For eyecare professionals thinking of attending the 2024 Specsavers Clinical Conference, Insight has compiled a sneak peek into the juiciest topics to be delivered by some of the nation’s top ophthalmologists.
One of Australia’s largest conferences on the eyecare calendar, the Specsavers Clinical Conference (SCC), will return for the 13th time this September 2024. This much-anticipated professional development event will be delivered in a hybrid format over two agenda-packed days. This year’s event on the Gold Coast is set to welcome an estimated 800 optometrists, ophthalmologists and industry professionals, both in-person and online from across Australia and New Zealand.
Specsavers has invited an impressive line-up of industry leaders who – alongside its clinical services team – is aiming to deliver a compilation of interactive and therapeutic CPD content that expands attendees’ clinical toolkit, enhances their clinical knowledge and helps to develop best practice skills in eyecare.
Professor Celia Chen, Dr Brendan Cronin, Dr Rushmia Karim, Dr Kate Reid, and Associate Professor Chameen Samarawickrama are among the speakers. Insight spoke with three of them to get a taste of the content on offer at SCC 2024.
Dr Brendan Cronin: ‘Dry eye is awful, but your treatment doesn’t have to be’
Dr Cronin is a renowned corneal and anterior segment surgeon and the director of education at the Queensland Eye Institute. A specialist in complex cataract surgical procedures, he has a special interest in keratoconus, providing topography-guided collagen cross-linking, advanced micro transplantation techniques and excimer laser regularisation procedures.
At SCC, Dr Cronin will demystify the often-misunderstood world of dry eyes and offer a look into the future of dry eye research and treatment options, from novel medications to cutting-edge therapies.
“Are you ready to dive into the murky and much-maligned world of dry eyes and come out with a treasure trove of knowledge that will make you a dry eye magician? Then you won’t want to miss my upcoming talk,” he says.
Specifically, his session will explore the intricate role of ciclosporin eye drops in reducing ocular inflammation, providing attendees with an in-depth understanding of this pharmacological intervention.
“If you think you know everything there is to know about this little wonder drug, think again. We’ll delve into the nitty-gritty of dosing and uncover how ciclosporin can lead to happier, more comfortable patients,” he says.
Dr Cronin will also address the common but often overlooked issue of Demodex infestations, providing effective eyelid hygiene techniques to manage this obligate human ectoparasite.
“Ever had a patient complain about itchy, irritated eyelids and wondered if it was more than just dry eyes? Enter demodex – those pesky little mites that love to call our eyelashes home,” he says. “In my session, we’ll go over everything you need to know about identifying and managing demodex. Imagine the satisfaction of basking in a wave of glory after clearing up a case of blepharitis that’s been plaguing your patient for months – it’s a win-win for you and your patient.”
Additionally, the session will explore the benefits of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for meibomian gland dysfunction, highlighting its transformative potential for dry eye sufferers.
“Now, here’s where it gets really interesting, because shedding a little bit of very bright light on the lids can make a world of difference to dry eyes. IPL can work wonders. Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking were no fools when they became fascinated with the properties of light – but even they didn’t appreciate the awesome power of the photon in treating the tear film. Now, who does IPL help and how many sessions do they need? I’ll answer those questions and more at the conference,” Dr Cronin says.
Promising a blend of humour, real-world anecdotes, expert tips and interactive elements, the 40-minute session is set to be anything but dry, he quips.
“Yes, dry eyes can be fun and exciting – especially when you’re learning how to transform your patients’ lives. Expect to laugh, learn, and leave with actionable insights that will enhance your practice and make your patients sing your praises,” he says.
“Whether you’re dialling into the conference virtually or joining us on the Gold Coast, I guarantee this will be a talk you’ll actually enjoy on what has traditionally been thought of as the most boring topic of all.”
Dr Cronin’s interactive clinical therapeutics session, within the Cornea and Dry Eye component of SCC, will take place on Day 1.
Dr Rushmia Karim: ‘Visual assessment, strabismus and what frightens us the most’
Dr Karim understands the challenges and rewards of treating young patients. An eminent paediatric ophthalmologist with extensive training and research experience, she is the former head of the Paediatric Eye Service at Prince Charles Eye Unit at the Royal Berkshire Hospital Trust, UK. She specialises in cataract surgery and ocular motility and alignment in both adults and children. At SCC, she’ll be tackling a topic she knows many people struggle with: paediatric ophthalmology.
“Imagine, you peek into the waiting room on a gloomy Monday morning, and your heart sinks. There are fidgety fingers tapping along the pamphlet aisles and you lock eyes with exhausted parents rocking their prams. This is me every week,” she confesses.
“The fear of examining kids is common and something I know many of my colleagues can relate to. Let me assure you, this is completely natural, as the unpredictability can be daunting. However, treating kids can also be a source of great enjoyment and accomplishment.”
Dr Karim explains there are a few fundamental tricks all eye health professionals need to know when providing safe and robust eyecare for kids. With the right tools and strategies, she believes paediatric eyecare can be immensely rewarding.
“We all have the knowledge, but it’s time to have a toolbelt of tricks, and that’s exactly what we’ll be covering in my session,” she says. “Get ready to learn the essential techniques you’ll need when providing early eyecare in children, including refractive error correction, amblyopia management, myopia control, and strabismus. This can be life-changing for a child and can prevent long-term vision impairment.”
Dr Karim’s presentation will cover the basic elements of vision assessments for children, common paediatric eye conditions, and important red flag conditions. She will discuss complex eye assessment strategies, how to approach these systematically, and the key takeaways from a paediatric eye exam. Careful counselling with both children and their parents is important, and she will go through some of the fundamental understanding points that can confuse families.
The presentation aims to provide optometry professionals with an understanding of the wide range of paediatric eye diseases, from early misalignment in babies and eye injuries in toddlers to environmental ocular surface diseases, functional visual loss, and unusual optic nerves in older children. These topics will be discussed using case examples and take-home charts.
“We will try and break down both examinations and key paediatric eye conditions so that every Monday morning is filled with excitement, not dread,” she adds. “You will never be bored if you embrace paediatric eye healthcare. The future is in early intervention. Additionally, myopia management is also one of the fastest-growing demand areas so it’s hard to avoid paediatrics in our clinics. It’s time to embrace the fun.”
Dr Karim will speak during the Paediatrics and Myopia Management session on Day 1.
A/Prof Chameen Samarawickrama: ‘The watery red eye: What to look out for’
A/Prof Samarawickrama is a leading consultant eye surgeon and clinician-scientist. He is a cornea sub-specialist with a public appointment at Westmead Hospital and is heavily involved with RANZCO, chairing the Younger Fellows Committee. He is also a director of Australian Vision Research, the leading not-for-profit supporting ocular research.
His presentation will delve into the complexities of diagnosing and treating watery red eye. The session promises to enhance attendees’ diagnostic skills by helping them develop an eye for differentiating between the various causes of this.
“While watery eyes frequently point to dry eye syndrome, there are crucial conditions that, if overlooked, can have significant consequences on a patient’s vision,” explains A/Prof Samarawickrama.
“Together, we’ll explore the intricacies of diagnosing and treating red eye conditions and how to distinguish the telltale signs from those present when the patient is experiencing an allergic eye disease. These often present with similar conjunctival and corneal symptoms yet require a distinctly different approach.”
A/Prof Samarawickrama’s session will also provide critical insights into conditions like herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, and differentiating between epithelial, stromal, and endothelial disease forms. The session will draw on the findings from the pivotal Herpetic Eye Disease Study (HEDS), which revolutionised treatment paradigms.
“My aim is to give professionals the knowledge and confidence to characterise HSV and other viral causes of watery red eye, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) and arm them with the diagnostic tools to distinguish these conditions accurately,” he says.
“This is not just an educational opportunity; it’s a chance to transform your practice. So, whether you’re a seasoned optometrist or ophthalmologist or are new to the field, this session will provide valuable insights and practical knowledge you can apply immediately.”
A/Prof Samarawickrama says clinicians will leave his session with actionable insights, an understanding of effective treatments that can dramatically improve patients’ quality-of-life and knowledge that will allow them to stay ahead in their field with the latest research and clinical practices.
A/Prof Chameen Samarawickrama will speak on Day 1 as part of the Anterior Eye Therapeutics session.
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