Therapeutics Refresher Day delivers valuable insights for optometrists

The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) hosted its annual Therapeutics Refresher Day on Sunday 25 May at its Carlton headquarters. The in-person event brought together optometrists from across Victoria to engage with the latest advancements in therapeutic optometry practice.  

The program offered a curated series of presentations designed to enhance clinical skills and knowledge in therapeutics, covering topics such as the newly approved treatment for geographic atrophy, recognising transient ischaemic attack symptoms in primary care, combined atropine and contact lens myopia management, ethical prescribing practices, and managing complex dry eye linked to autoimmune disease. 

We'd like to sincerely thank all attendees for their enthusiastic participation, which contributed to the engaging discussions and collaborative learning atmosphere throughout the day. We also extend our gratitude to CSL Seqirus for sponsoring the event, with special thanks to Sonia, Eyecare Account Manager at CSL, for her support on the day. 

Special thanks go to our expert presenters:

• Dr Mei Tan, who explored recognising and managing transient visual loss symptoms in optometric practice.
• Dr Carla Abbott, who provided critical insights on preparing for the clinical management of geographic atrophy with the new pegcetacoplan treatment.
• Jacinda Van, who presented evidence and strategies for combining atropine with contact lenses for enhanced myopia control.
• Lucy Ainge, who led an interactive session on ethical and effective prescribing in optometry.
• Varny Ganesalingam, who shared her expertise on managing complex dry eye disease associated with autoimmune conditions.
   

The Therapeutics Refresher Day is a key part of ACO’s commitment to supporting optometrists with up-to-date clinical knowledge and best practice approaches in therapeutics.