PROGRAM

Saturday October 10

AEST

8:45am-9:00am

Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country

9:00am-10:00am

Dr Alex Hui

Oral therapeutics in optometry

This presentation will detail the pharmacological principles behind oral therapeutics in eye care. It will discuss application of oral therapies to case examples to illustrate the therapeutic process to prescribing these agents effectively.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize conditions where oral therapeutics may be necessary.

  • Describe the pharmacological principles necessitating oral therapies for eye care.

  • Discuss potential oral therapies for ocular conditions.

CPD: 1

10:00am-11:00am

Choose your day. Change your lens.

Exploring the science and opportunity behind PRECISION7™ weekly replacement contact lenses

Optometrists agree that daily disposables are the gold standard for contact lens wear, yet many patients continue to choose reusable lenses. Beyond traditional fortnightly and monthly replacement options, what if there were another choice for reusable contact lens wearers?

In this session, the science and market insights behind PRECISION7™, the latest addition to Alcon's WATERINNOVATION™ contact lens portfolio, will be explored. Designed to bridge the gap between daily disposable and longer-replacement modalities, this new weekly replacement silicone hydrogel contact lens offers a fresh approach for patients seeking a balance of visual performance, comfort, convenience, and affordability.

Adele Jefferies will share practitioner insights and patient case studies that bring the science to life, helping attendees confidently incorporate the weekly replacement modality into practice and enhance patient outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the technology behind Alcon's latest WATERINNOVATIONS™ contact lens and the clinical evidence supporting lens performance and surface hydration.

  • Identify appropriate patient profiles and prescribing scenarios in which a 1‑week replacement lens may offer advantages over other reusable modalities.

Marissa Cassimatis and Adele Jefferies

Alcon Sponsored Session

CPD: 1

Johnson & Johnson

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Stream 1

1:30pm - 2:30pm

2:30pm - 3:30pm

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Alex Koutsokeras

Innovation that matters: redefining contact lens success

Contact lens wearers expect more than clear vision - they need comfort, stability and visual performance that keeps pace with modern lifestyles. This session explores the science behind key contact lens innovations, from tear film-supporting materials and lens edge design to advanced optics for astigmatism, presbyopia, blue-violet light filtering and myopia management. Attendees will leave with a clinically relevant framework for understanding how innovation can support successful, long-term contact lens wear in their patients.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the key unmet needs contributing to contact lens dropout, including comfort, dryness and vision, and explain why addressing these factors is critical to retaining contact lens wearers.

  • Describe how material, wetting agent and edge-design innovations - including TearStable™ Technology - are intended to support tear film integration, reduce lens–lid interaction and improve the patient experience.

  • Explain how optical innovations such as EYELID STABILIZED® Design, Pupil Optimized Design, OptiBlue™ Light Filter and RingBoost™ Technology address specific clinical needs across astigmatism, presbyopia, visual quality and myopia management.

CPD:

Dr Cassandra Brooks

What you should know about visual snow

This presentation will focus on the symptoms and the diagnostic criteria for visual snow syndrome (VSS). It will equip optometrists to differentially diagnose people with visual snow in their clinical practice and recognise when to involve other healthcare professionals. The presentation will also include tips on how optometrists can support people with VSS.  

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify visual snow syndrome and recognise red flags.

  • Support people with visual snow syndrome

CPD: 1

Stream 2

Sponsored Session

TBC

CPD: 1

TOPCON

CPD: 1

Stream 1

Mary Gazis and Jose Mendoza

What does ‘normal’ really mean?
Beyond colour codes in OCT

Every day, clinicians rely on OCT colour coding to help identify eyes that may be at risk of disease. Yet behind every green, yellow, and red classification lies a critical question: what does "normal" really mean? This session will examine how OCT reference databases are built, why they matter, and how the use of real-world data is reshaping our understanding of normality. We will also explore the capabilities of Maestro3 and the role of next-generation OCT technology in supporting clinical decision-making.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain how OCT reference databases are developed and applied in clinical practice.

  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of traditional and real-world OCT reference databases.

  • Describe how Maestro3 and real-world OCT data can support more informed clinical decision-making.

11:00am-12:00pm

Oral therapeutics in eye care: practical prescribing for every patient

This session will cover practical cases explore oral medications used to manage ocular infection, inflammation, pain and elevated IOP, including patient selection, monitoring, collaborative care, and prescribing considerations for children, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify ocular conditions for which oral treatment is indicated or may provide an advantage over topical therapy alone.

  • Select and monitor commonly used oral antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory agents, analgesics and intraocular pressure-lowering medications.

  • Modify treatment decisions for children and patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Dr Sarah MacIver

CPD: 1

Stream 2

GSK

TBC

CPD: 1

CPD: 1

Jane Duffy

Navigating ethical dilemmas in optometry: a structured approach

As an optometrist, maintaining professional boundaries while fostering patient trust can be challenging. This session will provide practical guidance on navigating day-to-day  ethical dilemmas in optometry practice using real-world examples.

Topics include:

  • Professional obligations regarding patient consent, particularly for children and adults with cognitive impairments.

  • Managing inappropriate patient behaviour, including personal comments , gift-giving, and romantic advances.

  • Ethical considerations when accessing patient records, and discussing cases informally with friends.

  • An overview of mandatory reporting responsibilities.   

Through case discussions, this session will equip optometrists with practical strategies to uphold ethical standards while navigating real-world dilemmas in patient and professional interactions.

 Learning Objectives:

  • Recognise ethical dilemmas in clinical practice.

  • Apply a structured approach to ethical decision-making.

Sunday October 11

9:00am-10:00am

Prof James Armitage and Dr Kalika Bandamwar

What's up in optometry? Transformational changes in research and clinic

Optometry is a rapidly evolving profession, with research providing the foundation for evidence-based practice and continual improvements in patient care. Reflecting this progress, Clinical and Experimental Optometry’s special issue - 2026, brings together 12 articles showcasing the breadth of contemporary research that has potential to shape clinical optometry practice. This talk will summarise the papers included in this special issue.

Learning Objectives:

  • Apply evidence-based principles when considering low-dose atropine as well as red light therapy as part of a myopia control strategy.

  • Apply evidence-based recommendations when discussing lens-based management options for patients with digital eye strain.

  • Evaluate the strengths and limitations of AI-based systems in retinopathy of prematurity screening compared with conventional clinical assessment methods.

  • Evaluate the clinical utility, strengths, and limitations of new technologies used in the management of infectious keratitis.

CPD: 1

10:00am-11:00am

TBC

Alcon - Surgical

CPD: 1

CPD: 1

Digital Health TBC

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Stream 1

TBC

12:30pm - 1:30pm

Stream 2

TBC

CPD: 1

11:00am-12:00pm

Dr Marianne Coleman

CPD: 1

Dichoptic amblyopia treatments - where have we come from, and where are we going?

Are video games the answer to all of our amblyopia treatment problems? Join us on a whistlestop tour of the science and history behind dichoptic amblyopia treatments, followed by an overview of the knowns and unknowns of the latest treatments, and things to consider when putting a patient forward for dichoptic treatment.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe how dichoptic amblyopia treatment works.

  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different dichoptic treatment systems.

  • Identify clinical amblyopia characteristics that make an individual a suitable candidate for dichoptic amblyopia treatments.

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Stream 1

EssilorLuxottica

The innovation update: AI wearables,
myopia, dry eye, and beyond

Participants will gain practical insights into the role of AI-powered wearable technology in low vision care, the latest evidence supporting Essilor Stellest® Gen 1 and Stellest® 2.0, advancements in dry eye management including TFOS DEWS III and Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT). The session will also explore Nuance Audio™, highlighting how integrated vision and hearing innovations are shaping the future of patient care and clinical practice.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the role of AI-powered wearable technology in transforming low vision care and understand how emerging innovations can improve patient independence, accessibility, and quality of life.

  • Apply the latest TFOS DEWS III recommendations to improve the diagnosis, classification, and personalised management of dry eye disease in clinical practice.

  • Discuss the current evidence for Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT), including its mechanism of action, clinical indications, and place within contemporary dry eye management.

  • Evaluate the latest clinical evidence supporting Essilor Stellest® Gen 1 and Stellest 2.0, including recent research findings, long-term outcomes, and how to apply the evidence to everyday myopia management.

  • Identify appropriate patient selection and treatment strategies for Stellest Gen 1 and Stellest 2.0 based on myopia progression risk and individual clinical presentation.

  • Describe the emerging role of Nuance Audio™ as an invisible hearing solution, recognising how integrated vision and hearing technologies can enhance patient care and support multidisciplinary practice.

Niall McCormack

Optometrists role in concussion – let’s knock the visual sequelae of concussion on the head.

In this session, we will consider the most common visual sequelae of concussion and attendees will be able to expand their ability to serve this population with confidence. The management of these patients is considered with many clinical pearls learnt from years of dealing with concussion patients together with a consideration of current research.

 Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the main visual sequelae of concussion.

  • Confidently expand their toolbox in managing concussion patients who present with visual symptoms

Amy Pillay

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Stream 2

TBC

CPD: 1