lifferth
01:45pm -- 2:00pm Break and Visit Exhibitor Booths
02:00pm -- 3:00pm Managing Ocular Surface Disease in Glaucoma patients with Dr. Austin Lifferth
If you haven't already, be sure to download the, "OE Tracker" app to your smart phone for quick, 
Don't have a smart phone? Please be sure to let Michiana Eye Center staff know when you check-in, and your attendance will be tracked through our OE Tracker.
Hotel rooms are conveniently available at the Morris Inn. Room blocks have been reserved for your convenience, and can be accessed directly below. If you would like to call and provide your information over the phone, please mention, "Earn a Degree in O.S.D." for special room pricing.
|
|
Parking at the University of Notre Dame bookstore will be free. Valet parking is available at the Morris Inn for a rate of $18 per day for guests who plan to stay at the Inn.