The world of contact lenses and management of anterior eye has changed almost beyond recognition in the past 40 years. It is a change that has been as relentless as it has been fast-paced, taking the industry into the 21st century and ensuring patients have access to the very latest technology.
The BCLA has been at the forefront of that change and we will continue to embrace anything that improves the experience for patients and eye care practitioners alike, whether it is technological breakthroughs in equipment, optimising systems to improve efficiency or a revolution in contact lens design.
Change is to be welcomed, not feared. It is exciting, it is intriguing and it is what keeps us at the cutting edge of eye care.
We will celebrate the advances we have seen over the past 40 years at our anniversary conference in Liverpool, starting on June 9.
It is an opportunity to look back, take stock and reflect on how far we have come, as well as preparing ourselves for the next 40 years too.
If the past four decades have seen unprecedented change, the next four will almost certainly match it. As an industry, we have to ensure we are ready for that change and are in a position to maximise the opportunities presented by it.
Without doubt, myopia management will play a huge part in discussions in the months and years ahead. It is a huge topic that needs to be everyone’s radar.
A global epidemic is on the horizon but by understanding how to deal with it at an early stage we can do something about it. The opportunities are there to get ahead of the game.
We need to support eye care professionials (ECPs) to make sure they are prepared and educated to ensure fitting children is on their agenda and a key component of their skill set.
A number of sessions on myopia management, including latest research on orthokeratology, new types of lenses and the impact increased outdoor play and lifestyle can have on a child’s eye sight will take place at the conference.
It is your opportunity to learn from the very best in the business, taking tips which will transform the way you work with young patients and their parents in years to come.
Ortho-k has an important part to play within modern practice and it is vital that ECPs gain confidence in this fitting technique.
The BCLA Conference will provide an Ortho-k Symposium spread over a day and a half, for delegates to learn from global experts such as Pauline Cho how to start their own Ortho-k clinic.
Every element of this practice will be discussed as well as important hands-on learning which will enable delegates to see the results of the fitting the morning after.
The conference will see the unveiling of the clinical findings from the TFOS DEWS II report will be presented at the BCLA’s 40th anniversary conference – informing eye care practitioners how to diagnose and manage dry eyes over the next decade.
The chairs of the definition, diagnostic methodology and management and therapy panels will present the findings of their committees with an emphasis on how this should impact day to day clinical practice.
Diagnosis will be performed live on stage and a video resource showing how to perform diagnostic and management techniques will be presented.
Delegates will also be hearing from representatives of a number of contact lens and associated companies to learn about their pipeline of innovative products set to come to market in the months and years ahead.
This conference is the biggest of its kind within the contact lens industry and offers delegates the chance to keep up to date with the latest research, trends and best practice.
We are looking forward to welcoming hundreds of eye care professionals at the event, which will include world-renowned guest speakers, hands-on workshops and a very special 40th anniversary dinner.
Reaching 40 gives us the chance to celebrate the huge strides the industry has made, and the future looks incredibly exciting for us all.
We want to ensure everyone has access to the very latest research and technology to allow patients to receive the most up-to-date care available to them.
Philip Morgan will lead a session looking at future uses for contact lenses and we will hear from David Bailey, the owner of Swiss company Sensimed, who will outline the challenges which his company overcame to launch their glaucoma-monitoring contact lens ‘Triggerfish’.
Technologies which are not currently available in contact lens form but may be in the future will form a central part of the session.
Stephen Hicks from the University of Oxford will outline novel technology to assist patients with low vision and Professor James Wolffsohn from Aston University will focus on pioneering head-up display technologies which may be incorporated into contact lenses in the future.
Dry eye will once again come under the microscope and delegates will have the chance to learn new techniques that can help them to become true pioneers.
We are also looking forward to our inaugural awards ceremony, which will celebrate the world’s finest contact lens and anterior eye
professionals. Categories will include Dry Eye Practitioner of the Year, Young Contact Lens Practitioner of the Year and the BCLA President’s Award – awarded to an individual or individuals for their contribution to contact lens and anterior eye profession.
The industry is full of incredible talent and these awards will help to recognise that, giving people the perfect platform to showcase their talents and get the accolades they so thoroughly deserve.
We have a talented, ambitious and engaged group of young eye care practitioners and there is an onus on us all to ensure their passion and enthusiasm is used to propel the industry into the future. We want to create the next generation of visionaries – the people who will ultimately be responsible for the nation’s eye health in the years to come.