Nose to the Grindstone Weekend + Wednesday (NTG26)
RIOA's flagship CE event features 13 hours of COPE accredited CE via a hybrid mix of in person and remote meeting formats. Get a great start on meeting your CE requirements with us! Register Early & Save!
WE'RE BUILDING ANOTHER GREAT NTG!!! FINISHING TOUCHES APPLIED SOON! REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
The RIOA welcomes you to participate in NTG'26.
For those new to it, it's simple.
Commit one weekend in March towards garnering a very healthy head start on the continuing credits you need for your license renewal. Come the summer and autumn months and you'll be glad to spend an early March weekend with us!
Over the years, NTG attendees have counted on the RIOA CE Committee to identify thoughtful, timely and accredited education in a relaxed setting. Each year is better than the last.
This one will be no different. Actually it will be. We're always looking to improve the NTG experience! A quick reminder - jeans are still encouraged! It's a weekend in March afterall!
The FULL NTG'26 Program includes March 7, 2026 (7 hours in-person), March 8, 2026 (4 hours, remote) and March 11, 2026 (2 hours, remote).
Not interested in all of NTG26 's hours? We understand, sometimes the grind can be too much. NTG'26 is still for you! If you don't want the full NTG experience, you have the option to register the following ways:
- Saturday (In-Person) + Wednesday (remote)
- Sunday (Remote) + Wednesday (remote)
- Wednesday's program only.
** Back in 2026 - Register for the Full NTG'26 Program and earn a 50% off coupon for our year end Holiday CHEER Dinner.
** Can't Make It Wednesday? No worries! The RIOA will send you a $25 RIOA CE Coupon good towards any future 2026 RIOA event!
March 7, 2026 - In-Person, Meeting (7 hours)
Wharf Tavern
215 Water Street
Warren, RI 02885
8:00 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - Morning CE Program Begins
Lecturer: Dr. Gregory Caldwell
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Glaucoma Update: Purpose-Driven Pearls for Clinical Practice - This course provides a comprehensive and clinically relevant update on glaucoma, equipping optometrists with practical strategies for diagnosis, management, and treatment. Key topics include current risk-factor assessment, the influence of pharmaceutical agents, setting and achieving target IOP, advancements in surgical and laser interventions, and the interpretation of modern diagnostic technologies. Emphasis will be placed on actionable clinical pearls for primary care optometrists and effective approaches for managing challenging cases. Interactive case presentations will anchor the session, delivering an engaging, evidence-based, and practice-ready learning experience. (102198-GL, 2 hours)
Morning Break
The Non- Healing Cornea: Neurotrophic Keratitis - Neurotrophic keratitis is an advanced, often-overlooked corneal disease that requires timely recognition and management. This course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to identify, diagnose, and effectively treat neurotrophic keratitis. The use of a biologic agent will be explored as a primary treatment option, along with a discussion on amniotic membrane as an alternative or complementary therapy. Real-world case studies will be presented to illustrate best practices and strategies for improving patient outcomes. (102227-TD, 1 hour)
EXTENDED LUNCH W/ RIOA REPORTS, INSTALLATION & AWARDS
Opioid Prescribing - Integrating Patient Care and Practitioner Responsibility - This oral pharmacology course provides optometrists with a focused, clinically relevant review of opioid medications and their role in pain management. Although public attention has appropriately emphasized the risks of misuse and addiction, opioids remain an important option for managing acute ocular pain when prescribed responsibly. This program highlights the appropriate use of oral and systemic analgesics within the optometric scope of practice and incorporates case-based examples to reinforce decision-making. Key topics include assessing the risk–benefit profile of opioid therapy, identifying early signs of misuse, and implementing safeguards that protect both the patient and the prescribing clinician. (102205-PH, 2 hours)
Afternoon Break
AP Biologic Agents for the Eye - Biologic drugs, derived from living organisms, are often made using recombinant DNA technology. Biosimilars, while not identical, closely resemble biologics. Unlike traditional chemically synthesized drugs, biologics target conditions like neurotrophic keratitis and thyroid eye disease. Each year, new biologics and biosimilars gain FDA approval for ocular treatment. This course simplifies these advancements, enhancing your understanding and comfort level with the latest biologic therapies in optometric care. (99797-PH, 2 hours)
CE is COPE Accredited Education
Coming in from out of town?
Click here for a listing of hotels are in the area.
March 8, 2026 - Remote, Zoom Meeting (4 hours)
** Sunday Registrants will receive login credentials no later than Friday, March 6, 2026 . A second email will be sent one hour prior to the start of the program.
Lecturer: Dr. Jim Williamson, OD, FAAO, FORS
7:55 a.m. – Login to Zoom Platform
8:00 a.m. – Brief Affiliate Updates & Introductions
8:05 a.m. - Education Program Begins
Diabetic Retinopathy: From ETDRS to DRCR, and 90D to OCT - Grading, assessing, and treating diabetic retinopathy has changed over the years. This course will cover historical and current concepts, discuss pertinent DRCR studies, and review diabetic-related findings through various forms of multimodal imaging. (102352-TD, 2 hours)
Coffee Break – Affiliate News and Reports
What Lies Beneath: Conditions of the Choroid - With enhanced depth and swept-source OCT, our view of the choroid has never been better. This course will cover the pachychoroid spectrum and other choroidal pathologies. Extensive multimodal imaging will be presented. (102265-TD, 2 hours)
To register for Wednesday-only, click here to visit that page.
March 11, 2026 - Remote, Zoom Meeting (2 hours)
INCLUDED WITH YOUR FULL NTG 2026 REGISTRATION
** Wednesday Registrants will receive login credentials on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. A second email will be sent one hour prior to te start of the program.
6:30 p.m. - RIOA General Membership Meeting
Lecturer: Dr. Jim Williamson, OD, FAAO, FORS
7:00 p.m. - CE Program Begins
The Vitreous - Remember Me? (COPE Pending, 1 hour)
Water Break – Affiliate News and Reports
How to Misdiagnose Glaucoma (COPE pending, 1 hour)
** BACK IN 2026 - Register for the Full NTG'26 Program and earn a 50% off coupon for our year end Holiday CHEER Dinner.
Can't Make It Wednesday? No worries! The RIOA will send you a $25 RIOA CE Coupon good towards any future 2026 RIOA event!
| Member Rate |
FULL Program (Sa, Su + Wed) |
Saturday + Wednesday | Sunday + Wednesday | |
| Early Registration | January | $240.50 | $165.00 | $120.00 |
| "Still Early" Standard Registration | February | $260.00 | $195.00 | $135.00 |
| Late Standard Registration | March | $325.00 | $225.00 | $150.00 |
** Non-members welcomed and encouraged to attend. Thank you for supporting RIOA CE Programs!
** All registrations (Full NTG '26, Saturday Only and Sunday Only) include Wednesday night's Remote Program
Looking to register for the Wednesday program only? You can do so by clicking here.
Contact - Tim Bonin