Hospital and Specialty Optometrists Conference

9.00am - Short paper presentations – session 1

This session comprises a series of short paper presentations providing delegates with an update across a broad range of clinical topics.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will update their knowledge across a range of clinical themes (s.5).

Speaker:

CPD points: 1

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Dispensing optician

Domains: Clinical practice

10.10am - Vision and stroke

This lecture will review key aspects of brain anatomy and visual processing within the brain, providing a foundation for understanding the clinical manifestations of post-stroke visual impairments. It will include consideration of effects in paediatric patients. The session will explore conditions such as homonymous hemianopia and visuospatial neglect, focusing on their clinical presentation and potential therapeutic approaches. It will also include an overview of the care pathways available to support affected patients.

Learning outcomes 

• Practitioners will be able to explain the impact of post-stroke visual field defects and visuospatial disorders to patients (s.2)
• Practitioners will recognise common post-stroke visual impairments and apply appropriate management strategies and referral pathways relative to their scope of practice (s.5, s.7).

Speaker: Professor Christian French

CPD points: 1

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Dispensing optician

Domains: Clinical practice, Communication

11.45am -  12.45pm

Ocular oncology essentials for optometrists

This session covers the most common intraocular tumours seen in daily practice. The typical presentation and clinical signs as well as the imaging results are reviewed. The key criteria for referrals to adult ocular oncology centres in the UK are discussed and practical guidance on the management of non-malignant and malignant entities is provided. The session will also cover the most common problems following treatment of ocular tumours that might present to an optometrist as a first point of call.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will recognise the presenting features of the most common intraocular tumours seen in practice (s.7)
• Practitioners will identify when to refer patients to ocular oncology centres (s.10).

Speaker: Professor Heinrich Heimann

CPD point: 1

Practitioner type: Optometrist

Domains: Clinical practice, Professionalism

1.10pm - 1.40pm

Enhance vision performance with Zenlens® Chroma HOA™

Advance your scleral lens practice with a comprehensive session focused on the integration of higher-order aberration (HOA) correction using Zenlens® Chroma HOA™ scleral lenses. This session is designed to help you confidently incorporate wavefront-guided technology into your fittings – whether managing routine patients seeking enhanced visual quality or more complex cases with irregular optics.

Discover how the stability of Zenlens® design features, combined with HOA customization capabilities, can help you refine visual outcomes beyond standard correction. Gain practical strategies to optimise lens centration, rotational stability and measurement accuracy – critical factors in the successful delivery of HOA-corrected designs. You will also develop a deeper understanding of patient selection, troubleshooting techniques, and efficient clinical workflows that support consistent, high-level outcomes.

Join us for an engaging session that will strengthen your ability to deliver next-level vision correction and transform your approach to scleral lens fitting through the power of HOA optimisation.

Speaker: Chris Geysen

CPD point: 1

Practitioner type: Optometrist

Domains: Clinical practice, Professionalism

9.00am - Short paper presentations – session 2

This session comprises a series of short paper presentations providing delegates with an update across a broad range of clinical topics. 

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will update their knowledge across a range of clinical themes (s.5).

Speaker: 

CPD points: 1

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Dispensing optician

Domains: Clinical practice

10.05am - 11.05am

From hi-tech to low-tech: harnessing advances to improve patient care

The session will be divided into two complementary sections, exploring both the technological advances shaping modern retinal practice and the enduring importance of the human aspects of patient care.

Part I – high tech:
The first part of the session will focus on OCTA technology. We will begin with the fundamental principles of OCTA, including how to read scans systematically and interpret key clinical signs in everyday practice. Building on these foundations, the discussion will move into widefield OCTA, highlighting how this evolving technology expands our understanding of diabetic retinal disease. Particular emphasis will be placed on the advantages of widefield OCTA over conventional imaging modalities, and how it can enhance diagnosis, monitoring and clinical decision-making in diabetes care.

Part II – low tech:
The second part of the session will shift attention from technology to the equally important role of human intelligence in improving patient outcomes. We will explore the challenges surrounding patient wellbeing, particularly within the realities of a busy clinic environment, and discuss practical ways clinicians can better identify and address these issues. The session will also consider how increasing reliance on high technology and artificial intelligence may influence the patient experience.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will be able to interpret OCTA and widefield OCTA findings in diabetic eye disease while also recognising the importance of human-centred care and patient wellbeing in the era of advanced imaging and AI (s.7).

Speaker: Professor Tariq Aslam

CPD points: 1

Practitioner type: Optometrist

Domains: Clinical practice 

11.40am - 12.40am

Woodward memorial medal lecture 2026: In the presence of greatness – looking over the hill

Professor Geoffrey Woodward (1934–2013) was undoubtedly one of the most influential optometrists in the development of specialist medical contact lens services, both in the UK and internationally. His pioneering work, undertaken at Moorfields Eye Hospital and later at City University, encompassed research into keratoconus, therapeutic contact lenses and scleral lens practice.

In this fifth Woodward memorial medal lecture, Professor Jonathan Jackson will explore how specialist contact lens practice has evolved over the 50 years since Professor Woodward was appointed head of the contact lens department at Moorfields Eye Hospital. One of Woodward’s early studies examined life expectancy in a cohort of patients with keratoconus, sparking a sustained interest in the epidemiology of the condition and laying the foundations for future collaborative research involving both optometric and medical colleagues.

The lecture will chart key developments in the management of keratoconus, including advances in specialist contact lens design, the introduction and refinement of corneal cross-linking and evolving approaches to corneal transplantation. It will also highlight areas in which Professor Woodward made significant contributions, including the use of contact lenses in the management of painful and disfigured eyes.

Professor Woodward was instrumental in introducing innovative contact lens materials and designs into hospital practice and recognised the potential for optometrists to play an expanded therapeutic role in patient care. Advances in ocular imaging, another area of particular interest to him, have further supported progress across these fields.

Drawing on Professor Woodward’s legacy, this lecture will reflect on the transformation of specialist medical contact lens practice over the past five decades and consider future directions for the specialty.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will recognise the evolution of specialist medical contact lens practice and its impact on the diagnosis, management, and long-term care of patients with complex corneal disease (s.5).

Speaker: Professor Jonathan Jackson

CPD points: 1

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Dispensing optician, Contact lens optician

Domains: Clinical practice, Specialty CPD (Contact lens optician)

Saturday 14 November - Day 1

Workshop 1: 1.50pm - 2.50pm

Peer review for specialty optometrists (AS/SP/IP): Anterior segment emergencies

This peer review session for specialty optometrists will explore a range of anterior segment emergencies encountered in clinical practice. Case-based discussions will facilitate interactive, round-table discussion focused on developing differential diagnoses, identifying appropriate investigations, outlining management strategies, and determining when onward referral is indicated.

Learning outcome

• Specialty optometrists will be able to recognise and manage a range of anterior eye emergencies (s.7).

Speakers: Amy-Lee Shirodkhar

CPD points: 3

Practioner type: Optometrist

Domains: Clinical practice, Professionalism

Workshop 2: 2.55pm - 3.55pm

TBA

Workshop 3: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

Discussion workshop: Modern diagnostics and management in dry eye disease

The Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) Dry Eye Workshop III (DEWS III) represents the most up-to-date, evidence-based global consensus on the definition, diagnosis, and management of dry eye disease (DED). Published across 2025–2026, the DEWS III reports update and expand the foundational principles established in TFOS DEWS (2007) and TFOS DEWS II (2017), integrating major scientific advances in tear film biology, ocular surface pathology, neurosensory mechanisms, and clinical assessment tools.

This discussion-based workshop will guide participants through the key diagnostic and therapeutic updates, highlighting how the revised DEWS III framework supports contemporary clinical practice and improves patient outcomes.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to apply updated knowledge of dry eye disease to effectively communicate diagnosis, risk factors and evidence-based management options with patients (s.2)
• Practitioners will be able to integrate the TFOS DEWS III definition, diagnostic approach and tiered management algorithms for dry eye disease into clinical practice to support accurate diagnosis, differential assessment and personalised treatment planning, relative to their scope of practice (s.7).

Speaker: Dr Sònia Travé Huarte

CPD points: 3

Practioner type: Optometrist, Specialty optometrist

Domains: Communication, Clinical practice, Specialty CPD (Specialty optometrist)

Sunday 15 November - Day 2

Workshop 3: 2.00pm - 3.00pm

Discussion workshop: Fundamentals of scleral contact lens fitting

This discussion workshops highlights the principles of mini-scleral contact lens fitting, from initial lens choice to application, assessment of fit, common fitting issues and lens removal. The cases consider the challenges of scleral lens fitting and how to overcome these in everyday practice using slit lamp and OCT assessment. The session will enable delegates to take away key information to begin fitting these lenses in clinic.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will recognise the steps that need to be taken to begin fitting mini-scleral contact lenses in clinic (s.7).

Speakers: Ian Sexton

CPD points: 3

Practioner type: Optometrist, Contact lens optician

Domains: Clinical practice, Specialty CPD (Contact lens optician)

Saturday 14 November - Day 1

Workshop 1: 1.50pm - 2.50pm

Lecture with discussion workshop: Contact lens-related complications – a retrospective review

This session will explore contact lens-related complications presenting to an eye emergency department, using retrospective clinical data to examine patterns of presentation, management approaches and patient outcomes. The lecture will consider common themes, potential risk factors and wider implications for contact lens practice and patient care. The session will be followed by an interactive discussion workshop, allowing participants to reflect on clinical cases and share experiences.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will recognise presentation patterns for contact lens complications to guide management relative to their scope of practice (s.7).

Speakers: Saabrien Ahmed

CPD points: 2

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Specialty optometrist, Contact lens optician

Domain type: Clinical practice, Specialty CPD (Specialty optometrist), Specialty CPD (Contact lens optician)

Workshop 2: 2.55pm - 3.55pm

Discussion workshop: A special embrace – how specialty contact lenses can elevate patient care

This comprehensive session explores the essential strategies for successfully building and expanding a specialty lens practice. Beginning with a strong foundation in corneal GP lenses, participants will advance toward mastering ortho-k and scleral lens fitting. Attendees will gain a robust understanding of the latest innovations in lens design, fitting protocols, and patient management.

Interactive discussions and peer-to-peer learning opportunities will reinforce foundational skills while introducing novel approaches to improve patient outcomes. Exploring practical evidence-based best practices for a broad portfolio of specialty lenses is sure to inspire your specialty lens journey.
Join us for this dynamic discussion workshop that bridges theory and clinical practice – ensuring you leave equipped to deliver refined, personalised specialty lens solutions that elevate patient care and distinguish your practice.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to communicate effectively with patients about specialty contact lens options, fitting expectations and ongoing management to support personalised, patient-centred care and informed decision-making (s.2) 
• Practitioners will identify evidence-based specialty contact lens fitting strategies to support appropriate assessment, patient management and decision-making in complex anterior eye care (s.7).

Speakers: Shreeti Lakhani and Yetunde Obadeyi

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Contact lens optician

Domain type: Communication, Clinical practice, Specialty CPD (Contact lens optician)

Workshop 3: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

Peer review: Contact lenses (advanced level)

This peer review session will explore a series of clinical cases demonstrating contemporary medical contact lens management options for anterior eye conditions encountered in secondary care practice. Cases will include a range of lens modalities, including RGP, mini-scleral, scleral and specialist soft contact lenses, highlighting key fitting considerations, clinical decision-making and patient management strategies. Designed for practitioners with a subspecialty interest in contact lenses, the session will encourage discussion of complex cases and shared learning between peers.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will be able to evaluate and select appropriate medical contact lens modalities for a range of anterior eye conditions encountered in secondary care to inform fitting and management decisions in complex cases (s.7).

Speakers: Shreeti Lakhani and Yetunde Obadeyi

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Contact lens optician

Domain type: Clinical practice, Specialty CPD (Contact lens optician)

Sunday 15 November - Day 2

Workshop 1: 2.00pm - 3.00pm

Peer review: Contact lenses (basic level)

This peer review session is designed for practitioners with limited experience in specialist contact lens practice. Through a series of interactive case scenarios, attendees will explore the fundamentals of contact lens fitting, aftercare and patient management across a range of clinical presentations. The session will also provide practical guidance on approaching common challenges encountered in contact lens clinics, including troubleshooting complex fits, managing contact lens-related complications and optimising patient outcomes in everyday practice.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will identify how to apply a structured approach to contact lens fitting, aftercare, and the management of common contact lens-related complications through discussion of real-world case scenarios (s.5, s.7)
• Practitioner will recognise the need to work collaboratively with colleagues to discuss and manage a range of contact lens cases to achieve safe and effective patient care (s.10).

Speakers: Ruqayyah Sheikh and Zahra Jamal

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Contact lens optician

Domain type: Clinical practice, Professionalism, Specialty CPD (Contact lens optician)

Saturday 14 November - Day 1

Workshop 1: 1.50pm - 2.50pm

Peer review for specialty optometrists (AS/SP/IP): A series of complex glaucoma cases 

This specialist peer review session is aimed at optometrists delivering advanced glaucoma care within hospital, community and enhanced service settings. Using a series of challenging clinical cases as a framework for discussion, delegates will critically explore contemporary approaches to glaucoma assessment and management, from diagnosis and risk stratification through to treatment selection and long-term monitoring. 

The session will consider the role of structural and functional investigations, treatment options and the practical challenges of managing complex glaucoma patients. Participants will review prescribing considerations, evaluate emerging evidence and discuss how new developments can be translated into everyday clinical decision-making. 

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will be able to utilise advanced diagnostic and management strategies in glaucoma care to support evidence-based diagnosis, monitoring and treatment decisions (s.7)
• Practitioners will be able to contribute effectively to multidisciplinary glaucoma care through collaborative working, reflective practice, safe prescribing and the application of current evidence to guide patient management (s.10).

Speakers: Elizabeth Hunt and Clare Conaty

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Specialty optometrist

Domain type: Clinical practice, Professionalism, Specialty CPD (Specialty optometrist)

Workshop 2: 2.55pm - 3.55pm

Discussion workshop: Three faces of glaucoma management – tailoring treatment pathways in secondary care

This interactive workshop will explore how glaucoma management is tailored across a range of clinical scenarios, examining how treatment decisions are initiated, monitored and escalated in real-world practice. Through a series of patient cases, delegates will consider how glaucoma subtype, disease severity, risk of progression and patient-centred factors influence management choices, including topical therapy, laser treatment and surgical intervention. The session will also examine the interpretation of OCT imaging, visual field analysis and other clinical findings to support evidence-based decision-making in line with current NICE guidance.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will be able to apply appropriate clinical assessment findings to support evidence-based glaucoma management, monitoring and referral decisions relative to their scope of practice (s.5, s.7)
• Practitioners will identify the need to work collaboratively with glaucoma specialists and the wider multidisciplinary team to support safe, patient-centred glaucoma care, recognising when escalation or referral is required (s.10, s.11).

Speaker: Richard Stead

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Specialty optometrist

Domain type: Clinical practice, Professionalism, Specialty CPD (Specialty optometrist)

Workshop 3: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

Peer review for general optometrists (basic level)

This peer review session is aimed at optometrists who may not have regular glaucoma clinics, for example, those in community practice and / or junior clinicians; and are keen to learn more about diagnosing, monitoring and treating glaucoma. Four clinical cases will be discussed which will include visual fields, optic discs assessment, target IOPS, anterior chamber angles and evidenced-based treatment guidelines. The session is for general rather than specialty optometrists who are looking to consolidate basic skills in the area of glaucoma.

Learning outcome

• Practitioners will identify strategies to aid diagnosis and management of patients with glaucoma (s.7).

Speakers: Dr Natasha Healey

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist

Domain type: Clinical practice

Sunday 15 November - Day 2

Workshop 4: 2.00pm - 3.00pm

Peer review for specialty optometrists (AS/SP/IP): Advanced glaucoma

This advanced peer review is designed specifically for specialty optometrists working in glaucoma care and will explore the complexities of modern management across secondary care and enhanced clinical practice settings.

Through interactive discussion and evidence-based case review, delegates will examine contemporary approaches to glaucoma diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, with particular focus on advanced diagnostic technologies, evolving therapeutic strategies, surgical indications and post-operative considerations. The session will also address complex prescribing decisions, medication-related challenges, interpretation of emerging research and the integration of new evidence into real-world clinical practice.

The session aims to promote higher-level clinical reasoning, reflective practice and shared learning amongst practitioners involved in advanced glaucoma services. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss complex patient pathways, clinical dilemmas and management challenges encountered within specialist glaucoma practice.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to apply advanced evidence-based clinical reasoning in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of glaucoma, including interpretation of structural and functional investigations, treatment decision-making and recognition of indications for surgical intervention (s.7)
• Practitioners will demonstrate reflective and professional practice in glaucoma care through safe prescribing, collaborative multidisciplinary working, critical appraisal of evidence and patient-centred decision-making (s.10).

Speakers: Matt Roney

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Specialty optometrist

Domain type: Clinical practice, Professionalism, Specialty CPD (Specialty optometrist)

Saturday 14 November - Day 1

Workshop 1: 1.50pm - 2.50pm

Lecture with discussion workshop: Mental fitness – the skill no clinical training teaches you

Clinical training equips practitioners with the knowledge and technical skills required to deliver high-quality patient care. However, the cognitive and psychological demands of clinical practice – such as managing uncertainty, making complex decisions, and maintaining performance under pressure – are rarely addressed during professional training.

This session explores the concept of mental fitness and its role in supporting clinicians to think clearly, regulate stress and maintain resilience in demanding healthcare environments. The session will examine how strengthening mental fitness can enhance decision-making, confidence and overall professional wellbeing.

Attendees will leave with practical strategies to support their own mental performance and sustainability in clinical practice.

Learning outcome

Speaker: Dr Pretty Basra

CPD points: 2

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Dispensing optician

Domain type: Professionalism

Saturday 14 November - Day 1

Workshop 2: 2.55pm - 3.55pm

Discussion workshop: Turning down the heat in ocular surface inflammation

This interactive workshop explores three patient cases involving ocular surface inflammation that may require therapeutic management. Conditions covered include inflammation of the episclera, sclera and conjunctiva – including presentations in patients with glaucoma – as well as severe dry eye disease. Through these cases, the session will encourage participants to think critically about investigation, diagnosis and management in more complex clinical scenarios, including appropriate prescribing decisions. The workshop is designed for both general and specialist optometrists who are likely to encounter and manage such patients in clinical practice.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to outline management options for patients with ocular surface inflammation relative to their scope or practice (s.2)
• Practitioners will be able to determine management options for patients with ocular surface inflammation relative to their scope or practice (s.7).

Speaker: Dr Navneet Gupta

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist, Specialty optometrist

Domain type: Communication, Clinical practice, Specialty CPD (Specialty optometrist)

Saturday 14 November - Day 1

Workshop 3: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

Peer review for general optometrists: OCT angiography – a beginner’s case discussion

This peer review will begin with a short presentation on the basics of OCT angiography interpretation. Participants will then break into small groups to discuss a series of cases, each with a brief history and OCT-A images, focusing on interpretation, diagnosis, and management. A final summary highlights key learning points, followed by an opportunity for questions.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to explain the outcomes from OCT angiography to patients (s.2)
• Practitioners will be able to interpret outcomes from OCT angiography to help guide patient management (s.7).

Speakers: Dr Nicola Cassels and Dr Mohammed Abid

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist

Domain type: Communication, Clinical practice

Sunday 15 November - Day 2

Workshop 1: 2pm - 3pm

Peer review for general optometrists: OCT angiography – an advanced case discussion

This advanced-level OCT angiography peer review will begin with a short presentation on recent advances, including widefield imaging. Participants will then break into small groups to discuss a series of cases, each with a brief history and OCT-A images, focusing on interpretation, diagnosis, and management. A final summary highlights key learning points, followed by an opportunity for questions.

Learning outcomes

• Practitioners will be able to explain the outcomes from OCT angiography to patients (s.2)
• Practitioners will be able to interpret outcomes from OCT angiography to help guide patient management (s.7).

Speakers: Dr Nicola Cassels and Dr Mohammed Abid

CPD points: 3

Practitioner type: Optometrist

Domain type: Communication, Clinical practice