YO in conjunction with the Centre For Eye Health (CFEH) held its first ever trivia night on the 18th of August 2018 at the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel. Dr Michael Yapp from CFEH was a phenomenal host, both writing and presenting the questions. It was a raucous night where Dr Yapp kept the crowd entertained with optometry but also non-optometry related questions. We learnt about common but also rare conditions that even the most experienced of us had not heard of before. All through this we dined on seafood or vegetarian platters. Thankyou to Dr Yapp and to those who attended, making it a fun and memorable night.
Congratulations to the prize winners and thankyou to CooperVision and CFEH for supplying the prizes:
1st place: Team OPTOMism (Prize $20 Apple/Android gift card and CooperVision power banks)
2nd place: Team EYE DEER (Prize Guide Dog plush and CooperVision power banks)
Last place: Vitreous is sweet (Free access to CFEH's webinar)
Name: Celine Zhang
Practice: Eyecare Plus Bankstown & Eyecare Plus Kareela
What do you plan to do with the scholarship? I will be attending the 13th Congress of the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania (OSO), held at the sunny Gold Coast this year. Ortho-K is such an exciting field and I can’t wait to equip myself with the latest information to implement into practice.
How do you think the scholarship will help you? Childrens’ vision and myopia control are two of my greatest passions. Myopia control is a strong need in the population of children I am seeing. Currently, I’m drawing upon therapeutic, spectacle lens and soft lens options to slow myopic progression and referring to my capable colleagues to fit ortho-K lenses. I’m very fortunate to work in practices that have topographers and fitting kits right at my fingertips – I would love to have the autonomy to prescribe ortho-K lenses and be involved in every aspect of myopia control for my patients. Being able to learn from the best in the field and attend the Beginner’s Bootcamp at OSO will be invaluable.
If you could choose one superpower, what would it be? The ability to understand and communicate with anyone in the world, regardless of language. It would also be useful to get into the thoughts of babies … what are you seeing through your new glasses?
As part of UNSW SOVS Dry eye "Defy Dry eye 2018" Social Media Campaign they are raising awareness of dry eye symptoms, and encouraging patients to visit their local optometrist. The initiative is part of a final year Masters of Clinical Optometry research project which has been undertaken by their students.
Interested in finding out more?
Like their page:
Twitter: @UNSWoptomvsci
Facebook: facebook.com/UNSWOptom
Website: www.optometry.unsw.edu.au
On Saturday 21st July Optometry Australia held their Optometry 2040 Future’s Workshop in Sydney at the ICC. I was fortunate to attend the morning brainstorming session along with a wide range of other enthusiastic industry representatives, both optometrists and non-optometrists, who have a rich collective knowledge and experience base. The aims of the Optometry 2040 Future’s project are to identify the potential directions for the future of Optometry in Australia, and to identify proactive strategies to direct the profession down the paths that are reflective of what the profession wants. The brainstorming session involved stimulating group discussions on a variety of topics such as specialization within optometry, alternative funding options, the impact of Internet sales and artificial intelligence, to name a few.
As an ONSW/ACT member and as a young optometrist with hopefully many years left in my career, it was rewarding to participate in the project thus far in gaining insights on where Optometry currently is, and where it potentially can be, and it was empowering to actively contribute to shaping the future of my profession. – Megan Tu, Secretary of Young Optometrists NSW/ACT
On Friday 22nd June 2018, our young optom members gathered at the QT hotel, Sydney, on behalf of ProVision to learn the art of business. The private function allowed us to mingle with our peers as well as with ProVision Business Development Manager Graeme and state-based ProVision Business Couches Kelvin and Joanne.
We were seated in a cinema-like room to learn about owning our own business and the support available to independent optometrists. Often a foreign aspect to Optometry, for many of us, it was interesting to learn about establishing a business model and the many layers involved in running your own practice. A standout point made was that independent optometry still has a strong hold in the market, with a market share of approximately 30%! It was rewarding to know that patients still highly regarded independent optometrists and acknowledged their efforts to deliver high quality customer service and personalised experience. The night was a success where connections were made and it became clear how ProVision could be a possible pathway for some members.
ProVision also offers an associate program to all optometrists, which is complimentary to join. To apply for the program, go to www.provision.com.au
On June 17th 2018, YO held a Assessing Anomalies workshop. We enjoyed learning from Dr Colin Chan (Ophthalmologist) and Dr Margaret Lam`s (Optometrist) many years of experience.
Dr Colin Chan presented us with cases, SiCo style and we became better at differentiating between `Dodgy and Non-Dodgy`Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia. We had a refresher on identifying and managing corneal graft rejections. Dr Chan also drummed into us, how important timely management of keratoconous is.
Dr Margaret Lam covered an abundance of tips and tricks with advanced contact lens fitting specifically for RGP and scleral fits. We learnt from Margaret`s own cases and the reasoning behind the lenses prescribed.
The presentations were followed by therapeutic cases studies and a sit down buffet lunch. Thank you to everyone for attending and a special thank you to Dr Colin Chan, Dr Margaret Lam and the YO team.
Thank you to all who attended the paediatric workshop on Saturday night (12th May 2018). It was a successful and booked out event at the Mercure Hotel, which held our three speakers: Liz Jackson who is a paediatric and behavioural optometrist, Justine Tucker who is an experienced vision therapist, and Dr Michael Jones, a well known and respected paediatric ophthalmologist.
We were fortunate enough to have Liz Jackson return again to give another talk. As always, Liz's enthusiasm and expertise left us more confident and her tips and tricks are sure to help us better manage our little patients.
Following Liz's presentation was Justine, who demonstrated how we could utilise vision training techniques to patients who experience accommodative or convergence difficulties. Justine had us all engaged with her demonstrations and hands talk.Thank you to the audience volunteers who had their visual systems stretched and pulled!
And last, but not least, Dr Michael Jones who ran through his experiences of examining children and how we could best manage and communicate with both nervous children and their parents or carers. And no, we will not forget his most prized equipment if ever he was stranded on an ophthalmic island – a retinoscope!
With the completion of another successful CPD workshop, we are excited to start planning for our upcoming events in the future! We look forward to seeing you there!
Benefits of YO membership
WATCH our video here on why you should join YO.
We have $7000 worth of travel scholarships up for grabs! Apply today applications EXTENDED to June 15th 2018 and are only for full YO members.
Tier One Value up to $750 for a conference within Australia. Tier Two Value up to $2000 for a workshop/conference anywhere around the world. Tier Three Value up to $3000 for a course anywhere around the world. There is one placement program scholarship available, up to the value of $1250. Interested? Applications EXTENDED to 15th June 2018. Not a member? Sign up here:https://www.yoptoms.com/Membership Terms and Conditions and application form can be found here.
Watch the video on why you should go on an overseas/interstate conference here
Thinking about going to that overseas conference? Go to a conference in Europe, Asia or the USA. You can find out about what overseas conferences available here.
Or find your own in your special interests i.e. Orthok, Paediatrics or Behavioural Optometry interstate or overseas. Have an experience of a lifetime. Learn from global experts. Network. See how eye care is run in other countries. Enjoy a holiday while you are at it. Before or after your conference.
Overseas conferences are tax-deductible and are convertible to CPD points in Australia.
What are you waiting for?
Apply for a scholarship here.
I attended the 7th World Glaucoma Conference in Helsinki, Finland. I went with 3 other optometrists, Wendy Saw, Sandra Au and Jenny Song. It was a 3.5 day conference between June 28th and July 1st 2017. It was an eye opening experience. It was good to meet overseas delegates and learn about the latest in glaucoma from an international perspective. In between conference days we went to a concert, nordic walking and a conference dinner. Before the conference we also travelled to Denmark, Sweden and Norway. For next time, I will do a conference first before any travels, as we did get a little exhausted! I'd definitely do it again, I highly recommend going to an overseas conference, there is nothing to lose. Apply today for a scholarship, go to that overseas/interstate conference!
Nordic Walking, we are all sporting red "Walk for Glaucoma" t shirts!
Conference dinner at Kulosaaren Casino
Helsinki Cathedral
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