Graduate Showcase 2026
Save the Date – Tuesday 24th March 2026Join us as ACO graduate optometrists present a single standout case study from their first year of practice.
As part of a leading public health eye care provider, these early career optometrists have navigated rare conditions, challenging diagnoses and innovative treatment plans often unexplored in other optometry settings.
Glaucoma Management in the Context of Motor Neurone Disease: Clinical Considerations | Presented by Michael Rodger
This case explores the complexities of managing glaucoma in a patient with motor neurone disease, highlighting the need to balance clinical evidence with individual patient values and co-existing diagnoses. It reflects on factors influencing decision making in the context of systemic illness, prognosis, and quality of life. It aims to prompt discussion around patient-centred glaucoma care and shared decision making in real world clinical scenarios.
Alkaline Burns: Key Takeaways for Optometric Practice | Presented by Nancy Huang
Alkaline ocular burns represent a vision-threatening emergency requiring timely, evidence-based management. This presentation reviews current literature on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and classification of alkaline burns. Management strategies across varying severities will be discussed, with a focus on optometric scope of practice, referral decision-making, and long-term patient care. Personal experience managing alkaline burns in collaboration with ophthalmology provides context for reflecting on clinical development and growing confidence in emergency eye care
Managing Anisometropic Amblyopia and Sensory Exotropia in a Child Outside of the Critical Period of Visual Development | Presented by Rita Abou-Issa
This case report follows a nine-year-old female with left anisometropic amblyopia secondary to high hyperopia and astigmatism, complicated by a sensory exotropia. It explores the challenges of amblyopia management beyond the critical period of visual development, where neural plasticity and treatment responsiveness may be reduced. The case also considers how the presence of sensory exotropia influences clinical decision-making.
Incidental Retinopathy, Barriers to Primary Health Access and Collaborative Care for Diabetes | Presented by Jennifer Kim
Routine eye examination can often reveal incidental retinopathy, prompting referral for vascular assessment. This case illustrates how gaps in primary healthcare access can delay diagnosis, reminding us of the equal parts that patient education, interdisciplinary communication and compassion play in improving patient outcomes within the broader public health context.
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