BCLA at the cutting edge

For the fourth year running the annual BCLA conference, this year held in Birmingham, attracted over 1,000 delegates. As ever, there was a very varied menu of lectures, science symposia, poster sessions and practical workshops running alongside a comprehensive exhibition and a full programme of social events. This article will describe some of the highlights from the first two days and next month we will review the following two days' sessions.

Metrics

One of the first sessions of the conference, chaired by Professor James Wolffsohn (Aston University), encompassed the rapidly growing area of ophthalmic metrics. Lead speaker was Dr Michael Twa, associate professor at Houston and a keen enthusiast for modern instrumentation. He outlined the evolution of topography from its start as a simple Placedo disc analysis, and other methods of anterior segment analysis such as Scheimpflug systems and anterior high frequency ultrasound and OCT. Dr Twa was a keen advocate of the increasing use of OCT and predicted that the UK may well follow the US lead in accepting the technology as integral to general practice. The current introduction of anterior OCT facility into modern test units has meant that assessment of the anterior chamber has become more accessible. One exciting development to look out for might be the increase in use of polarised OCT.