Conference Program

Our clinical program is regularly updated with the latest information. Check back often for the most up-to-date details.

SUNDAY 17 AUGUST 2025

Grand Hall 2 & 3

  • Emcee: Cassandra Haines

    Welcome to Country - Stacie Piper, Djirri Djirri

  • CPD: 1

    Don’t miss this inspiring session with Dr Lila Landowski, multi-award winning neuroscientist, lecturer at the University of Tasmania and Vice President of Science and Technology Australia.  With expertise spanning stroke research, fatigue, and nerve regeneration, Lila is a passionate advocate for public health and science education.  She brings complex topics to life with clarity and impact.

    In a modern world where are constantly experiencing stress, understanding the impact of stress on our brain and behaviour is more critical than ever. Dr Landowski will shed light on the physical and psychological ramifications of stress – from its origins as a survival mechanism, to how it can impair our decision making and turn us into angry, irrational versions of ourselves or lead to burnout. Through examining cutting-edge research, Dr Landowski will introduce effective, science-backed methods to enhance your ability to protect your brain from the effects of stress. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable neuroscience-based tools to learn and thrive.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Apply knowledge of physiological stress mechanisms, including how the brain is physically altered in chronic stress, to one’s personal context.

    • Identify signs of chronic stress and burnout.

    • Apply neuroscience-backed strategies to reverse or mitigate the effects of chronic stress on the brain

  • CPD: 1

    This presentation will explore the history of optometry, from its humble beginnings as spectacle-makers to its current status as a profession with strong academic roots and integration into the modern healthcare system. We will explore the optometric journey to the profession it is today in both the United States and Australia – where have we been, how far have we come, and where our profession will take us in the future.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Discuss the history of the optometric profession from its early beginnings.

    • Discuss the scope of expansion of optometry in the United States and Australia.

  • CPD: 1.5

    Managing myopia confidently requires both a strong grasp of clinical evidence and insight into how that evidence plays out in daily practice. This session will feature three leading presenters offering a multifaceted view of myopia management:       

    Dr Craig Donaldson will provide a deep dive into the growing challenge of high myopia, discussing associated risks, progression patterns, and the latest management strategies.                                             

    Soojin Nam and Heidi Hunter will each present detailed real-world case studies, highlighting practical approaches to treatment planning, patient communication, and long-term follow-up across varied clinical settings.   

    Together, these insights will help optometrists translate clinical data into everyday decision-making, build confidence in prescribing myopia management solutions, and achieve better outcomes for their patients.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Discuss the latest research on Miyosmart Spectacle lenses.

    • Describe the implications of high myopia and expected treatment outcomes.

    • Discuss different approaches to patient communication and prescribing myopia management solutions.

  • 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 and productive conference on the Centrepiece Terrace, with spectacular views of the Melbourne city skyline setting the perfect backdrop for the evening.

Concurrent Sessions

Experience a full day of insightful sessions with six concurrent streams running throughout the event. Alongside three engaging lectures, our three sponsored workshops will be repeated at multiple intervals, giving you more opportunities to engage and learn. Customise your schedule and make the most of this dynamic learning experience.

Grand Hall 2

  • CPD: 1.5T

    This presentation will go over the new treatments for geographic atrophy (GA) and how we should be managing people with GA now that treatments are becoming available.

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Discuss the new approved treatments for geographic atrophy.

    • Identify geographic atrophy in the clinic.

    • Determine which GA patients might be best suited to consider treatment.

  • CPD: 1T

    The talk will explain how I came to enjoy a career in research and present highlights of those activities in the UK, but mainly in Australia that have culminated in the award of the H. Barry Collin Research Medal.

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Understand the development of silicone hydrogels and their physiological impact.

    • Measure contact lens discomfort.

    • Understand the interaction between meibomian glands and contact lenses.

    • Interpret prevalence estimates for dry eye disease and assess limitations associated with its diagnosis.

  • CPD: 1i

    As the adoption of myopia management as the standard of care becomes established, the emphasis moves to achieving the best possible result for the child. This interactive session follows a case over several years.  Attendees are required to debate and decide on the best course of action as new and sometimes inconvenient information becomes available at each follow-up visit. 

    Learning Objectives:

    • Use appropriate criteria to inform decision-making regarding the progress of a child undertaking myopia management over the years of treatment.

    • Make an evidence-based decision on whether a myopia management treatment is proving sufficiently effective.

Grand Hall 3

  • CPD: 1.5T

    Topic to be confirmed

  • CPD: 1.5T

    Anisocoria is a condition characterized by unequal pupil size. The aetiology of anisocoria is complex, ranging from benign to potentially life-threatening causes. Potential aetiologies of anisocoria include systemic drug use, topical ophthalmic drug use, headaches, trauma, ophthalmologic diseases, and autonomic ganglion pathology.

    In this presentation, a practical approach to help develop the differential diagnosis of anisocoria will be discussed. 

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Identify the aetiology of anisocoria.  

    • Describe the evaluation of a patient with anisocoria.

    • Outline the treatment and management options available for anisocoria to improve outcomes for patients affected by anisocoria.

  • CPD: 1Ti

    Dry eye disease is a multifactorial condition that affects far more than ocular comfort — it can compromise visual function, surgical outcomes, and overall quality of life. As patient expectations rise and treatment options expand, optometrists and ophthalmologists must continue to embrace an integrated, collaborative approach to care.

    In this interactive in-person session, the experts present a practical framework for co-managing dry eye disease. Focused on clinical application, they will explore real-world case studies that demonstrate how optometrists can lead early detection and therapeutic intervention, while also supporting ophthalmologists in surgical preparation and long-term care.

    Whether you're early in your career or seeking to refine your approach to complex dry eye cases, this session will equip you with practical tools and clinical insights to enhance your impact and build stronger collaborative partnerships — all in the pursuit of improved patient outcomes.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Identify the optometrist's role in early detection, classification, and therapeutic management of dry eye within a collaborative care model.

    • Apply co-management strategies that support pre-operative optimisation and long-term post-surgical outcomes in partnership with ophthalmologists.

    • Integrate learnings from real-world case studies to enhance clinical decision-making and strengthen referral and communication pathways in shared care settings.

Studio 1 & 2

  • CPD: 1T

    Specifically designed for Early Career Optometrists, this unique event brings together members of Optometry Australia and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to share insights, and explore how we can work together more effectively to deliver better patient care.

    Learning Objectives

    • Identify patients who would benefit from referral/a collaborative approach to their eye health care, through understanding of pharmacist’s role beyond medicine supply and optometrist’s role beyond prescribing glasses and eyedrops.

    • Employ good prescribing practices of both PBS and non-PBS medication

    • Understand how to navigate the PBS and check medication availability.

    • Understand ocular complications and side effects of different medications.

  • CPD: 1.5

    This session, delivered by the Office of the Public Advocate, aims to provide you with practical communication and engagement skills to increase your confidence in supporting patients with disability to make informed decisions.

    The Healthy Discussions Project aims to improve communication between people with disability and health practitioners and is informed by the voices of people with lived experience of disability. This presentation includes an individual with disability sharing their personal journey and experiences with the optometry sector.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Recognise the human rights of patients with disability in making decisions about their own health.

    • Gain skills and knowledge for using time, augmentative and alternative communication, and other supportive strategies when engaging and communicating with patients with disability to make decisions about their own health.

    • Understand the principles of supported decision-making, support and resources available to ensure quality person-centred care is provided.

    • Learn to make no assumptions!

  • CPD: 1Ni

    As an optometrist, maintaining professional boundaries while fostering patient trust can be challenging. This interactive 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 interactive 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:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:  

    • Recognise ethical dilemmas in clinical practice

    • Apply a structured approach to ethical decision-making

Workshops

Our three sponsored workshops will be repeated at multiple intervals, ensuring you have multiple opportunities to attend your preferred sessions at a time that suits you.

Studio 3

Alcon Workshops: Fitting soft multifocal contact lenses right: Why the fitting guide matters more than you think

Speakers - Shon Prasad and Nadia Michaels

Session Times

13:30 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:30

16:00 - 17:00

  • CPD: 1i

    Soft multifocal lenses aren’t guesswork—there’s a proven guide. Let’s break down why following it actually works—and how to fit with confidence. In this practical workshop, learn Shon Prasad’s recipe for success and tips and tricks from Nadia Michaels to help you master soft multifocal contact lens fittings.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Select the correct initial Alcon multifocal contact lens power and be able to enhance vision for distance and near.

    • Discuss Alcon’s water surface contact lenses and how it may improve the contact lens wearing experience.

    • Efficiently fit multifocal contact lenses.

Studio 4

BOC Workshops: Are your patients at pains undergoing a visual field test?

Speaker - Robin Lanesman

Session Times

13:30 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:30

16:00 - 17:00

  • CPD: 1i

    Try out our VF2000 NEO Virtual Reality portable visual field tester and be highly impressed. The Virtual Reality VF2000 NEO portable visual field device with active eye tracking improves every aspect of patient testing from patient experience and clinical results to practice efficiency without compromising accuracy. The VF2000 NEO is revolutionary, able to efficiently run visual field protocols and a variety of added vision tests in rich, full-colour 4K-resolution. It replaces the bulky conventional visual field testers of the past and greatly surpasses their capabilities.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Discuss the benefits, efficiency and accuracy of virtual reality visual field testing in contrast to old methods using a bowl perimeter.

    • Use the VF2000 NEO and its testing protocols including vision screening, colour vision, motility, and stereopsis.

Studio 5

VEI Workshops: Precision in practice: Foreign body removal mastery

Speakers - Dr Aaron Yeung, Dr Uday Bhatt, Dr Alex Ioannidis, Dr Raj Pathmaraj & Dr Brian Ang

Session Times

13:30 - 14:30

14:30 - 15:30

16:00 - 17:00

  • CPD: 1Ti

    Participants will attend an ophthalmologist lead workshop. Each group will rotate through both stations, ensuring all participants experience both hands-on practice and case-based learning within the 1-hour workshop.

    An ophthalmologist will deliver a 15-minute presentation covering foreign body removal techniques, essential tips, tricks, and key follow-up red flags. Attendees will then be divided into three groups of ten.

    Group 1 will pair up and spend 15 minutes at the slit lamps, practicing real-life foreign body removal under the guidance of the presenting ophthalmologist.

    Groups 2 & 3 will work through case-based worksheets, facilitated by asecond ophthalmologist or optometrist, fostering in-depth discussions with their peers.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Develop proficiency in foreign body removal techniques – Attendees will gain hands-on experience using slit lamps to practice real-life foreign body removal under expert guidance, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence in managing such cases.

    • Recognise key follow-up red flags and clinical considerations – Through case-based discussions and worksheets, participants will deepen their understanding of post-removal care, identifying critical warning signs that require further intervention or referral.

    • Develop proficiency in gonioscopy technique – Participants will gain hands-on experience performing gonioscopy, guided by an ophthalmologist, to refine their skills and confidence in angle assessment.

    • Enhance clinical decision-making in angle evaluation – Through case-based discussions, attendees will learn to interpret gonioscopy findings and apply best practices for patient management and referral.

    Disclaimer:
    This is a practical, hands-on workshop where participants will be performing clinical techniques using a foreign body model under ophthalmological or optometric supervision. The workshop involves the use of sharp instrumentation and model eyes for training purposes.
    Please note:

    • Participation in this workshop indicates that you declare yourself to be in good health at the time of the workshop and that you undertake to advise the organisers immediately of any changes to your health status during the course of the foreign body workshop. 

    • Participation in this workshop constitutes your agreement to comply with all instructions issued by the supervising ophthalmologist or optometrist and to conduct yourself in accordance with safe clinical practice. You further acknowledge a duty of care to take all reasonable precautions to prevent injury to yourself and other participants for the entire duration of the workshop. 

    All participants will be required to sign a consent form prior to the commencement of the workshop. 

MONDAY 18 AUGUST 2025

Grand Hall 2 & 3

  • CPD: 1.5

    Discover how the novel optics, paediatric design, and key features and benefits of ACUVUE® Abiliti® 1-Day soft therapeutic contact lenses for myopia management are directly impacting patient care and can make a difference to your myopia practice.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Understand how different myopia control treatment modalities can impact patient compliance and treatment efficacy.

    • Discuss how the novel optics in Abiliti® 1-Day lenses – RingBoost™ Technology – allows for myopia control efficacy without compromising visual acuity and comfort in myopic children.

    • Describe how the paediatric lens parameters and other material characteristics of Abiliti 1-Day lenses provide ocular fit, comfort and handling benefits for children.

    • Discuss the demonstrated changes in axial length progression rates and other treatment benefits of Abiliti 1-Day through patient case studies demonstrated in a real-world clinical setting.

  • CPD: 1

    Join Australia’s first Indigenous dentist and a nationally respected health leader at Optometry Clinical Conference.

    Chris will share an Indigenous viewpoint on racism in healthcare by drawing upon current research along with decades of experience in the delivery of healthcare and organisational change. He will consider the poorer healthcare outcomes that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may experience when treated by non-Indigenous health professionals and healthcare organisations and discuss the intersection between national regulatory frameworks, cultural safety, anti-discrimination law and institutional racism. A series of case studies will then illustrate what health practitioners, and their organisations, can do to understand and deliver healthcare free of racism. These organisational journeys include many policy, structural, and regulatory actions already underway, or since completed that have effected change. Further recommendations for individual practitioners will also be offered.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Recall the impact of racism in healthcare.

    • Recall learning resources to help reduce racism in healthcare.

    • Collaborate to drive organisational change.

Concurrent Sessions

Experience a full day of insightful sessions with six concurrent streams running throughout the event. Alongside three engaging lectures, our three sponsored workshops will be repeated at multiple intervals, giving you more opportunities to engage and learn. Customise your schedule and make the most of this dynamic learning experience.

Grand Hall 2

  • CPD: 1Ti

    This presentation will discuss how oral therapeutics have been used by optometrists in New Zealand for over 10 years, including the legislation and uptake by optometrists. Some of the more frequently prescribed medications will be discussed, accompanied by cases and considerations regarding the prescribing of these medications with a particular emphasis on safety.

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Determine which ocular conditions may benefit from oral medications

    • Select tests to support diagnosis and differential diagnosis of these conditions

    • Describe the safety aspects regarding the prescribing of these medications

    • Liaise with other health specialists regarding the management of these conditions

  • CPD: 1i

    Optometrists are regularly required to complete forms for patients with specific driving needs and to understand whether or not the relevant vision standard is met. This presentation will cover the visual requirements for the main occupations which have vision standards screened within the community.

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Identify occupations with formal vision standards.

    • Explain the vision standards for specific occupations. 

    • Demonstrate the application of visual acuity, visual field and colour vision tests relating to vision standards.

    • Analyse the limitations and challenges relating to occupational vision screening.

  • CPD: 1i

    This session will present children’s binocular vision conditions that commonly present to optometrists in everyday practice. It will be based around discussion between the 2 presenters, with audience polling, and opportunity for audience interactivity.

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Apply an evidence-based framework to accommodation-vergence disorders in children.

    • Apply an evidence-based framework to strabismus and amblyopia in children, including use of eye drops in assessment, diagnosis and management.

  • CPD: 1.5

    This educational session, Bausch & Lomb's Professional Services Manager, Simon Hanna, will present on advanced and proven scientific contact lens technologies including research from the TFOS DEWS II study to improve ocular surface homeostasis and dry eye disease.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Analyse market research insights into contact lens dropout rates and the experience of patients using newer technologies in multifocal contact lenses. 

    • Discuss the benefits of osmoprotectants in the packaging solution of contact lenses with respect to the metabolic activity of corneal epithelial cells and the response of pro-inflammatory cytokines in contact lens wear.

    • Discuss the homeostatic benefits electrolytes in contact lenses with respect to corneal protection and homeostatic benefits.

Grand Hall 3

  • CPD: 1Ti

    Patients present with a variety of lumps and bumps associated with ocular and periocular tissues. This interactive presentation will review the various periocular lesions focusing on differentiating the benign from the malignant, the various differentials, and current treatment and management options.

    Learning Objectives:

    By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Describe the difference between a benign versus malignant lesion.

    • Describe the various benign eyelid lesions, their management and treatment and educate the patient about their condition.

    • Describe the various malignant eyelid lesions, their management and treatment and educate the patient about their condition.

  • CPD: 2i

    The optometric management of geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is rapidly changing with the recent approval of treatments for GA first overseas and one recently in Australia. This session will cover updates that have been made to the Optometry Australia (OA) Clinical Practice Guide for AMD for how we should now manage patients with GA. It will also include an extended, interactive discussion of numerous case series to understand the practical implications of these updates.

    Learning Objectives:

    • By the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to:

    • Discuss the changes that have been made to the OA Clinical Practice Guide for AMD for managing patients with GA

    • Discuss findings from recent treatment trials for GA and its clinical implications

    • Evaluate how different imaging modalities can be used to characterise and monitor the disease in patients with GA and their limitations

  • CPD: 1i

    This presentation will look at how to optimise contact lens success in your practice by correcting even low levels of astigmatism to improve patient outcomes. It will include case studies from Tasmanian optometrist, Martin Robinson, and will be interactive in nature.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Explain the benefits of correcting astigmatism in soft contact lens wearers.

    • Describe the PRECISION BALANCE 8|4 Toric Stabilisation design.

Studio 1&2

Session Times

9:00 - 10:00

10:45 - 11:45

11:45 - 12:45

  • CPD: 1Ti

    This session will explore the pathophysiology of dry eye, discussing DEWS III, neurosensory dysregulation and its role in dry eye. We will explore real-world case discussions involving the use of ROHTO Dry Aid.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Discuss the evolving pathophysiology of dry eye with a first time look at DEWS III, neurosensory dysregulation and its role in dry eye.    Describe the unique mechanism of action of ROHTO Dry Aid and its role in symptom modulation

    • Identify the types of dry eye patients who may benefit most from ROHTO.·       Integrate ROHTO into a tiered treatment algorithm for dry eye alongside existing therapies.

    • Apply clinical reasoning through real-world case discussions involving ROHTO

Workshops

Our three sponsored workshops will be repeated at multiple intervals, ensuring you have multiple opportunities to attend your preferred sessions at a time that suits you.

Studio 3

Alcon Workshops: Fitting soft multifocal contact lenses right: Why the fitting guide matters more than you think

Speakers - Shon Prasad and Nadia Michaels

Session Times

10:45 - 11:45

  • CPD: 1i

    Soft multifocal lenses aren’t guesswork—there’s a proven guide. Let’s break down why following it actually works—and how to fit with confidence. In this practical workshop, learn Shon Prasad’s recipe for success and tips and tricks from Nadia Michaels to help you master soft multifocal contact lens fittings.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Select the correct initial Alcon multifocal contact lens power and be able to enhance vision for distance and near.

    • Discuss Alcon’s water surface contact lenses and how it may improve the contact lens wearing experience.

    • Efficiently fit multifocal contact lenses.

Studio 4

BOC Workshops: Are your patients at pains undergoing a visual field test?

Speaker - Robin Lanesman

Session Times

9:00 - 10:00

10:45 - 11:45

11:45 - 12:45

  • CPD: 1i

    Try out our VF2000 NEO Virtual Reality portable visual field tester and be highly impressed. The Virtual Reality VF2000 NEO portable visual field device with active eye tracking improves every aspect of patient testing from patient experience and clinical results to practice efficiency without compromising accuracy. The VF2000 NEO is revolutionary, able to efficiently run visual field protocols and a variety of added vision tests in rich, full-colour 4K-resolution. It replaces the bulky conventional visual field testers of the past and greatly surpasses their capabilities.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Discuss the benefits, efficiency and accuracy of virtual reality visual field testing in contrast to old methods using a bowl perimeter.

    • Use the VF2000 NEO and its testing protocols including vision screening, colour vision, motility, and stereopsis.

ROHTO Workshops: A new era in dry eye management: A look at DEWS III and ROHTO Dry Aid

Speakers - Margaret Lam & Fiona Stapleton

Studio 5

VEI Workshops: Precision in practice: Gonioscopy mastery

Speakers - Dr Aaron Yeung, Dr Uday Bhatt, Dr Alex Ioannidis, Dr Raj Pathmaraj & Dr Brian Ang

Session Times

9:00 - 10:00

10:45 - 11:45

11:45 - 12:45

  • CPD: 1Ti

    Participants will attend an ophthalmologist lead workshop. Each group will rotate through both stations, ensuring all participants experience both hands-on practice and case-based learning within the 1-hour workshop.

    An ophthalmologist will deliver a 15-minute presentation covering gonioscopy technique and essential tips and tricks. Attendees will then be divided into three groups of ten.

    Group 1 will pair up and spend 15 minutes at the slit lamps, practicing gonioscopy under the guidance of the presenting ophthalmologist..

    Groups 2 & 3 will work through case-based worksheets, facilitated by asecond ophthalmologist or optometrist, fostering in-depth discussions withtheir peers.

    Learning Objectives:

    • Develop proficiency in foreign body removal techniques – Attendees will gain hands-on experience using slit lamps to practice real-life foreign body removal under expert guidance, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence in managing such cases.

    • Recognise key follow-up red flags and clinical considerations – Through case-based discussions and worksheets, participants will deepen their understanding of post-removal care, identifying critical warning signs that require further intervention or referral.

    • Develop proficiency in gonioscopy technique – Participants will gain hands-on experience performing gonioscopy, guided by an ophthalmologist, to refine their skills and confidence in angle assessment.

    • Enhance clinical decision-making in angle evaluation – Through case-based discussions, attendees will learn to interpret gonioscopy findings and apply best practices for patient management and referral.

    Disclaimer:
    This is a practical, hands-on workshop where participants will be performing clinical techniques on each other under supervision. The workshop involves the use of Oxybuprocaine eye drops for demonstration and training purposes.

    Please note:

    • Participation in this workshop constitutes your acknowledgement and informed consent to the ocular instillation of Oxybuprocaine administered directly into your eyes as part of the supervised clinical training.  

    • Oxybuprocaine is a local anaesthetic commonly used in ocular procedures. 

    • Oxybuprocaine should not be used if you have a known hypersensitivity or allergy to Oxybuprocaine, or any other anaesthetic eye drop. 

    • Oxybuprocaine should not be used if you are, or may be, pregnant or breastfeeding. 

    • Participants are advised that this workshop involves the ocular instillation of Oxybuprocaine, followed by the application of a gonioscopy lens onto your eye, by another participant, under supervision. Inherent risks include, but are not limited to, ocular discomfort, hypersensitivity or allergic reactions, corneal abrasion or other ocular injury, transient visual disturbance and in rare instances, permanent loss of vision. 

    • Participants are required to inform the supervising facilitator of any existing medical conditions, eye health concerns, events or symptoms experienced before, during, or after the workshop, that may increase their risk of side effects or adverse reactions.

    All participants will be required to sign a consent form prior to the commencement of the workshop.