Locum Clinical Skills Conference 2026 - London

Discussion workshop: Beyond wet AMD – differentiating causes of macular neovascularisation in clinical practice

This interactive session uses a range of cases to guide delegates through the differential diagnosis of macular neovascularisation (MNV) beyond typical wet AMD. Through small-group discussion, participants will review clinical features, OCT and OCT angiography biomarkers, and the key characteristics that distinguish each condition from wet AMD.

The session will also explore how multimodal imaging supports diagnosis and classification and discuss the shift from choroidal neovascularisation (CNV) to MNV terminology and its implications for understanding lesion origin and referral decisions.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will identify different causes of macular neovascularisation using clinical examination findings and multimodal imaging biomarkers (s.7)
• Practitioners will recognise features suggestive of macular neovascularisation that require timely referral or collaborative management with ophthalmology colleagues (s.10).

Speaker

• Matthew Chan

Discussion workshop: Help! I’m a locum and…

This discussion workshop looks at common clinical, ethical and regulatory scenarios encountered by locum optometrists, and how to manage them effectively in practice. The scenarios are based on the most common queries received by the AOP’s clinical and regulatory team, with a focus on managing risk for both patients and practitioners.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will identify strategies to ensure the delivery of safe care to patients (s.11)
• Practitioners will recognise the importance of maintaining good clinical records (s.8).

Speaker

• Roshni Kanabar

Discussion workshop: Hospital Eye Service referrals – a simple guide for locum optometrists

Locum optometrists often work across wide-ranging clinical environments and may find themselves in situations where they feel significant pressure on clinical decision making particularly when faced with potentially urgent presentations requiring same day referral to eye casualty. This workshop uses three carefully selected case studies to emphasise the importance of recognising red flags, understanding when same day referral is essential, and identifying situations where community monitoring or routine referral is more appropriate. Participants will leave with practical strategies they can apply immediately in any locum setting.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to identify red flags for a range of conditions to guide patient management relative to their scope of practice (s.7)
• Practitioners will recognise when, and how quickly, to refer a range of clinical presentations to secondary care depending upon their scope of practice (s.10).

Speakers

• Dr Waheeda Illahi
• Urvasee Patel

Discussion workshop: Sliding doors from a presbyope's perspective

This interactive discussion workshop will explore key moments in the contact lens journey of presbyopic patients, illustrating how small clinical decisions can serve as "sliding doors" moments, shaping patients’ perceptions and their contact lens experience. The session aims to encourage practitioners to reflect on how their communication and habitual fitting habits influence patient outcomes, with scenarios demonstrating how everyday clinical interactions can impact patient satisfaction and overall quality of life.

Please note: This discussion workshop features on the programme at 100% Optical 2026 so is unsuitable for delegates who attended the same session at that event.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will recognise the importance of a obtaining a full patient history, including the relevance of establishing ocular and lifestyle needs associated with presbyopia (s.1)
• Practitioners will reflect on how they inform patients about suitable presbyopic visual correction options, with an emphasis on the features and benefits of soft multifocal contact lenses (s.2)
• Practitioners will reflect on their current knowledge of soft multifocal contact lenses and how to ensure this is kept relevant and up to date (s.5).

Speakers

• Marie-Therese Hall
• Nicola Soukal
• Melanie McDowall
• Liz Hilton
• Nadia Siddiqi

Peer review: Through their eyes – astigmatism

This session delves into the real-world experiences of three astigmatic patients. Through video interviews and guided peer discussion, delegates will reflect on the emotional and lifestyle impact experienced by these patients, evaluate practical strategies to enhance patient satisfaction and reinforce the importance of patient-centred communication.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will recognise the importance of gathering a complete patient history, including lifestyle needs, to recommend the most suitable contact lens that meets each patient’s requirements (s.1)
• Practitioners will explore ways to enhance their communication skills, ensuring that patients fully understand the benefits and features of all available correction options and are actively engaged in decisions regarding their care (s.2)
• Practitioners will identify the various soft toric contact lens materials and designs available for patients (s.5)

Speakers

• Marie-Therese Hall
• Nicola Soukal
• Melanie McDowall
• Liz Hilton
• Nadia Siddiqi.

Matthew Chan

Matthew is an optometrist specialising in medical retina, uveitis, and emergency ophthalmology at Bristol Eye Hospital and independent practice. Beyond his clinical work, he is a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, where he leads the College of Optometrists-accredited higher certificate in medical retina programme and oversees a dedicated ‘teach and treat’ clinic in medical retina.

Dr Waheeda Illahi

Waheeda is head of optometry at the Birmingham Midland Eye Centre (BMEC). Over the past 15 years, she has supported the progressive expansion of hospital optometrists’ roles across eye casualty, glaucoma, medical retina, and other ophthalmology subspecialties within this tertiary referral centre. Waheeda is dedicated to ensuring that optometrists are appropriately trained and clinically competent to deliver both core services and extended roles.

Urvasee Patel

Urvasee is a specialist optometrist with extensive experience in extended role ophthalmology clinics. She began her career in community practice before joining the hospital service over 11 years ago. Her current role at the Birmingham Midland Eye Centre (BMEC) is predominately based in eye casualty along with ophthalmology outpatient clinics including cornea, medical retina, vitreoretina and uveitis clinics.

Roshni Kanabar

Roshni is a clinical and regulatory adviser for the AOP working within the legal team. She assists members with enquiries, writing statements, responding to complaints and provides clinical opinions to the solicitors in the team. More recently she has started accompanying and supporting members in employment matters and meetings.

Roshni also works as a hospital optometrist, which she finds very rewarding, exciting and challenging, but prior to this she spent many years working as a locum and a resident optometrist and tutor in both multiple, independent practice and the eye clinic at City St George’s, University of London.

Marie-Therese Hall

Marie-Therese graduated from the University of Manchester in 2008 and completed her pre-registration year with Dollond & Aitchison. Since qualification in 2009, she has worked in both multiple and independent practice in the North East of England in a variety of different practices. Marie-Therese joined the Vision team at Johnson & Johnson as a professional affairs consultant in 2017, where she enjoys developing and delivering a variety of education and training programmes to fellow eye care professionals.

Nicola Soukal

Nicola qualified as a dispensing optician in 1997 following completion of her BSc in Mathematics and then in 2017 she registered as a contact lens optician (CLO). Shei works in Norwich as senior CLO for Specsavers where in addition to her clinics, she writes and delivers training to help development of practice colleagues. Since 2024, Nicola has combined her time in practice with her role as a professional affairs consultant with Johnson & Johnson Vision where she facilitates training and education across Cambridgeshire, Essex and East Anglia.

Melanie McDowall

Mlanie qualified as a contact lens optician in 2009. Working in both flagship national chain stores and independent practice, Melanie joined the Vision team at Johnson & Johnson in 2017 as a professional affairs consultant delivering education, training, and coaching in communication to fellow eye care professionals and optical assistants in Scotland.

Liz Hilton

Liz qualified as an optometrist in 2005 and worked for Vision Express for 11 years, progressing to clinical lead and helped to develop a new starter programme. In 2017, Liz became a partner and a member of the board of directors for a group of six independent practices and was involved in enhancing clinical standards with a particular focus on children.

Liz returned to Vision Express in 2023 and combines this with her role as a professional affairs consultant for Johnson & Johnson Vision where she facilitates training and education at practice level in the North West.

Nadia Siddiqi

Nadia qualified as an optometrist in 2010 and has worked across both multiple and independent practices. She spent seven years as a clinical lead in a flagship multiple before going on to gain experience in dry eye and refractive clinics. She has been a professional affairs consultant with Johnson & Johnson since 2022 and also works as a visiting clinical tutor at City St George’s, University of London.

She has supervised many pre-registration optometrists, trainee contact lens opticians and trainee dispensing opticians, and is passionate about supporting the development of current and future eye care professionals through teaching, mentoring and coaching.