Held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow on November 16, the Scottish Optical Conference (SOC) was attended by more than 330 delegates attracted by the 60 companies exhibiting and three CPD tracks.
Track 1 was focused on providing attendees with a contact lens and ocular surface update. Track 2 was on optometry and track 3 was business-focused, which aimed to build skills for the future.
This allowed all the target groups to be accommodated with track 1 suitable for optometrists (OOs), dispensing opticians (DOs) and contact lens opticians (CLOs), track 2 for OOs and independent prescribers (IPs), and track 3 for DOs and OOs. Each track had different lunch and break times to avoid congestion at the hotel.
Conference highlights
Dr Scott Mackie, Dr Dianne Melrose and Dr Nicholas Wainwright produced a joint presentation entitled Dermo-Ophthalmology. This highlighted the need to understand the skin around the eye and face and prescribe, as appropriate, treatments such as moisturisers for eczema, topical calcineurin inhibitors for contact dermatitis, eumovate steroid creme for atopic dermatitis, metronidazole for rosacea, and oral tetracycline antibiotics lymecycline or doxycycline for acne.
With the long waiting times in secondary care and most GPs having a limited knowledge of dermatology, this was highlighted as an area that IP optometrists can safely prescribe in.
BCLA president Sarah Farrant led a discussion workshop on amniotic membrane transplantation with a specialist bandage contact lens as a new treatment for advanced anterior eye care such as recurrent corneal erosion. Farrant discussed the 13 cases she has fitted to date within her practice with the Omnigen membrane.
Optometrists see many patients in practice with age-related macular degeneration, but treatment is usually limited to nutritional supplements. Optometrist John Rose outlined the use of photomodulation and discussed many case studies from his practice. He was able to show regression in drusen and improved visual performance in a range of parameters using a device from Lumithera.
An area constantly being discussed, at present, is the use of artificial intelligence in optometry. Dr Bobby Tang, ophthalmologist at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, looked at head-mounted perimetry over conventional techniques to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both, using a device from Perivision.
In glaucoma, we are always looking at better ways to diagnose and manage the condition and check for progression. Ed Farrant, a specialist optometrist working in secondary care glaucoma clinics, outlined a series of case studies, including the Hood report now available when using many optical coherence tomography devices (including the Topcon Maestro).
This report can aid diagnosis, as shown in the case studies when the 10.2 field and RNFL aligns with structure/function loss. Conversely, a case study highlighted where this report was not representative of glaucoma and other signs gave a differential diagnosis of arteritic
ischaemic optic neuropathy.
Innovation carried through to track 3, where the charismatic Tom Davies revealed the art of spectacle design and how horn from sustainable sources allowed the best wearing experience, although Japanese acetate and titanium ran it close.
Techniques that we can use in primary eye care were discussed in many sessions, including paediatric dispensing by specialist DO Jessica Gowing from Great Ormond Street Hospital; contact lenses designs by sponsors CooperVision and J&J; dry eye management by sponsor Scope; comprehensive record keeping by sponsor Ocuco; visual stress by sponsor Cerium Visual Technologies; myopia management by sponsor Essilor; ocular pathology by sponsor Vision Scotland and Eyecare Scotland; binocular vision by sponsor Ocuco, and slit lamp imaging techniques by sponsor Keeler.
2025 beckons
With the conference over for another year, organisers are analysing the feedback from all delegates and exhibitors to begin planning for SOC 2025. The next edition of the conference will be held in Glasgow at the Radisson Blu Hotel once more on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
- Dr Mackie is an IP optometrist working in primary care with a practice in central Scotland that is part of the Hakim group.
