OAA QLD/NT See June 2007

Plano action?
Readers would be aware that the Division has been lobbying the Queensland Government for the past eight years to introduce legislation that has the effect of treating plano (cosmetic, coloured, novelty, etc) contact lenses in the same way as corrective contact lenses. Well, Queensland Health has now written to us asking for our opinion on four options, namely:

1. Sale only to be made on presentation of a prescription
2. Restrict sale to under the supervision of an optometrist or medical practitioner
3. Restrict sale to under the supervision of an registered health practitioner (optometrist, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor etc) or registered nurse
4. Define the lenses as “beauty therapy” and require retailers to comply with appropriate infection control standards

We’ve responded that our position is unchanged and that is that the lenses should only be sold on presentation of a prescription from an optometrist or medical practitioner. Queensland Health favours option (3) however, we could not support sale purely based on “supervision” as opposed to the full prescription process, nor could we support that supervision being provided by dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors etc and doubt if they would be too excited at the prospect.

Best of Queensland Vision 2008 Cairns, Sunday, 8 June
We are delighted with the response to the program we’ve assembled for the Sunday, 8 June Best of Queensland Vision 2008 at the Shangri-La Hotel Cairns. Not only are we receiving registrations from Cairns/Townsville but also from interstate and as far away as Perth! The meeting delivers 19 valuable CPD points and also gives you the opportunity to have dinner the night before with the presenters and other delegates at no cost, courtesy of sponsorship from our good friends at Laser Vision Sight Centres.

For those who have already registered, please note that the meeting will be held in the Lagoon Room – the entrance is between the “Pier Bar” and “Coffee Bean” on the corner of the adjacent “Pier Shopping Centre.”

Program is below. Please email me at greg@optomsqld.com if you can make it.

0800-0830 Registration
0830-0930 Noel Verney Memorial Lecture, Do contact lenses have a future? Professor Leo Carney
0930-1000 Safety of systemic medicines, tips and traps, Dr Geraldine Moses
1000-1030 Peripheral retinal lesions: could this be serious? Dr Matt Russell
1030-1100 Morning tea and inspection of Exhibition Hall
1100-1130 Retinal detachment and repair, Dr Matt Russell
1130-1230 BIOCHIP Vision, Dr Erwin Groeneveld
1230-1330 Lunch and inspection of Exhibition Hall
1330-1400 Sub-Bowman’s Keratomileusis, Dr Peter Beckingsale
1400-1500 Lucentis case studies, Dr Matt Russell
1500-1530 Descemet’s Stripping Edothelial Keratoplasty, Dr Peter Beckingsale
1530-1600 Afternoon tea and inspection of Exhibition Hall
1600-1630 The role of optometrists in falls prevention, Mr Alex Black
1630-1645 The Queensland Vision Initiative – making a real difference to indigenous eye health, Ms Cassandra Koutouridis
1645-1700 OAA Queensland/NT update, Mr Greg Johnson
1700 Close

Diabetes firming as OAA number one priority
The Division has formed an unbelievably active partnership with Diabetes Australia Queensland via a number on planned Expos. On Saturday, 10 May Redcliffe optometrist Dennis Dwyer will be providing a lecture to attendees at the Redcliffe Diabetes Expo and I will be manning a small exhibition aimed at informing guests about the vital role optometrists play in detection and management. On Saturday, 5 July I will be travelling to Longreach for its Expo and Simon Hurwood will be presenting. These Expos are likely to become regular events for the OAA.

OAA signs up for “Living with Diabetes Expo”
Do you remember the old AMA Health and Lifestyle Expos in which we were involved? They were held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre over a weekend and Optical Manufacturers’ Bill Heggie used to lend us several pieces of equipment with which we would conduct, literally, thousands of tests with a roster of 30 or 40 optometrists. Sadly the AMA pulled the plug on the event. But, they were fantastic events for our profession and gave us a huge audience to convert to the need for regular eye examinations and good eye health regimes.

Well, we’ve signed up for a similar event on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July at the same centre, in the form of the “Living with Diabetes Expo.” We’ll be an exhibitor there and would love to get your assistance for an hour or two to operate the equipment and to talk to visitors about the role of optometrists in diabetes management. Interested? Drop me an email to greg@optomsqld.com

Alcon and pharmacists firmly on the agenda
We’ve formed a wonderful alliance with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and Alcon Australia under which optometrists and pharmacists will meet from time to time to learn about the treatment of certain eye conditions. The events take the form of dinners with a lecture, there is no cost and CPD points apply. Please put these dates in your diary and let Marika know at Marika@optomsqld.com if you would like to attend. A brochure and registration form will precede each event. Details are:

· Brisbane, Tuesday, 8 July, Marriott Brisbane Hotel, “Dry Eye” with NSW optometrist Allan Ared, limited to 75 optometrists and 75 pharmacists
· Toowoomba, Wednesday, 9 July, Gips Restaurant, “Dry Eye” with optometrist Luke Arundel, limited to 30 optometrists and 30 pharmacists
· Brisbane, Monday, 8 September, Marriott Brisbane Hotel, “Ocular Allergy” with allergist tba, limited to 75 optometrists and 75 pharmacists.

Queensland Vision Initiative Inc Update
It was great catching up with so many of you at Queensland Vision 2008 – many thanks to everyone who took the time to complete the Indigenous Queenslander Eye Health Survey, and register their interest in the Referral Pathway Pilot project.

For those of you who are interested in learning more about eye health and low vision services in metropolitan Brisbane, an invitation to participate in the Referral Pathway Pilot Project is included in this month’s SEE magazine. As participants in the study, you will receive an information resource which contains details regarding eye health, vision care, and how you, and your clients/patients can access low vision and community organisations in Brisbane. Please just complete the attached form and return to Cassandra Koutouridis (details included below), or Greg Johnson to register your interest.

With regards to the Indigenous Queenslander Eye Health project, a copy of the Indigenous Queenslander Eye Health survey is also included in this month’s SEE. It is imperative that all optometrists complete the survey, whether or not you are currently providing services to Indigenous Queenslanders. Surveys are to be returned to QVI Inc or Greg Johnson.

As always, if anyone has any questions regarding the work of QVI Inc, or would like to know further about the projects currently being undertaken, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Greg Johnson, President QVI Inc, or the QVI Inc Project Officer, Cassandra Koutouridis, on (07) 3391 9155, or via email cassandra.koutouridis@visionaustralia.org.

Baby number two for Ben and Claire Park
Claire and Ben welcomed their second baby, William Leith, on 24 February. All well.

QV2008 post mortem and QV2009 planning
300 of the 600 delegates provided us with valuable commentary on QV2008 and suggestions for next year

Over half of the number told us that the key reason for attending was CPD points, 23% went because of the program and 15% because of the location.

The overwhelming majority of delegates (around 95%) gave us the thumbs-up on the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre as a venue, audio visual arrangements, exhibition hall, food and beverage, Thursday’s drinks, Essilor Cocktail Party, CIBAVision Gala Dinner at Sea World and OAA service. Not much to change there!

We received many suggestions for improvement mainly in the area of topics and speakers and we we’ll be taking these very seriously as usual. The Education Committee comprising Chair Shannon Pugh, Henry Heron, Asha Mahasuria and Kate Johnson, will meet on 10 June to commence planning for the 17-19 April QV2009 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. US, OD Dr Bill Townsend is already confirmed, thanks to Alcon Australia, as is ophthalmologist Dr David Hilford. This year’s congress was jam packed with presentations and we expect to reduce the number of hours for 2009 by having 9.00am starts and 5.00pm finishes. 40CPD points (annual requirement) is our target.

Allergan and Alcon have already signed up for their breakfast sessions and CIBAVision and Coopervision are confirmed as sponsors.

Optometrists Give Sight at Queensland Vision
Queensland Vision proved to be successful conference yet again for Optometry Giving Sight. Many delegates took the opportunity to find out more about the programs that Optometry Giving Sight funds and to chat about how they could support Optometry’s International Charity of Choice.

We would like to thank all who signed up to a regular donation – your commitment will help change the lives of those in desperate need. CIBA VISION generously matched new each of the $25/month or $300/year donations – effectively doubling the first year’s donation!

Many optometrists expressed their interest in our Product Related Practice Giving Program whereby practices can make a donation linked to a specific item, for example donating $2-$5 for every pair of frames sold. This simple concept is a great way to get your practice involved and to promote your commitment to helping others to your patients. For more information about the Practice Giving Program please email Madeleine Whiting, Country Manager at australia@givingsight.org.

General Optical kindly donated a pair of Calvin Klein sunglasses for the passport prize and many of the staff of our corporate sponsors spent time learning more about Optometry Giving Sight at the trade display. Brisbane optometrist and Optometry Giving Sight National Committee member, Bob Lees, also spent time talking to delegates at the stand about his experience volunteering in Sri Lanka and why Optometry Giving Sight is his Charity of Choice. The support of Greg Johnson and the Queensland OAA team was invaluable in their promotion of Optometry Giving Sight throughout the conference.

SNOW BASED CONFERENCE
2009 Jan 10-17 Italy, Dolomite Mountain Ski Area. 5th Euro-Pacific Eyecare Conference. C: John Coghlan. 0414 624466, optomconf@optusnet.com.au www.skiconf.com

Past issues
January 2008	February 2008	March 2008	April 2007
May 2007	June 2007	July 2007	August 2007
September 2007	October 2007	November 2007	December 2007