Conference Opening: Theo Charalambous, Optometry Australia President

Welcome to Country:

Refiti Tovi is a proud Turrbal woman and the niece of the late Turrbal Elder and Songwoman Maroochy Barambah. Raised in culture and guided by her Elders, she has learned traditional Lore and Protocol.

With more than a decade of experience in Early Childhood Education, Refiti is passionate about empowering the next generation and strengthening her community through truth telling, advocacy and cultural connection.

Today, Refiti joins us to deliver the Welcome to Country on behalf of the Turrbal People of Brisbane.

CPD: 0.5

As artificial intelligence (AI) applications become more widespread, optometrists and other healthcare practitioners must become competent users of these technologies in patient care. The ethical challenges of AI in eye health require guardrails to mitigate and address them including: regulation, practice standards, duty of care, training and professional development for clinicians using AI in optometry. 

Healthcare is human-centric and based on trusting clinician-patient relationships.  A key safeguard for AI in eye health care will be the optometry workforce, who must be capable of interpreting an AI tool’s output to an individual patient’s circumstances. Mark Nevin will present on his recent publications (co-authored with Dr Sandra Johnson) that chart a pathway for Australian optometrists to upskill to use AI safely and ethically, stemming from their existing regulatory requirements and professional duties.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the important role of optometrists in ethical and safe adoption of AI into eye health services.

• Discuss the duties of care that optometrists have for the safety of patients and care outcomes.

• Explain the requirements on optometrists to maintain, update and enhance their skills when using therapies, treatments and technologies, including AI.

CPD: 0.25

Our brains change as we age, making it significantly harder to learn - but it doesn't mean an old dog can't learn new tricks! Learn from the neuroscientist behind the viral TEDx talk on learning, and discover smarter ways to learn than whatever it is you're doing right now. Dr Landowski will take you on a journey through the brain, examining some of the existing research on learning, and empower you with tools that help you learn faster and more effectively. This talk takes you on a journey through the brain, examining some of the existing research on learning, and empowers you with tools that help you learn faster and more effectively.

Learning Objectives:

• Apply knowledge of the physiology of learning and neuroplasticity to one’s personal context.

• Apply neuroscience-backed strategies to enhance capacity and speed of learning.

CPD: TBC

Myopia is the major topic which has underpinned much of my research career. During this time there has been an exponential increase in our understanding of the causes, consequences and management of myopia. My research interests in myopia have covered the potential role of the eye’s optics in stimulating eye growth, the role of the choroid in eye growth, the optical treatment of myopia progression and the investigation of the mechanisms through which the eye detects optical changes.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the role of optics in controlling eye growth.

• Discuss the role that the choroid plays in eye growth

• Discuss the optical principles underlying myopia treatments.

CPD:

This session will cover:

• Unpacking the latest clinical evidence for MiYOSMART iQ.

• Best-practice collaborativecare pathways, Dr Craig Donaldson

• Real-world case studies in treatment planning and patient communication, Soojin Nam & Emmy Cui

Together, these insights will help optometrists prescribe and engage in collaborative care confidently and develop practical strategies for patient compliance and long-term follow-up.

Learning Obectives:

• Critique and apply the latest clinical trial data regarding MiYOSMART iQ spectacle lenses, specifically evaluating how the Triple Enhanced Design (TED) targets the peripheral retina to optimise treatment efficacy in progressive myopia.

• Formulate and implement evidence-based collaborative care pathways between primary care optometrists and ophthalmology specialists to ensure seamless, multi-disciplinary myopia management.

• Review real-world case studies to develop customised treatment plans, optimise patient/parent communication strategies, and execute effective long-term follow-up protocols across varied clinical environments.

CPD: TBC

Optic disc elevation may be the presenting feature of a sight-threatening or a life-threatening condition. The differential diagnosis of elevated optic nerves differs according to whether the swelling is unilateral or bilateral, or whether the optic nerve functions are normal or abnormal.

Ancillary tests such as optical coherence tomography, ultrasonography, fluorescein angiography, or neuroimaging play an instrumental role to help the clinician to reach the correct diagnosis.

A collaborative approach is important in the management of neuro-ophthalmology patients with disc elevation.

In this session, a practical approach to help distinguish congenital versus acquired disc elevation, unilateral versus bilateral disc elevation and the importance of inter-disciplinary collaboration will be highlighted.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop a systematic approach for assessing optic disc elevation.

• Discuss the features suggesting disc pseudo-oedema.

• Recognise the red flags for true disc oedema that require urgent referral.

CPD: 1T

This session will explore practical ways optometrists and pharmacists can work collaboratively to support timely, safe, and patient‑centred eye care. It will provide a pharmacist’s perspective on prescription writing—including Queensland‑specific considerations such as Special Access Scheme prescriptions, approved transmission methods, and common prescribing pitfalls—alongside medication safety, ocular side effects, and systemic interactions of topical eye treatments. Discussion will also cover real‑world issues such as Schedule 3 chloramphenicol supply, PBS prescribing for lubricating eye drops, and appropriate referral pathways for acute eye trauma.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify opportunities to collaborate with pharmacists in a community setting.

CPD:

This presentation will:

• Reframe tear film management around a readiness goal, not just symptom control.

• Present a patient journey / case study that captures the collaboration between optometrist and ophthalmologist.

• Reinforce optometrists as active partners in surgical success.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify when the tear film is sufficiently optimised for surgical referral, using a structured approach aligned with TFOS DEWS III.

• Implement and reassess pre‑referral tear film optimisation strategies including investigation, treatment selection and documentation to support stable biometry and surgical decision‑making.

• Describe the roles of optometrists and ophthalmologists in collaborative pre‑ and post‑operative care and explain how early tear film optimisation improves surgical efficiency and patient outcomes.

This is the perfect opportunity to meet fellow attendees, network in a relaxed setting, and set the tone for an amazing event ahead.

Enjoy a selection of drinks, light refreshments, and great company as we kick off an exciting evening with a pub choir sing-a-long.