28 January 2025
In the weeks leading up to 100% Optical on 1–3 March, OT will highlight a key theme identified from the education programme and gather expert insight to consider why this might be a topic delegates could include in their CPD planning.
This week, OT looks at three sessions at 100% Optical that will explore the subject of clinical decision making, asking the speakers to provide a behind-the-scenes insight into their presentation.
1 Definitely, maybe?
Efa Schmidt, head of clinical negligence at the AOP, and Dr Peter Hampson, optometrist and clinical and policy director at the AOP, will present a Main stage lecture on 1 March from 10:30–11:30am.
The lecture Definitely, maybe? will look at real clinical cases, asking: how certain are you in your diagnosis, and where might you go wrong?
The speakers will explore strategies to increase diagnostic confidence, examining how cognitive biases can lead to errors in decision-making.
Hampson told OT: “This session is aiming to take a look at the certainty of decision making when examining patients, the art of differential diagnosis, the challenges of low prevalence disease, and how that can mislead. How to consider the alternative diagnosis and the implications, if one of those alternatives is more urgent than another?”
He added: “We will aim to help practitioners see where a particular approach to what was in front of them may mean that opportunities were missed. In the words of the famous Manchester poets, how certain are you? ‘Definitely, maybe.’”
2 It may be rare but it’s in your chair
Consultant optometrist, Scott Mackie, will present a lecture on the main stage on 3 March, exploring It may be rare but it’s in your chair, from 10:30–11:30am.
The lecture will outline case studies including carotid cavernous fistula, neisseria meningitidis, paediatric vasculitis, disappearing homonymous hemianopia, hypoplastic optic discs, PCA dementia, achromatopsia, and Wyburn-Mason syndrome.
Mackie told OT: “My session is all about clinical decision making. What happens when you are confronted with a pathology for the first time and you know nothing about it? Do you monitor or refer? Do you need a multidisciplinary approach?”
“This presentation discusses thinking outside the box to provide the best person-centred care,” he said.
3 Minor issues in eye care – clinical, ethical and regulatory scenarios involving children
Henry Leonard, optometrist and head of clinical and regulatory at the AOP, will present a peer review on Minor issues in eye care – clinical, ethical and regulatory scenarios involving children.
The session will discuss some of the most common clinical, ethical, and regulatory scenarios involving children, which practitioners might encounter in practice.
Leonard explained: “The scenarios are based on queries received by the AOP’s clinical and regulatory team, and the topics up for discussion include issues around safeguarding, duty of candour, functional visual loss, internal referrals, second opinions, and data protection.”
“It’s not possible for guidance and legislation to cover every scenario you might encounter in practice, and part of being a healthcare professional is learning to exercise your own judgement,” he said.
“The aim of the session is to get practitioners thinking about how to approach tricky situations, taking into account the regulatory framework we work within, whilst applying a large dose of common sense, to ensure patients are managed appropriately,” he added.
The peer review session, which includes scenarios that have been presented at some AOP events in 2024, will take place on 2 March at 11:45–12:45 and will be repeated on 3 March from 1–2pm.
If themes linking to clinical decision-making feature on your Personal Development Plan for 2025–2027, why not make a start with education at 100% Optical? Visit the education programme to find many more sessions dedicated to this topic, and more. Register for 100% Optical now.
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