Findings and news from the American Academy of Optometry annual conference

Eye care professionals who travelled to Louisiana for last week’s American Academy of Optometry annual conference hailed the event a success – leaving with a better understanding of health conditions including diabetes, melanoma and stroke.

A multitrack agenda covering all aspects of eye care included world-renowned oncologists Dr Carol Shields and Dr Jerry Shields, who ran a plenary session on cancer screening.

Fifty per cent of (choroidal) melanoma patients present with visual symptoms, usually due to subretinal fluid, J Shields stated. OCT and autofluorescence were also able to pick up the ‘shaggy photoreceptor’ appearance that distinguish naevi from malignant changes.

Harold Quigley, the glaucoma expert, spoke at a session chaired by expat John Flanagan, and suggested that false positives might be reduced if fields were assessed three times a year.