The 10th annual European Academy of Optometry and Optics (EAOO) conference saw more than
500 attendees taking part in over 60 sessions and clinical workshops. An expanded programme represented science from Europe and the rest of the world and there was a noticeable expansion of new research discussions, poster presentations and scientific output.
Working for everybody
I managed to catch up with Academy president Eduardo Teixeira to discuss his claim that EAOO was continuing ‘our decade-strong tradition of engaging educators, students, researchers and practitioners working for better eye care in Europe’ and find out his views on future developments.
I began by asking him about the inter-professional make-up of the conference, as this year there were speakers and delegates representing all eye care professions. ‘If a country wants to properly address eye care services, they need to work with ophthalmologists, dispensing opticians, optometrists – everybody.’
Teixeira reminded me that, as an optometrist, he relies on dispensing opticians. ‘Also, if I need to refer a retinal problem, for example, I need to rely on an ophthalmologist colleague. It is team work.’ On this basis, he is keen to get across the message that the EAOO conference is ‘for everybody – ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians. On our board of trustees we have Elaine Grisdale and now we have Fiona Anderson’ (both stalwarts of ABDO) ‘and so both professions are well represented.’
Aware that in some member countries the development of optometry has been hampered by ophthalmologists, I asked about his view on how recent developments in the UK, such as the roll out of independent prescribing, appeared to have increasing support from ophthalmology. ‘I think this is a smart thing to do. In Portugal, we started our university courses in optometry in the eighties so some time after the UK.’
‘However, ophthalmologists are already hiring optometrists to play an expanded role in their clinics,’ he went on. Such evolution is likely throughout Europe but countries are starting from a different base.
Research
I noted how the research representation at the EAOO conference appeared to be more prominent each year and wondered whether this was a long-term goal of EAOO. ‘This is one of the things we want to promote more,’ Teixera confirmed. ‘We want to have more young researchers and one of the advantages of poster presentations is that those who do not speak English so well (like me) are able to share their work. It offers an opportunity to see what is happening all over Europe, from Portugal to Russia.’ I noted that there would be significant kudos for a young researcher to be able to present at such as large conference. ‘I think this is fundamental,’ he confirmed.
EAOO membership
‘So, why should anybody join EAOO?’ I cheekily asked. ‘Let me tell you a story,’ he replied. ‘Ten years ago when I was president of my national association and we were starting a new association, everybody was then asking this same question. Why join yet another member organisation? The answer was clear. You need to be involved. To my mind, this is a logical thing. The simple fact of being involved with colleagues from other countries, whether the US, Israel – we have members now from all parts of the world – is the main answer to your question. Keeping information flowing. Obviously, the organisation supports research and helps to raise the standards of the professions, develops CET and helps keep you up to date. Our main vision is that we work for the better vision of everyone in Europe. Also, the conference is an opportunity to make new contacts, new friends. If you want to work in another country, you can find people to help you. I think that the value for the fee we charge is well worth it.’
Is it all about one annual conference, I asked. ‘We were originally under the leadership of the (UK) College of Optometrists and we appreciate the help they gave us. Now we are trying to drive the board ourselves. One of our dreams is to have a publication for the academy. We use our website to promote CET and develop in that direction.
'The special interest groups meet at conference and we have planned to have these groups working all year with their areas (low vision, contact lenses for example) and aim to support our members in their local and regional conferences. We see Europe as one big country and we don’t see the need to compete with individual organisations.’
He seemed keen to emphasise EAOO as having a supportive role rather than a competitive role for each member country. ‘It is much better to go each year to a different part of Europe (in the past, the annual conference has been run in countries as disparate as Denmark, Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic). Next year we are planning to go to Rome.’
With the next president, Nick Rumney, hailing from the UK, our links with Europe should be stronger than ever and Optician aims to continue to support this expanding conference.
The next annual EAOO conference will be held on 18-20 May 2019, in Rome. More information will be announced on www.eaoo.info.