This year, the line-up of education seminars and presentations at the Optrafair 2020 event is particularly strong so I thought it might be useful to draw attention to a few highlights that are well worth consideration. Obviously, I could list them all but will stick to those which I will certainly be attending.
The increasing ease with which technology allows the accurate measurement of eye movements via eye tracking techniques is something that, I believe, will have a major impact in eye care in the coming years. I expect David Thomson, an authority in developing this technology, will explain its potential in his usual, inimitably entertaining way.
Cutting edge technology and research is well represented. Look out for a presentation on the gene therapy of some inherited retinal diseases (with NICE approval), and the role of IT in eye care. The latter is covered in sessions on imaging, the use of IT in audiology and also a nice review of dry eye management using the latest technology. Also, consider attending the Kanski lecture which will focus on artificial intelligence in ophthalmology. This will affect all of our practices in years to come and should be embraced rather than feared.
I have recently been increasingly involved in delivering domiciliary eye care to people of low vision or with mental and cognitive impairment. So, I very much look forward to sitting in on some very relevant presentations in this area. Philippa Harwood-Little will look at communication with people identified as having dementia; the excellent Dr Louise Gow will go through some of the many queries that are directed to the RNIB about sight loss; a number of speakers will emphasise the often ignored link between sight loss and hearing impairment; and I am particularly interested to hear about eye care for the homeless, a requirement that, alas, is likely to be increasingly important in the next five years. Yours truly will also be helping with, I hope, an interesting look at Charles Bonnet syndrome – something I believe is massively underestimated in significance.
Philippa Harwood-Little
The President’s Address should be of major relevance to us all. Our roles are increasingly diversifying, the role of the primary care optometrist is evolving at a rapid rate, while attempts to standardise, some say simplify, the ECP qualification are also afoot and causing alarm in some quarters. Optrafair 2020 has assembled an impressive panel to discuss the future of eye health and how establishing links with other professionals is key – should be a very lively session, I suspect.
Well done to the organisers for pinning down the ubiquitous professors Phil Morgan and Lyndon Jones. Their views, in this case on recent research findings across six important contact lens-related areas, are always worth hearing as they both are able to show how the latest thinking should influence how we work in practice help us to be as up to date as possible.
And if that is not enough, the final day of the event offers an opportunity to watch a live stream of Professor Sunil Shah undertaking laser surgery. He will later be there in person to further discuss the treatment and take questions.
The only problem with this year’s schedule, I suggest, is that we are spoilt for choice.
Sunil Shah performing surgery
• For full details of the Optrafair schedule visit www.optrafair.co.uk