PROGRAM

Friday September 19

CPR REFRESHER COURSE - (at capacity)

In previous years, Optometry Tasmania members have had the opportunity to complete a CPR refresher course through the Australian Red Cross on the day before the conference. Note this session is at capacity. If you are interested in being on the wait list, you can express your interest by contacting Chynnae Jewell at c.jewell@optometry.org.au.

EARLY CAREER SEMINAR AND DINNER

The many roads of a clinician: Career options and insights

This event is for Early Career members (less than 10 years from graduation) of Optometry Australia. New members living and working in Tasmania are also warmly welcome, including immediate and recent graduates who have recently moved to Tasmania.

Speakers:

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify alternative career pathways available to optometrists

  • Answer common professional services questions

Time: 6:30pm to 8:00pm

Venue: Rydges Hobart, 393 Argyle St, North Hobart

A smiling middle-aged man with a bald head and gray beard, wearing a navy blue shirt and a black zip-up jacket, against a plain white background.

Dom Willson - Optometry Australia, National Professional Services Advisor

A smiling woman with short red hair wearing a black blazer and white shirt, against a white background.

Megan Zabell - Alcon, Senior Professional Education & Development - Vision Care ANZ

REGISTER HERE

Sponsored by

The image shows the Alcon logo in blue on a white background.

Saturday September 20

AEST

9:00am-9:10am

Welcome to Country

Uncle Rodney Dillon
wayti Culture & Knowledge

Optometry Australia logo with the text "Institute of Excellence Quality Assured" and a large promotion of "up to 12.5"

9:10am - 11:00am

CPD: 2i

A smiling man wearing glasses and a purple checkered shirt standing in front of an abstract colorful painting.

Tim Fricke

Solving binocular vision problems

This 2-hour session will consist of 3 parts:

  1. Discussing a framework for optometrists to assess, diagnose and manage binocular vision conditions;

  2. A hands-on workshop of binocular vision tests, and

  3. Interactive case discussions.

Learning Objectives:

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

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

11:00am-11:30am

MORNING TEA BREAK

11:30am-12:30pm

CPD: 1T

A man in a navy suit with a white shirt and striped tie, standing in a stately building with wooden staircase and decorative lighting.

Dr Craig Donaldson

Diplopia - You’ll get it, by the end of this lecture!

This lecture will cover the assessment, diagnosis and management of different forms of diplopia in a way that (hopefully) makes sense. When to worry and when to investigate and when to refer will be addressed.

Learning Objective:

  • Assess, diagnose, and manage different forms of diplopia.

12:30pm-1:30pm

LUNCH BREAK

1:00pm-1:15pm

OTAS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

1:30pm-2:30pm

Close-up of a middle-aged woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, smiling, outdoors with modern buildings in the background.

Dr Emma Gillies

Johnson & Johnson Sponsored Session

From paediatrics to presbyopia – Managing myopia and mastering multifocals

ACUVUE® OASYS MAX is our next level contact lens for patients in your practice. At Johnson & Johnson we strive to consistently bring meaningful innovation that pushes the boundaries of contact lens performance to meet evolving vision care needs and help improve patient experiences. We would like to introduce you to ACUVUE® Abiliti®1 DAY our newest innovation and the first silicon hydrogel daily disposable soft contact lens for myopia management.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the visual and comfort considerations for contact lens wear across at different stages of life.

  • Describe the features of the ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day Brand Family contact lenses.

  • Discuss the technologies behind the ACUVUE® OASYS MAX 1-Day Brand Family contact lenses, including TearStable™ Technology, OptiBlue™ light filter & Pupil Optimised Design Technology.

  • Describe how novel optics in ACUVUE® Abiliti®1 Day lenses – RingBoost™ technology – allows for myopia control efficacy without compromising visual acuity and comfort in myopic children.

Johnson & Johnson logo in red text on a white background

CPD: 1.5

2:30pm-3:00pm

AFTERNOON TEA BREAK

3:00pm-5:00pm

Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with long wavy brown hair, wearing pearl earrings and a dark blazer against a white background.
A middle-aged man with brown hair, wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt, and striped tie, standing in front of a grand staircase inside a formal building.

SooJin Nam

Dr Craig Donaldson

Strabismus workshop: The ins and outs and the ups
and downs

Strabismus can be a confusing subject, and the causes are diverse and sometimes vision and even life threatening. This session will include how to assess and diagnose various forms of horizontal and vertical strabismus. Starting with the basics, such as cover tests and ocular motility examination techniques, this workshop will explore various aspects of strabismus with the use of video case studies.

Learning Objective:

  • Assess common strabismus conditions with increased understanding and confidence.

CPD: 2i

5:00pm - 7:00pm

Hotel lobby with modern decor, a reception desk with a bouquet of flowers, a lit sign reading 'Mövenpick', holiday wreath on a dark wood wall, orange armchairs, and holiday decorations including a small Christmas tree and reindeer figurine.

SOCIAL EVENING - SPONSORED BY COOPERVISION

Join us for an evening at Mövenpick Hotel Hobart

Set within the trade conference this year, this evening event will feature drinks, canapés, and a fun, interactive trivia session hosted by Hana Jurkovic. Everyone can join in to unwind with light-hearted questions, plenty of laughs, and prizes for the quickest and sharpest eyes in the room!

Open to guests of delegates, it’s the perfect opportunity for both interstate visitors and local attendees to connect, enjoy great company, and soak up a welcoming atmosphere with friends and colleagues.

After the social event, anyone keen to continue the evening can join us at In The Hanging Garden, rooftop bar with stunning city views and space to mingle, catch up, and dance the night away.

CLOSE

7:00pm

Sunday September 21

AEST

9:00am-10:00am

A young woman with short red hair, smiling, wearing a black top and white collared shirt against a white background.

Megan Zabell

A man with glasses and a beard taking a selfie in front of a wall with multiple framed pictures.

Martin Robinson

Alcon logo in blue text on a white background.

Alcon Sponsored Session

Tame the toric with PRECISION BALANCE 8|4

Hear from Alcon optometrist Megan Zabell about the importance of correcting even low levels of astigmatism when fitting soft contact lenses, and the benefits of using Alcon’s PRECICION BALANCE 8|4 toric stabilization design. Hobart optometrist Martin Robinson will share a clinical perspective on how correcting astigmatism can impact patient and practice outcomes through case studies.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify patients who would benefit from toric designs when fitting soft contact lenses.

  • Explain the benefits of the PRECISION BALANCE 8|4 toric stabilization design.

CPD: 1.5

10:00am-11:00am

A smiling man with brown hair and a beard, wearing a dark plaid blazer and a light patterned shirt, sitting indoors with a blurred background.

Dr Guy Bylsma

A smiling person with short, light brown hair, glasses with turquoise frames, wearing a black top, and a necklace, against a plain background.

Birthdays and Gravity –
periocular lumps, bumps
and malpositions

This presentation will cover common eyelid lumps and tumours and eyelid malpositions. The emphasis will be on clinical recognition and assessment and in particular demonstrate surgical techniques for correction.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify and manage common and important rarer eyelid masses.

  • Identify and understand management of common eyelid malpositions.

CPD: 1Ti

11:00am-11:30am 

MORNING TEA BREAK

11:30am - 12:30pm

A man with short dark hair, smiling, wearing a dark patterned shirt, against a white background.

Joe Tanner

Watercolor-style globe with shades of blue and purple, above the text 'CooperVision' in gray font.

CooperVision Sponsored
Session

Managing Amelia’s Myopia – Getting it Right from the Start

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 workshop follows a case over several years and practitioners are required to discuss and decide on the best course of action as new 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 sufficiently effective.

CPD: 1i

12:30pm-1:30pm

LUNCH BREAK

1:30pm-3:30pm

Headshot of a woman with long wavy hair smiling, wearing a black top and pearl earrings.

SooJin Nam

A middle-aged man with brown hair and a serious expression wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and striped tie, standing in front of a staircase with wooden railings and two lit wall sconces.

Dr Craig Donaldson

Therapeutics for children made easy and safe
(for you and the patient!)

Therapeutics is an extremely important aspect of eye care health, and a good knowledge base expands optometrists’ management options and increases confidence and patient safety. This session will cover several common clinical conditions that are encountered in paediatric eye care and focus on appropriate management options. Just as it is important to treat appropriately, the session will also explore inappropriate and contraindicated treatment decisions. Case studies will be included.

Learning Objectives:

  • Prescribe appropriate medical therapy for different paediatric ocular conditions.

CPD: 2Ti

3:30pm-4:00pm

AFTERNOON TEA

4:00pm-4:30pm

In Memory of
Karen Garner-Hamilton
23 June 1977 - 5 April 2025

A woman with short hair and red glasses smiling with a plant in the background.

Dr Kristin Bell

Karen Garner-Hamilton Memorial Presentation

The current state and future direction of
eye health services in Tasmania

This presentation will provide an update on local and state matters and policies from the Head of Department Ophthalmology at the Royal Hobart Hospital and the Chair of the Tasmanian Eyecare Services Network.

There will be opportunity in this session for audience participation and interaction to discuss and inform the Tasmanian Eyecare Services Network’s future vision for eyecare services in Tasmania.

Speaker: Dr Kristin Bell

Learning Objectives:

  • Utilise THS services and referral pathways.

  • Describe some of the current services gaps, risks and challenges in equitably supplying sustainable eye healthcare to Tasmanians.

  • Describe the Tasmanian Eyecare Services Network’s future vision and direction for Tasmanian eye healthcare.

CPD: 0.5

CONFERENCE CLOSE

4:30pm