As we continue to put lockdown behind us, who better to turn to than the BCLA to see how conferences of the future might be run? The recent BCLA Focus Hybrid Conference and Exhibition offered the choice for delegates to either attend a live event in-person at the Vox Conference centre in Birmingham, or to live stream the main lectures and discussions online from their own home, whether in the UK or overseas.
The BCLA annual conference has long been seen as an important international conference and the advent of live streaming opened up the event for delegates from all around the world and also allowed overseas authorities in contact lens science, such as US-based Professors Pat Caroline and Karen DeLoss. Nick Howard hosted the live stream to obtain their expertise via a live link (figure 1).
In introducing the two day programme, BCLA President Neil Retallic (figure 2) was clearly enthusiastic about offering a programme that covered all the major themes in contact lens and anterior eye practice, from scleral lens fitting, keratoconus management and advances in technology, through to the latest data in myopia management and the positive impact of contact lens practice on eye care business. The president and the current BCLA Council (figure 3) deserve congratulations for their efforts in maintaining the UK as a major player in eye health science.
With three parallel strands running over two days, as ever it is impossible to adequately cover all presentations, but this article offers a snapshot of some of the highlights. That said, BCLA members who could not attend should soon be able to access most of the presentations in full via the BCLA website.
Lectures and Discussions
The main lecture track was topped and tailed by lectures looking, firstly, back over the past 10 years of contact lens practice to see what has been learned and, lastly, looking forward to the next 10 years. Looking back, Professor Lyndon Jones (figure 4) teamed up with Professor James Wolffsohn to reflect on the rise of daily replacement, the increase in multifocal lens options and the ongoing debate about hydrogel and silicone hydrogel materials. Future developments, discussed by Professor Morgan with Dr Shehzad Naroo, include some exciting developments in electronic applications with lenses capable of offering augmented views of the world and for monitoring clinical markers such as glucose and IOP.
The increase in the use of scleral lens options continues apace, partly driven by new designs and materials, but also very much related to the better technology capable of measuring the ocular surface and designing a lens. The session was complemented by a number of practical sessions where delegates could gain hands-on experience with scleral lenses under the guidance of UK-based scleral advocates Sophie Taylor-West and Shreeti Lakhani (figure 5).
The interest in myopia management is always reflected in the BCLA programme, and this year was no exception. Professor Nicola Logan and Clinical Professor Deborah Jones offered a summary of the six-year (‘and beyond’) results from the CooperVision MiSight 1 day contact lenses trial. This has shown that 23% of children’s eyes corrected by the dual focus lens after year six displayed a total refractive change of less than -0.25D (spherical equivalent) considered to be clinically stable. The latest findings also suggest that, while intervention at an early age is optimal with MiSight 1 day, commencing treatment at an older age could similarly slow the rate of myopia progression. Also, the six-year results continue to demonstrate excellent safety profile, wearing time, and visual acuity for children in daily disposable contact lenses; their wear during the study representing an impressive 653 wearing years.
Figure 4: Professor Lyndon Jones and his close-up
Figure 5: Shreeti Lakhani (left) and Sophie Taylor-West, UK advocates of scleral lense
Figure 6: Indie Grewal argues there is more to technology than the pure clinical
A useful complement to this presentation was a presentation concerning the fitting of children with contact lenses. Deborah Jones was joined by Associate Professor Nicole Carnt, who travelled all the way from Australia for the event, to remind us how the fitting of children is far from the scary option so often thought in times gone by, but now a core part of clinical practice.
Workshops
The use of new technologies, such as biometry and topography, is important in areas such as scleral fitting and myopia management. However, BCLA past-president Indie Grewal was able to show how such techniques are also important in building practice business (figure 6 and 7 (pictured right)).
As we go to press, stories are appearing in the national media about Demodex folliculorum, so it was good to see specialist optometrist (and regular Optician contributor) Sarah Farrant (figure 8) teaching delegates about recognition and management of the often ignored but near ubiquitous skin mite, a cause of persistent blepharitis in many patients.
Other popular practical sessions included a masterclass in dry eye assessment from Dr Byki Huntjens (figure 9).
Figure 8 & 9 (left to right): Sarah Farrant discussing Demodex; Dry eye workshop with Dr Byki Huntjens
Prizes
All round polymath, Professor James Wolffsohn, was a popular choice for the delivery of this year’s BCLA Medal address and fully deserved the long standing ovation he received (figure 10).
Figure 10: Professor James Wolffsohn proves a popular winner of the BCLA Medal
Figure 11: Lynne Fernandes discusses business with Shelley Bansal (left) and Indie Grewal (right)
Other award winners included the excellent discussion session outlining top tips for maintaining successful practice, where past BCLA presidents Shelley Bansal and Indie Grewal were joined on stage by optometrist Lynne Fernandes, a clinician well-known in the South West of England.
Whether joined in person or online, the annual BCLA conference keeps pushing the boundaries and remains an essential event for all in eye care practice. Get ready for next year.