Evidence-Based
Optometry
Conference
Everyday Optometry
PRESENTED BY
FLINDERS UNIVERSITY
OPTOMETRY
13-14 JULY 2015
Includes:
> Lectures and Masterclasses
> Placement Partner Workshop and Dinner
> Careers Expo and Networking Session
Flinders University City Campus
Victoria Square, Adelaide
WELCOME TO EVIDENCE-BASED OPTOMETRY CONFERENCE 2015
Evidence-Based Optometry Conference 2015, is Flinders
University’s second annual conference for optometrists.
This is a two-day conference where the first day is devoted
to providing optometrists with the skills to practice evidencebased optometry. These include sessions on the importance,
and the fundamental concepts of evidence-based practice by
Prof Konrad Pesudovs. Together with Dr Isabelle Jalbert, Prof
Pesudovs will discuss how to interpret scientific papers, with a
particular focus on diagnostic studies. In the afternoon, Nikki
May will present a lecture and a hands on workshop designed
to empower optometrists to access scientific literature.
The second day is devoted to the discussion of 12 clinical
issues. In these, the evidence will be presented and discussed
so that optometrists can take this knowledge back to apply in
practice. These clinical issues span four Masterclass areas:
Therapeutics, Paediatrics and Binocular Vision, Visual Fields
and Glaucoma and Ophthalmic Disease Management.
This conference is co-delivered with a Careers Expo for our
final year students and a meeting with Placement Partners of
the Flinders University Optometry program.
CONFERENCE CHAIR, KONRAD PESUDOVS
Professor Konrad Pesudovs graduated in Optometry from the University of Melbourne (1990)
and spent two years in private practice before joining Ophthalmology at Flinders University
where he completed a PhD (2000). Konrad won an NHMRC Fellowship to undertake postdoctoral training in the UK and the US. In 2004, Konrad returned to Ophthalmology at Flinders
University as a NHMRC funded Clinical Research Fellow and was awarded an NHMRC Centre
for Clinical Research Excellence grant. His areas of research interest are ophthalmic outcomes
research incorporating optical, visual and patient-reported outcome measurement. During his
career he has received over $9million in competitive grant funding and published over 180
papers. In 2009, Konrad was appointed Foundation Chair of Optometry and Vision Science
at Flinders University. In this role he is responsible for the Optometry double degree including
its accreditation, a $6million building program including an Optometry Clinic, developing an 80
partner clinical placement network and a multi-million dollar research program.
FLINDERS OPTOMETRY STATS AT A GLANCE
TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT
flinders.edu.au/optometry-conference
PRESENTER BIOGRAPHIES
Rod Baker
Rod is an optometrist with a particular interest in children’s vision. Prior to joining the optometry team
at Flinders University, he was a clinical teacher at the University of Melbourne for 10 years where he
lectured in Paediatric Optometry and Binocular Vision. He has worked at the Australian College of
Optometry in roles including Head of Paediatric Services and Manager of Continuing Education. He has
chaired the Clinical Services Committee of the ACO. He has volunteered his time to serve as President
Optometry Victoria, President of ACO and National Councillor Optometry Australia. He has participated
in vision programs in South Africa and Papua New Guinea and has provided CPD throughout Australia
and internationally. He directs a busy practice providing specialised paediatric and therapeutic services
and in his spare time pursues a clandestine singing career.
Isabelle Jalbert
Dr Isabelle Jalbert is Senior Lecturer in Ocular Diseases and Ocular Therapeutics and Deputy Head
of School at the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales. She
completed her OD in Canada and her Masters of Public Health and PhD at UNSW in Australia. Isabelle
still works in private practice but has held in turn the positions of Director of Clinical Research at the
Institute for Eye Research and of Deputy Director, Knowledge Creation Programs at the Canadian
government agency for health funding, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She is the author
of more than 30 refereed papers and several book chapters and is a reviewer for several prestigious
journals. Her research interests include dry eye and allergy, contact lenses, nutrition and evidencebased practice. She was chief investigator of an Australian Government grant involving all optometry
schools in Australia and New Zealand aiming to improve evidence-based practice skills in optometry
graduates. She is the current convenor of the Australian evidence-based practice interest group.
Brad Kirkwood
Brad Kirkwood is an optometrist practicing in Mackay, Queensland. He has a special interest in ocular
diseases and ocular therapeutics. He attained a Bachelor of Applied Science degree (Optom) in 2008
and graduate certificate in ocular therapeutics in 2010 from Queensland University of Technology. Prior to
this, he worked as an ophthalmic nurse practitioner at the Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, England and
in the ophthalmology department at Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, pioneering the role for Australia.
In this role, Brad assisted in the corneal / external eye clinics and conducted ophthalmic emergency,
cataract assessment, diabetic retinopathy screening and post-operative clinics. He was awarded a
Foundation Fellowship from Australia College of Nurse Practitioners in 2009. He has Bachelor of Nursing
and a Master of Arts degree in ophthalmic practitioner development. He has many peer-reviewed journal
publications in optometry, ophthalmology, ophthalmic nursing, medical journals and a chapter on cornea
in the Ophthalmic Care textbook. He was awarded the prestigious Edna Ashy Award in recognition of the
contribution made to expand ophthalmic nursing knowledge and literature from the American Society of
Ophthalmic Nurses in 2011. He was a lecturer at Flinders University and supported the Optometry and
Vision Science academic team in establishing the new optometry course in 2011.
Nikki May
Nikki May is the Liaison Librarian for the Health Sciences at Flinders University. In this role she teaches
e-literacy skills and search techniques to undergraduate and postgraduate students with the goal
of providing our future health professionals with a solid evidence-based foundation for their clinical
practice. She also collaborates with academic and research staff to help ensure high quality research
outputs through the development of effective, rigorous search strategies. Her future plans include
increasing her engagement with health researchers as a collaborative expert searcher, along with
undertaking her own primary research into advanced health librarian skills.
TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT
flinders.edu.au/optometry-conference
CONFERENCE PROGRAM DAY ONE
8.30AM REGISTRATION – Tea and Coffee on arrival
9.00am
WELCOME ADDRESS – Konrad Pesudovs
An overview of the meeting including the different components and how they fit together to form evidence-based practice (EBP). The difference between theory and evidence will also be discussed.
9.30am OVERVIEW OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE – Konrad Pesudovs
What is EBP, types of studies, levels of evidence, common criticism of EBP, a roadmap for bringing EBP to practice.
10.45am HOW TO READ AND APPRAISE A PAPER – Isabelle Jalbert and Konrad Pesudovs
11.45am HOW TO REVIEW STUDIES ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC TESTS – Isabelle Jalbert
12:45pm LUNCH
2.00pm
FINDING THE EVIDENCE
Venue: Express Training Connections
Level 5, 38 Gawler Place, Adelaide
SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE IN OPTOMETRY - Lecture – Nikki May
3.00pm AFTERNOON TEA
3.15pm-5.00pm SEARCHING THE OPTOMETRIC LITERATURE
Interactive Computer Workshop – Nikki May
In this workshop, participants will be provided hands-on experience to learn effective ways to search the literature. Resources for this workshop have been carefully selected and are quality, easy to access databases that are freely available online. Each participant will have access to a computer to individually explore the resources, and the librarian will be on hand to provide support.
2.00pm
PLACEMENT PARTNER WORKSHOP – Facilitated by Konrad Pesudovs
For Partners of our academic program, this interactive workshop will focus on Student Placements including learnings so far and areas for further development.
(Break for afternoon tea included).
6.00pm PLACEMENT PARTNER DINNER
THIS 2 DAY CONFERENCE WILL ATTRACT 37.5 CPD POINTS
(13.5 CPD POINTS THERAPEUTIC)
CONFERENCE PROGRAM DAY TWO
8.30am REGISTRATION – Tea and Coffee on arrival
MASTERCLASS DAY
9.00am MASTERCLASS IN THERAPEUTICS – Brad Kirkwood
>Alternative treatments for Herpes Simples Keratitis
>How should I treat episcleritis?
>What is the evidence for CCT measurement in glaucoma patient assessment?
10.30am MORNING TEA
10.45am MASTERCLASS IN PAEDIATRICS AND BINOCULAR VISION – Rod Baker
>Yoked prisms for binocular vision disorders
>Interventions for intermittent exotropia in childhood
>Interventions for eye movement disorders in people with stroke
12.15pm LUNCH
1.15pm
MASTERCLASS IN VISUAL FIELDS AND GLAUCOMA – Isabelle Jalbert
>Does confrontation visual field testing identify field loss?
>What do Matrix visual field defects mean and how should we interpret them?
>How should we manage patients with pigment dispersion syndrome?
2.45pm AFTERNOON TEA
3.00pm MASTERCLASS IN OPHTHALMIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT – Konrad Pesudovs
>Does glare testing aid in cataract assessment?
>Is femtosecond cataract surgery better than standard phaco?
>Do optometrists detect eye disease and is it worth it?
5.00pm – 6.30pm CAREERS EXPO presented in collaboration with Optometry South Australia
You’ll see our students in action as participants in the Masterclass Day program and you’re also invited to meet one on one with Flinders University final year students at our Careers Expo. Book a space at the Expo as part of your registration.
6.30pm – 7.30pm NETWORKING SESSION (for Careers Expo participants)
TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO REGISTER, PLEASE VISIT
flinders.edu.au/optometry-conference
FLINDERS OPTOMETRY HIGHLIGHTS
Our first graduating class
On April 16, 2015 Flinders University graduated its first class
of Optometry students. All have gained employment and are
working across Australia at locations including: Adelaide, Perth,
Melbourne, Leeton, Bendigo, Wangaratta, Port Lincoln and
Victor Harbor. A prize ceremony was held on the same day to
recognise achievements of the following students:
>Bachelor Medical Science (Vision Science) and Master of Optometry Academic Excellence Prize – Gemma Surridge
>Rural and Remote Clinical Optometry Award – Luke Higgins
>Clinical Excellence Award in Optometry – Tamra Karolewicz
>Paediatric Clinical Optometry Award – Sophie Van Kleef
“
I’m immensely proud of Flinders Optometry’s inaugural graduating class.This impressive group have
worked incredibly hard over the past 5 years to meet the rigours of the Flinders Optometry double degree
program. I’m equally impressed by the impact these graduates are now having within the profession and
their contributions to a range of optometric settings. More than 50% have elected employment in regional
practices (a major goal of our program), we have graduates supervising current students, a number
pursing speciality practice and others disseminating knowledge of evidence-based optometry practice
among peers. I wish our graduates every success and look forward to witnessing their achievements in
the future.
- Prof. Konrad Pesudovs
”
Research projects
> The evidence-base for clinical interventions, particularly patient-centred outcomes, informing professionals who deliver eye-care of the evidence-base and increasing access to care
> The evidence-base by conducting laboratory research, translational research and clinical research including clinical trials
> The access to care by establishing new models of eye care delivery for common eye problems in urban and remote populations and by developing efficient and cost-
effective pathways to care which utilise a wide range of eye-care professionals
Our research is undertaken with a focus on patient-reported
outcomes and quality of life measurements; Epidemiology
(ophthalmic and health evaluation); Optical quality and visual
performance; and, the Clinical assessment of eye imaging
devices. At present, the team is working on the following
research projects:
> Development of a system for measurement of vision-specific quality of life using item banking and computer adaptive testing (The Eye-tem Bank Project)
>Development of metrics of optical quality predictive of visual performance in eye disease
>Evaluation of the precision and the agreement of the Righton Speedy “i” auto refractometer for static and dynamic refraction measurements
>Development and validation of technologically advanced Patient-reported outcomes for retinal diseases and conditions
>The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study
>The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) Ophthalmology Group
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FLINDERS UNIVERSITY OPTOMETRY RESEARCH
AND HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED AT THE CONFERENCE,VISIT
flinders.edu.au/optometry-conference
Information correct at time of printing May 2015. CRICOS Provider No. 00114A
The primary goal of the Flinders Optometry research team is
to enhance the eye care of Australians and to decrease the
burden of visual disability and blindness. In doing so we seek
to expand:
Back row (L to R):
Sophie Van Kleef, Tamra
Karolewicz, Lauren Field,
Prof. Konrad Pesudovs
Middle row (L to R): Mary Suen, Lece Xu,
Vanessa Partington, Jason Didone
Front row (L to R):
Gemma Surridge, Luke Higgins, Kate Weller,
Anna Gatsios
Absent: Dean Milner